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<br />= <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />SECTION III <br />BASALT BACKGROUND <br /> <br />BASALT TOWN HISTORY <br /> <br /> <br />The first settlers in Basalt, originally named Frying Pan, lived In <br /> <br />tents and shacks near the charcoal kilns which were built in 1882 during <br /> <br />the mining boom to produce charcoal for smelters In Aspen and Leadville. <br /> <br />! <br /> <br />When the Colorado Midland Railroad came to the Roaring Fork Valley In <br /> <br /> <br />the late 1880's, the town of Aspen Junction grew up on the north side <br /> <br /> <br />of the Fryingpan River at a division point on the main railroad line <br /> <br /> <br />and absorbed the settlement of Frying Pan City. The old kilns can <br /> <br /> <br />still be seen on the south side of the river. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A post office was established In Aspen Junction In 1890. In 1895. the <br /> <br /> <br />name of the town was changed to Basalt. after Basalt Mountain which <br /> <br />lies north of the town. Basalt was Incorporated on August 26, 1901. <br /> <br />During World War I, the railroad went out of business when It could <br /> <br /> <br />not get any shipping contracts. The last train ran on August 8, 1918, <br /> <br /> <br />and a number of residents left town to seek employment elsewhere. The <br /> <br /> <br />Town continued to decline and reached a low population of 148 in 1930. <br /> <br /> <br />Agriculture was the economic base of the town during this period, along <br />with some fishing and tourism. <br /> <br />---- <br /> <br />~ <br />