A Landmark -
The Denver Mining Club
Survivor of the ups and downs of the mining
industry for over half a century.
Back in the nineties when gold mining was the principal
industry in Colorado, a group of pioneer giants in industry, comprising the
Colorado Mining Stock Exchange, purchased the ground then described as
"Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4, East Denver" for $160,000. On this ground, now
at 15th and Arapahoe Streets, was erected in 1890 and 1891, the Mining Exchange
Building, on top of which stands the statue of the old prospector, pick in one
hand and gold brick in the other, master of all he surveys. He has stood guard
over the surrounding area for all these 70 years, a forgotten man, representing
an almost forgotten industry––gold mining––in the state of Colorado.
This splendid old building is now the home of the Mining Record, one of the
oldest mining weeklies in this country.
Subscribers to the fund for the cost of the building were
such men as John Evans, first governor of Colorado;
C.B. Kountze, prominent banker and founder of the present Colorado National
Bank; Henry C. Brown, who built the Brown Palace Hotel, and W.N. Byers, owner
and publisher of the Rocky Mountain News.
Other prominent and successful citizens of those early days who participated in
the activities were David H. Moffat, Banker and builder of the Moffat Railroad;
J.W. Nessmith, president, Colorado Iron Works; Walter S. Cheesman, capitalist;
DennisSheedy, president, Denver Dry Goods Co.,; H.A.W. Tabor; John Harvey of
Leadville, and D.R.C. Brown of Aspen. With the cooperation of this group, the Mining
Exchange Building
was financed, erected, and opened with much publicity at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1891.
When completed, the Central Savings Bank, now Central Bank
and Trust Co., occupied the corner ground floor, while the Colorado Mining
Stock Exchange used the entire second floor. Beautiful paneled walls framed a
scene of feverish activity as the exchange handled sales for clients and
speculators, both local and throughout the United
States. Many important
individuals and corporations had offices in the building, including such active
mine owners and operators as J.O.A. Carper, George Collins, Shrive Chase, John
T. Barnett, Charles Chase, Benjamin Briscoe, Buckley Wells, Fred Carstaphen,
Governors Jesse McDonald, William E. Sweet, and Oliver H. Shoup; Ezra Dickerman,
Stephen Ionides, Henry Sanderson, Charles N. Bell, Ralph McFann, Charles
Newmeyer, and Charles W. Henderson of the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
These men gathered for lunch to discuss the mining events of
the day at different old–time restaurants like Hurlburt's Dairy Lunch, The Home
Dairy, Tortoni's and the Manhattan.
Out of these informal gatherings grew the Denver
Mining Club. Early in its history luncheons were
held at the Daniels and Fisher Tearoom, the Edelweiss and the Denver Chamber of
Commercer Restaurant. About 20 years ago, the Club moved to the Denver Dry
Goods Tea Room for its luncheons held there every Wednesday. Average attendance
is about 50 members and guests.
Before mining went into a decline, the main subjects for discussion
at these luncheon–meetings were mining and mining news from different areas of
the state––reports by prospectors and mining men on new discoveries and
activities in mining. At present these
luncheon–meetings are enlivened by good talks on mining and milling and also
other subjects of general interest. A recent speaker at one of these
luncheons––Dr. John W. Vanderwilt, president of the Colorado School of
Mines––drew a record number of members.
Strictly a luncheon club, the Denver Mining Club welcomes anyone
remotely connected or indirectly associated with the mining industry. There has
never been any membership fee or dues. Members merely pay their own luncheon checks and those of
their guests.
After hearing the story of the proposed "Rush to the
Rockies" celebration which was scheduled for 1959, the members agreed to
rent the old stock exchange room in the Mining Exchange Building and put in a
display of ores, concentrates, mining machinery, antiques, maps, pictures and
books. Accordingly "The Hall of Mining
Progress" was opened to the public in January 1959. A fine display of more
than 300 items was accumulated through the efforts and
cooperation of mining and machinery companies and their representatives. An
"Old Timer," A Roy Wicker, supervised the display, and members, on a
voluntary basis, kept the display open throughout the Centennial celebration.
More than 10,000 visitors saw this fine display in eight months. This was made
possible by voluntary contributions from members of the Denver Mining Club, for no support was given by
the state, county or city.
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