Latest News – March 5

Lake County School District Calendar for March 2013

Spring Break Starts March 29 for Local Students!

Finally . . . Piled High in Leadville!

Today’s one of those “dig out” days. Yesterday’s storm was a doozey and it brought with it the snow we’ve all been waiting for. Hopefully, the snow pack conversations can now turn in a slightly different direction; and word will get out that it’s time to make those Spring Break plans to Leadville for some great skiing and outdoor recreation. It sounds like we could get another good storm over the weekend.

Yesterday’s storm was also a stark reminder of the harsh conditions early Leadville settlers had to endure in order to establish the highest incorporated city in North America: Leadville, Colorado!

Historically, it was the win­ter of 1899 that brought Leadville one of its greatest snow falls. It’s recorded that between January 15 and March 28 it snowed 187 inches -that’s fifteen and a half feet! And remember, back then, they didn’t have anyone to gripe at for not getting the snow plowed in a timely fashion. On many occasions, it stayed where it was until June.

Trains could not get through. People were stranded. The mines were even shut down by the most prolonged snowstorm in the district’s history.

Many good snow stories came out of that winter of 1899. One of my favorites involves a local teamster who was making a lumber delivery for S. L. Smith Lumber Company (yep, the same one!) His sleigh weighed down with fresh-cut wood, he headed towards the upper end of Big Evans Gulch (East 7th Street).

Imagine the drudgery, as the team of horses broke through deep, heavy snow — uphill! The driver stopped several times to give the horses a break as well as get his bearings. Remember, things look very different when there’s 15 feet of snow on the ground. Onward, they eventually reached the edge of old Evansville – a small abandoned town from the first boom. Urging his horses on, the driver could not get them to budge. He got down and cleared away the snow to see what was holding up the sleigh’s front runner. It was the steeple of the old Evansville School! Now that’s some snow!

So, if you think it’s a hassle when the car won’t start or the roads aren’t completely plowed, remind yourself of Leadville’s earlier times. A series of storms could easily immobilize Leadville, keeping people in and supplies out. They didn’t have a choice to help each other out; if they didn’t they’d perish. Just something to think about when you’re out shoveling all that snow In The ‘Ville.