Howardsville began as Bullion City in the San Juan Mountains before being renamed after George Howard, who staked the first claims in 1872. You’ll find this ghost town along the Animas River, where it briefly served as San Juan County’s first seat of government in 1874. The arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in 1889 revolutionized mining operations before economic challenges led to its decline by 1929. The remaining structures tell a fascinating tale of western boom-and-bust cycles.
Key Takeaways
- Originally named Bullion City in 1872, the settlement was renamed Howardsville in 1874 after George W. Howard.
- Served as San Juan County’s first seat of government in 1874 before losing this status after just one year.
- The arrival of Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in 1889 revolutionized mining operations in the area.
- Closure of the Bonanza Empire Chief Mine in 1907 marked the beginning of Howardsville’s decline.
- Final abandonment occurred in 1929 due to transportation issues and economic pressures from the Great Depression.
The Birth of Bullion City and Name Transition
When you explore the history of Howardsville, you’ll find its origins are rooted in another settlement entirely – Bullion City.
This mining camp‘s birth story remains somewhat obscured in historical records, requiring deeper research into San Juan County archives to uncover its complete metamorphosis timeline.
The settlement’s name origin reflects Colorado’s common pattern of mining towns evolving with their fortunes.
Like many boom towns that shifted identities as ownership or prosperity changed, Bullion City likely evolved into Howardsville during a pivotal economic or leadership change in the region, similar to how Sacramento City transformed into Idaho Springs after the gold discovery at Chicago Creek.
Similar to Goldfield which was initially named Gold Knob before its official renaming in 1895, mining settlements often underwent name changes as they developed.
To discover the authentic details behind this ghost town‘s naming evolution, you’ll need to consult specialized historical societies in the San Juan Mountains area or mining history collections that document the specific circumstances of when and why Bullion City became Howardsville.
First Days as a Mining Hub
As prospectors flocked to the Animas River Valley in 1872, George W. Howard staked the first claims, igniting the area’s transformation into a bustling mining center.
You’d have witnessed miners employing rudimentary placer mining techniques along the riverbanks, panning for gold and silver as the San Juan mining rush gained momentum.
The earliest prospecting techniques relied on simple tools and backbreaking labor.
Spanish-style arrastras—circular stone platforms where mules dragged heavy weights to crush ore—preceded more sophisticated mills.
Pack animals trudged up narrow trails, hauling precious minerals from remote claims.
Mule trains and donkeys navigated treacherous mountain paths, bearing the wealth of underground treasures to civilization below.
The settlement grew organically as tents and basic structures appeared, followed by essential services—saloons, boarding houses, and supply stores.
Despite harsh conditions and isolation, Howardsville’s economic impact expanded quickly, becoming a crucial hub in the region’s mineral exploitation.
The town’s importance was further enhanced by its strategic location in the Animas Mining District, known for rich deposits of zinc, copper, lead, gold, and silver.
In 1874, the Bullion City Company officially established and renamed the settlement Howardsville, honoring its first mining claimant.
Serving as the Early Seat of Government
Howardsville’s brief but pivotal role as San Juan County’s first seat of government began in 1874 when the region was officially carved from La Plata County.
Initially known as Bullion City, the settlement quickly established its government legacy when a log courthouse was constructed to administer the newly formed county’s affairs.
This early governance center served the scattered mining communities throughout the San Juan Mountains, providing essential administrative functions and legal proceedings for resolving property disputes.
The area had only recently become available for legal mining claims after the Brunot Agreement of 1873 removed the San Juan Mountains from the Ute Indian Reservation.
The courthouse became the physical embodiment of territorial authority in lands recently opened through the Brunot Agreement.
Following Howardsville’s prominence, the town became part of the rich mining history that defined the Silverton area’s development throughout the late 19th century.
You’ll find that Howardsville’s tenure as county seat lasted just one year before shifting priorities and changing population patterns prompted relocation—a reflection of the fluid nature of frontier administration during Colorado’s territorial period.
Rich Mineral Wealth and Mining Operations
The rich mineral deposits of the Animas River Valley transformed Howardsville from a modest settlement into a bustling mining hub during the 1870s.
Following the San Juan mining rush of 1874, prospectors discovered valuable gold, silver, and lead deposits throughout Arrastra Gulch and Hazelton Mountain.
Initial mineral exploration relied on primitive placer techniques—panning and sluicing the riverbed for alluvial gold.
As surface deposits diminished, miners shifted to hard-rock methods. You’ll still find remnants of Spanish-style arrastras where ore was crushed by mules before sophisticated mills arrived.
Mining techniques evolved rapidly with mechanized mills and elaborate tramline systems transporting ore from high-altitude mines to processing facilities along the Animas River.
These operations created immense wealth that supported Howardsville’s growth before eventually declining, leaving behind the ghost town you see today.
Howardsville became significant as it was established as the first government seat in the San Juan region in 1874, representing the official recognition of the area’s mining importance.
Transportation Networks and Ore Processing
When you visit Howardsville today, you’ll find remnants of an impressive transportation network that included the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and Otto Mears’ Silverton Northern Railroad, which revolutionized ore transport by replacing costly wagon freighting that once charged up to $7.50 per ton.
You can still spot traces of the aerial tramways, including the 2,900-foot system that connected King Solomon Mountain to the Little Nation Mill, where cable buckets efficiently moved ore downhill for processing. The tramway operated with ore suspended on a 1-1/8 inch cable, designed for industrial efficiency despite the challenging mountain terrain. The Silverton Northern Railroad specifically created a Chattanooga Loop to navigate the extremely steep terrain while connecting mining communities to processing facilities.
Before the construction of sophisticated mills like the Little Nation, which could process 50 tons daily with minimal staff, miners relied on Spanish-style arrastras—simple crushing mechanisms powered by animals or humans—to begin breaking down the ore.
Tramlines and Flumes
Spanning across the rugged mountainous terrain of the Silverton mining district, Howardsville’s elaborate network of tramlines and flumes created an engineering marvel that solved critical transportation challenges.
You can still trace the routes where four overlapping tramline systems once transported ore from high-altitude mining sites down to processing mills along the Animas River. These systems, similar to the historic hanging flumes of western Colorado, represented cutting-edge technology of their era.
The tramline engineering involved custom solutions to overcome significant elevation changes, connecting distant operations in the Silver Lake cirque area.
Meanwhile, flume construction utilized local Ponderosa pine timber, requiring precision surveying and careful grade calculations. These gravity-powered systems demonstrated remarkable innovation.
Howardsville served as the central junction point where these transportation networks converged, linking Arrastra Gulch’s rich mining areas to strategic processing locations throughout the district.
Spanish Arrastras
Primitive yet ingenious, Spanish arrastras formed the technological foundation of Howardsville’s early mining operations, particularly throughout Arrastra Gulch which earned its name from these circular ore-crushing devices.
This Spanish technology featured a stone floor with a central post connected to weighted dragging arms powered by mules, humans, or occasionally water wheels.
When you visit Arrastra Gulch today, you’re standing where miners once added mercury to crushed ore, amalgamating precious gold particles before more advanced milling methods arrived.
These simple ore extraction tools predated the complex tramlines and stamp mills that would later define the area.
Denver-Rio Grande Railroad
The arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) in 1889 marked a revolutionary shift for Howardsville’s mining operations, advancing beyond the simple arrastras that had dominated the region’s early years.
The narrow gauge construction of the 36-mile Lake City Branch allowed trains to navigate the challenging San Juan Mountain terrain, featuring 10 bridges and tight curves that standard gauge couldn’t handle.
You’d have witnessed ore transportation transform from slow pack animals to efficient freight trains averaging 12 miles per hour—slashing costs and boosting mining output.
The D&RG connected Howardsville to smelters in Durango and Silverton, enabling the town’s mines to compete with larger districts for the first time.
This $770,996 investment ended the town’s isolation, though the line’s eventual closure in 1921 contributed to Howardsville’s decline.
Daily Life in a Booming Mountain Town
When gold and silver were discovered in the San Juan Mountains, Howardsville quickly transformed from a remote outpost into a bustling hub of activity. As miners extracted precious metals from the Bullion City Company’s operations, the town throbbed with purpose.
You’d witness a fluid social environment with both permanent residents and transient prospectors moving between Howardsville, Silverton, and Mineral Point. Community dynamics centered around mining endeavors, with aerial tramways spanning 12,000-foot mountains moving ore overhead.
Social gatherings often occurred in homes or local establishments, where brewing beer (sometimes in repurposed bathtubs) fostered camaraderie.
The town’s position as a way-station meant you’d encounter stagecoaches bringing supplies and travelers seeking fortunes deeper in the mountains. When Howardsville briefly became county seat in 1876, administrative activities added another layer to daily life.
The Slow Decline of a Mining Community
Despite its promising beginnings and initial prosperity, Howardsville’s decline began with the closure of the Bonanza Empire Chief Mine in 1907. Poor profits and mounting debts ultimately doomed what was once a promising hard rock operation with over 3,700 feet of underground drifts.
You’ll find evidence of community resilience in the 1920s revival attempts, when locals retooled the mill twice hoping to resurrect their economic lifeline. Unfortunately, these efforts yielded little high-quality ore while rising coal prices and legal battles intensified economic challenges.
The final blow came in 1929 when transportation problems, Great Depression financial woes, and a devastating avalanche forced permanent closure. The mine was liquidated through Sheriff’s Sales, sending residents elsewhere for survival.
Transportation issues, economic collapse, and nature’s fury sealed Howardsville’s fate, scattering its people to the winds.
Despite preservation efforts in 2000, another avalanche in 2008 destroyed what remained of this once-thriving mountain community.
What Remains Today: A Ghost Town Preserved
Tucked away at the confluence of Cunningham Gulch and the Animas River, Howardsville stands as a remarkably well-preserved tribute to Colorado’s mining heritage.
You’ll find the Little Nation mine tram station among the most prominent current structures, alongside multiple original buildings scattered throughout the townsite.
Despite its ghost town status, a few resilient residents still call Howardsville home, occupying cabins amidst the abandoned ones.
The residential history is visible in the two-story house reportedly owned by Thomas Walsh of Camp Bird Mine fame and the old jail with its distinctive 2×4 walls designed to prevent escapes.
Though the post office closed in 1939 and the Silverton Northern railroad tracks were removed in 1942, Howardsville’s accessible location via 2-wheel-drive roads makes it an explorer’s dream.
Visiting Howardsville: Practical Information
Planning your expedition to Howardsville requires understanding five key practical considerations that will guarantee a smooth journey to this historic ghost town.
You’ll find this remnant of mining history about 2 miles southwest of Silverton via County Road 2, accessible from US Highway 550.
While standard vehicles can navigate the initially paved road in dry conditions, the surface turns to gravel past Mayflower Mill. High-clearance vehicles are recommended, and four-wheel drive becomes essential during wet periods.
Check local road conditions before departing.
Visit between late spring and early fall when mountain roads are clear. Winter renders the area largely inaccessible.
Follow the blue and white “Mine Tour” signs from Silverton, and pack emergency supplies—cell service is nonexistent.
Remember to respect private property boundaries while exploring this freedom-filled frontier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were Any Famous Outlaws or Notable Gunfights Recorded in Howardsville?
While nearby towns buzz with tales of famous outlaws, Howardsville’s historical record stands empty. You won’t find documented notable gunfights or outlaws in this mining settlement’s quiet past.
What Natural Disasters Affected Howardsville Besides the Courthouse Fire?
Historical records don’t document major natural disasters in Howardsville. You won’t find evidence of significant flood damage or landslide impact beyond typical mountain hazards that challenged mining operations in the region.
Did Any Indigenous Peoples Have Historical Claims to the Area?
For centuries, Ute people roamed 100% of this land before you. Their Indigenous history was legally severed through the 1873 Brunot Agreement, one of many unfair land treaties forcing native relocation.
What Was the Average Miners’ Wage Compared to Other Colorado Towns?
You’ll find no exact wage data for Howardsville miners, but economic impact analysis suggests they likely earned wages comparable to other struggling Colorado towns where labor unrest indicated widespread compensation concerns.
Were There Any Documented Paranormal Activities or Ghost Stories?
Like gold that refuses to be found, documented ghost sightings remain elusive in Howardsville. You won’t find specific haunted locations recorded, unlike Colorado’s more notorious paranormal hotspots such as Victor or Ashcroft.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NILN58CbXFo
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/howardsville.html
- http://coloradosghosttowns.com/Howardsville CO.html
- https://elementsunearthed.com/2012/11/
- http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/htme/howardsville.htm
- https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/howardsville/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howardsville
- https://argomilltour.com/colorado-mining-towns/
- https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/goldfield/
- https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/blm/cultresser/co/12/chap4.htm
