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~~ 1 1 t • III III'll1ll l'll'I~ 9'J COLORADO HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Colorado History Museum February 20, 1997 James M. Beck, P.E. principal J.M. Beck & Associates 6130 W. Vassar Way Lakewood, Colorado 80227 Re: Camp Bird Mine Dear Mr. Beck: 1300 Broadway Denver. Colorado 80203-2137 This office has reviewed the cultural resource report prepared by Alpine Archaeological Consultants for the reclamation work at the Camp Bird Mine. According to Stone in his Historv of Colorado, Mount Sneffels was the largest producing mining district in ouray County and the most prominent mine in the district was the Camp Bird Mine. This mine was one of the most prolific producers of gold ore and other minerals and the longest lived, ceasing operations in the 1980s. The majority of the mill site consists of construction from the 1950s, 1970s and 1980s. A small cluster of historic residences built in 1903 - buildings #1,#2,#3, #4, #5 and #7 - on the northwest edge of the site is all that remains from the early operation of this very significant mine. while none of these buildings are individually eligible due to alterations, they do represent a significant and distinguishable entity that is associated with the early mining operations (criterion A). Despite the alterations to these buildings (most of which do not impact the primary facades), they still retain enough integrity to convey their association with the planning and layout of mining communities (criterion C). while not a traditional company town configuration, these unusual buildings with their queen Anne ornate mine manager's residence, the smaller and less detailed mine superintendent's residence, with the vernacular houses reserved for the workers. As the mostly-collapsed building #6 is not part of the cluster, is of undeterminate age and unknown function, it is not considered a part of the district. More information would need to be provided for a reassessment of its status.