BRECKENRIDGE THE HISTORY
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EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
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Hello, I'm Edwin Carter. Welcome to Main Street, Breckinridge. In 18 88. Mining brought me here just like it did with others who call our town home beckon. Rees has changed quite a bit since its founding in 18 59 when hundreds of prospectors swarmed over mountain passes seeking their fortunes. Breckenridge sprang to life in 18 59 when prospectors discovered gold in the Blue River. Miners lived in tents in one room log cabins. They begged merchants to bring goods they needed to survive. Today we have sturdy two or three room homes. Dozens of Main Street businesses supply our every need. We also have a public school dance halls, the hospital and three newspapers. The building with the large bell towers Fireman's Hall. One terrible fire in 18 84 destroyed many buildings on Main Street, but spared the elegant Denver Hotel the hotel advertises itself is having the finest accommodations and food in town. The owner bottles his own whiskey patrons, conjoined merchants and professional gamblers playing poker every night in the hotel. This is Barney Ford's popular restaurant, Ford's Chophouse, and behind it his home, Mr Ford escape slavery in the South and arrived in Breckenridge in 18 60 to seek his fortune as a minor. When a Denver lawyer swindled him out of his claim because he was an African American, he left town to pursue other business opportunities. Mr. Ford returned to Breckenridge a few years ago, toe open the chop house and, later, the Saddle Rock Cafe. The restaurants serve freshly caught trout, frogslegs oysters and other delicacies, all brought by the railroad. Now one of the wealthiest men in Colorado, Mr Ford travels regularly to Denver, where he actively supports equal opportunities for all, regardless of skin color. We call the railroad high line because the train crosses the continental divide two times it overcomes our isolation, especially during the long winter months. Snow and avalanches bring big problems for the railroad. Huge plows attempt to keep the tracks clear of snow and ice. When the drifts tower over, the plows, shovelers dig out the snow drifts by hand. Riders expect a long and bumpy ride on the train if no delays slow, the train. Getting from Denver to Breckenridge takes about 7.5 hours. The first miners use pick, pan and shovel to take gold nuggets from the creeks and streams. Today, miners used dynamite to remove gold from underground veins. The men drill holes for explosives using handheld drill steels and £4 hammers. They spend 12 hours a day working by candlelight and face daily dangers from cave ins, fires, floods, falling tools and toxic air. Did you notice there are not many trees around Breckenridge? That's because miners need sawn lumber for mines, buildings and wagons, to name just a few uses Lumberman take pride in telling of the speed with which they stripped the hillsides of trees to meet the never ending demand for lumber. Numerous forest fires have threatened. Breckenridge says mining began and cleared many hills of trees. I need to get back to my museum on Ridge Street, Take your time exploring 18 88 Breckenridge. When you're done, simply remove the headset and go about your day.