Boom Days

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HERALD DEMOCRATCO-SPONSORED BY THE LEADVILLE ELKS LODGE #236

WWW.LEADVILLEBOOMDAYS.COM

LEADVILLE

LEADVILLE BOOM DAYS COMMITTEE • P.O. BOX 596, LEADVILLE, CO 80461

61st ANNUAL 20112011

AUGUST 5, 6 & 7

2 – 2011 Leadville Boom Days

Leadville Boom Days ©July 1, 2011, Arkansas Valley Publishing Co., 717 Harrison Ave.,P.O. Box 980, Leadville, CO 80461. (719) 486-0641, Fax (719) 486-0611. Use of any part of

this publication requires written permission from the publisher.This is a special edition of the Herald Democrat newspaper made possible by the advertisers

listed herein as well as Marcia Martinek, editor; Karen Rinehart, ad sales; Carol Werckman, copy editing; Ann Wibbenmeyer, Marcia Martinek and Sandra Halverstadt, photography; Holly Rus-

sell, cover design; Morris Christensen, printing; and Merle Baranczyk, publisher.

3 Downtown Leadville map4 Climax Mine5 Music and dancing6-7 Bill Harrington - grand marshal

8-9 Schedule10 Burro race11 Motorcycle events12 Kids’ events13 Costume events14 Mining contests15 Boom Days briefs

Table of Contents

On the cover: The background of the cover is a photo of the Climax open pit taken several years ago before the current construction at the mine began. The Boom Days belt buckle, honoring the Climax Mine, is on the upper right. Other photos were taken during Boom Days 2010.

Mining events take place during Boom Days for all ages including hand-mucking for youngsters.

2011 Leadville Boom Days – 3

Leadville Map

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The story of the Climax Mine, honored during Boom Days 2011, began 131 years ago when prospector Charles Senter discovered a deposit of an unknown mineral on Bartlett Mountain near Fremont Pass, eventually identified as molybdenite. The metal came into its own during World War I for its ability to enhance the durability, toughness, corrosion-resistance and thermal performance of steel alloys.

Following are some of the highlights of the Climax Mine:

• The Climax Molybdenum Company begins mining and milling molybdenite ore in February 1918, but this lasts only 10 months.

• Renewed interest in the uses of molybdenum causes the Climax Mine to reopen in 1924, and Climax turns in the best financial performance of any Depression-era American company.

• During World War II, when molybdenum becomes a strategic metal, Climax is designated the top-priority mine in the United States and ordered to emergency production.

• Another round of emergency production takes place during the Korean War.

• In 1957, with 1,800 employees mining and milling 35,000 tons of ore per day, Climax ranks as the world’s largest underground mine.

• In 1958, the Climax Molybdenum Company merges with the American Metal Company to form American Metal Climax (AMAX). During the 1970s, 3,000 Climax employees mine 50,000 tons of ore per day from three underground levels and a newly developed open pit.

• Just as molybdenum demand peaks, the economic recession of 1980 slashes steel demand, forcing Climax to suspend production, operating only sporadically after that.

• In 1993, Cyprus Minerals buys out AMAX to form Cyprus-AMAX, which is in turn acquired by copper-mining giant Phelps Dodge in 1999.

• In 2007, Climax becomes a subsidiary of its current owner, Phoenix-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., who today is getting the mine ready to reopen through a $700 million construction project. As of deadline, no date has been set for the reopening.

(Excerpted from “The Climax Story” by Steve Voynick.)

Boom Days honors the Climax Mine

Herald file photoThe Climax Mine is shown in this mid-1960s photo when Climax was also a town.


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Music and dancing is all over townMusic and dancing will be avail-

able throughout Boom Days. The following entertainment was con-firmed at deadline.Friday, Aug. 5Local venues8 p.m. Elks, 123 W. 5th St., dance, Cimarron, open to the publicSaturday, Aug. 6Lions Beer Garden11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jenna Martinez, Hispanic recording artist

Jenna Martinez will return to Boom Days 2011.

2:30 to 5 p.m. Gobs O’Phun, Denver, an Irish trio performing Irish and Scottish folk music and pub songsCourthouse Bandstand2 to 5 p.m. Hank Holloway five-piece band playing all types of music6 to 8 p.m. Jenna Martinez, Hispanic recording artistLocal Venues8 p.m. Elks Lodge, 123 W. 5th St., dance, Cimarron, open to the pub-lic9 p.m. Eagles Lodge, 812 Hemlock. Buffalo Thunder. The public is invited to be the guests of the Eagles. Sunday, Aug. 7Lions Beer Garden12:30 to 4 p.m. Gobs O’Phun, Denver, an Irish trio performing Irish and Scottish folk music and pub songs

Spaghetti dinnerThe Eagles’ Ladies Auxiliary

will serve a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge, 812 Hemlock.

Buffalo Thunder will play for a dance starting at 8 p.m.


LEADVILLE ELKS LODGE • 236

LEADVILLEBOOM DAYSCelebration

•MINING EVENTS LOCATEDBEHIND THE LODGE

friday 8/5– 8pm–DANCE to l ive musicsaturday 8/7– BINGO! 2pm • Dance to live music by Cimarron starting at 9pm

The Lodge will be Open to the Public • Friday • Saturday • Sunday

Bar-b-que Lunchsaturday + sunday • 11am - 4pm

proud sponsor of

by Marcia MartinekHerald Democrat Editor

Boom Days celebrates the Climax Mine this year, with Bill Harrington serving as the parade grand marshal.

Harrington is a third-generation Leadvillite and has worked off and on – mostly on – at the mine since June 13, 1969, right after he graduated from high school.

Both sets of grandparents came to Leadville from the “old country,” and he recalls stories of his grandparents skating at the Ice Palace.

Harrington’s first position at the mine was doing cleanup at the crusher, which involved shoveling up the spills and placing them on a conveyer belt. His original plan was to work for the summer and then join the Navy.

“It was a good job and good money,” he said, so he remained at Climax where his father and brother also worked. At that time about 2,600 people were working at the mine.

Many of his positions involved working with the crushers including time at the open pit and underground, working at the tailings ponds and running cranes.

The miners accomplished a lot together, and the mine owners, such as Cypress, then Phelps Dodge and now Freeport McMoRan, all ran a very safe operation, he said.

One of his good memories concerns being part of the crusher crew that set a record of relining the crusher in 11 hours, a job that normally would have taken at least a few days. Harrington is fairly sure that record still stands.

In 1981, he experienced his first layoff at Climax. During this period he was lucky enough to find work in town both for the county and working as a mechanic on a conveyer in Stringtown.

Bill Harrington named grand marshal

Continued on page 6


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He returned to Climax in 1984 and remained until 1987, when the mine essentially shut down.

Harrington then went to work at the Black Cloud Mine as a mechanic on the graveyard shift, also responsible for security. This gave him an opportunity to get back to painting, something that’s always been part of his life. A number of paintings were completed in the hoist room during that period.

Mines and railroads are his favorite subjects, and this year’s Boom Days belt buckle depicts the Climax Mine from a Harrington drawing.

Climax called Harrington back in 1989, and he has

remained at the mine ever since, although it was a m u c h d i f f e r e n t C l i m a x Mine than when he started. Harrington was one of four men on maintenance from that time until recently, when current mine owner Freeport- M c M o R a n i n s t i t u t e d construction at the mine with an eye to eventual reopening.

H a r r i n g t o n h a s b e e n married to Marsha for the past 34 years. They have two children, and John, 27, continues the family tradition as a Climax Mine employee. Kathleen Harrington Owens works in the Lake County clerk’s office.

Harrington looks forward to the opening of the mine.

“It will be good, although never like before,” he said.

no dogs allowed.

DOG-FREEEVENT.

PLEASE REMEMBER:BOOM DAYSis a

Mining is Harrington family tradition

Bill Harrington

Continued from page 6


Boom Days 2011Friday, Aug. 5

Saturday, Aug. 6

2 p.m. Food and Craft Fair opens Harrison Avenue4 p.m. Cloud City Riders’ event registration Harrison Avenue 5 p.m. Opening ceremony Harrison Avenue5:30 p.m. Cloud City Riders’ motorcycle games Harrison Avenue7:30 p.m. Keir Magic Show Tabor Opera House8 p.m. Boom Days Dance Elks Lodge, 123 W. 5th St.

7-10:30 a.m. Pancake breakfast Lake County Courthouse8 a.m.-5 p.m. Softball tournament Harrison Avenue and Leiter Street fi elds8 a.m. Mining-events registration Elks parking lot, W. 4th Street 9 a.m. Food and Craft Fair continues Harrison Avenue9 a.m. Rules and Drillers meeting Elks parking lot, W. 4th Street9 a.m.-5 p.m. Annual Rod & Gun Club Show 6th Street Gym 9:30 a.m. Mining events begin Elks parking lot, W. 4th Street10 a.m. Cloud City Riders’ bike-events registration 4th and Harrison Avenue10 a.m. Boom Days parade Harrison AvenueAfter parade Cloud City Riders’ bike events for kids Harrison AvenueAfter parade Boom Days Belt Buckle Auction of this year’s #1 and #100 limited-edition collector buckles Lake County CourthouseAfter parade T. H. E. Boomin’ Auto Show Harrison Avenue1:30 p.m. Children’s events and sandpile money grab LCHS football fi eld2 p.m. Celebrity boardwalk competition Harrison Avenue2 p.m. Bingo begins Elks Lodge, 123 W. 5th St.2:30 p.m. U.S. Forest Service log-sawing demo Harrison Avenue5 p.m. Spaghetti dinner followed by dance Eagles Lodge, 812 Hemlock7:30 p.m. Con Fuego! Tabor Opera House9 p.m. Boom Days Dance Elks Lodge, 123 W. 5th St.

The Shack Club depicts the building of the railroad and wins a trophy in 2010.


Schedule of EventsSunday, Aug. 7

8-10:30 a.m. Pancake breakfast Courthouse lawn8 a.m. Softball tournament continues Harrison Avenue and Leiter Street fi elds (championship in the afternoon)8:30 a.m. Mining events continue Elks parking lot, W. 4th Street9 a.m. Food and Craft Fair continues Harrison Avenue9 a.m. Weigh-in for burros W. 4th Street9 a.m.-4 p.m. Annual Rod & Gun Club Show 6th Street Gym10 a.m. Register for kids’ mining events Elks parking lot, W. 4th Street11 a.m. Open-course burro race starts Lake County Courthouse11:15 a.m. Short-course burro race starts Lake County Courthouse11:30 a.m. Celebrity burro race Harrison AvenueFollowing celebrity 1880s costume mosey, costume events forburro race couples (adults), females and children, pie-eating contest Harrison AvenueFollowing adultmining events Kids’ mining events Elks parking lot, W. 4th Street

Pick an orange garter, pick a purple garter, or get one of each and help settle a dispute among members of the 2011 Boom Days Committee who were unable to pick just one color. Garters are $4 each and are available around town and at the Boom Days booth in front of the courthouse.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast served on the courthouse lawn both Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Barb Dolan beat out 13 male finishers in last year’s open-course burro race, completing the 21 miles in a time of three hours, 44 minutes and 35.9 seconds.

This year’s 63rd Anniversary International Pack Burro Race in Leadville will be held on Sunday, Aug. 7.

It will consist of a 21-mile-long course up Mosquito Pass, at an elevation of 13,183 feet and back, starting at 11 a.m. In the Leadville race, the burros carry packs weighing 35 pounds and are led by rope.

The short 15-mile course will loop around Bald Mountain. It begins at 11:15 a.m. Both races start and conclude on Harrison Avenue as part of the Boom Days celebration. For information, contact Burro Race, P.O. Box 884, Leadville, CO 80461.

Last year, in the long course, Jeff Bennett came in second at 4:13:21.02. It was Bennett’s first try at burro racing, using a rented animal. Third went to Curtis Imrie at 4:32:39.90.

In the 15-mile race, Diane VanderHoven took first place at 2:34:19.31. Second and third places went to Karen Thorpe and Mary Kuehster.

Any man who wins the three long Triple Crown races or any woman who wins the three short Triple

Crown races is awarded an additional $500 plus the Triple Crown trophy. Dave TenEyck, race director, said the men’s and women’s trophies are like the Stan-ley Cup, traveling from winner to winner or residing with the sponsor when there is no Triple Crown win-ner.


Healy House & Dexter Cabin • Heritage Museum Matchless Mine • National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum

Tabor Home • Tabor Opera House

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Which burro racer will come in first?

Want to win $800?Make the best guess of the winning time in Lead-

ville’s open pack-burro race and win $800.Tickets are available at the Boom Days booth on

the courthouse lawn.They are $1 apiece or six for $5.

Sometimes a burro needs a little extra help to make it over the finish line.


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Following the opening ceremonies on Friday, Aug. 5, the Boom Days 2011 motorcycle events will take place starting around 5:30 p.m.

The kids’ bicycle events will again take place on Saturday, Aug. 6, following the parade (about noon).

Early sign-up for both events will start at 4 p.m. Friday in front of the courthouse. Kids also can sign up after 10 a.m. Saturday. Entry fee is $1 per event, and the proceeds will go to a local charity.

Motorcycle events will include all types of two-wheelers: choppers, cruisers, rockets and dirt – all combined.

Events are:• Plank ride: Consists of 50 linear feet of a 1”x6”

board followed by 50 linear feet of a 1”x4” board nailed down to the center of the street. Rides start with front wheels touching the first board. Multiple full rides go again.

• Slow ride: Two chalk boxes are laid out side by side, 2 feet by 50 feet. Two riders line up, one in each box. Whoever can keep from touching the lines or putting a foot down moves on to the next round.

• Honey, I’m Home: This is a timed event where the rider lies down on a bed and waits for the crazy spouse to yell, “Honey, I’m home!.” The rider has to slip on pants, and then jump through the window, get on the bike and race to the finish.

• Ball drop: Rider must have a partner on the back of his bike. He must weave through eight cans without putting a foot down while the passenger drops ping-pong balls into each can. Whoever gets the most balls in wins.

• Wienie bite: The rider needs his passenger to bite as much as possible from a hot dog that is hanging from a gallows. The rider cannot put his foot down.

Events feature motorcycles, bikes

A motorcycle rider attempts the plank ride at the 2010 Boom Days.

Pancake breakfastA pancake and sausage breakfast costing $7 for

adults and $5 for children 12 and under will be available on the courthouse lawn Saturday, 7 to 10:30 a.m. and Sunday from 8 to 10:30 a.m.


The ever-popular sandpile money pit will be available again on Saturday, Aug. 6, following the first kids’ event at 1:30 p.m.

The kids’ events take place at the high-school football field, found by heading west on West 4th Street.

The money pit consists of children burrowing in the sand for coins hidden there. The younger children will go first. Sponsors for this are the Boom Days Committee, Centennial Real Estate, Peoples Bank and Pueblo Bank & Trust.

Other events include an obstacle course and races with prizes for first, second and third. The races are a dash for ages 0-4, egg carry for ages 5-7 and a sack

race for ages 8-12.The events run youngest to oldest with a mixed-age

3-legged race and balloon toss to finish off the events.Several items will be raffled including scooters and

Rockies tickets.New this year is a bounce house at no charge

provided by Cloud City Inflatables.Kids’ events are free.The kids’ bike events will take place around noon on

Harrison Avenue right after the parade.

Kids can compete for prizes and more

Boys compete in the three-legged race.

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Costumes inspire a look at the pastThe Boom Days costume events

will take place again this year on Sunday, Aug. 7, after the celebrity burro race at 11:30 a.m.

Entry fee for each event is $2 (cash only). Prizes will be awarded as gift certificates from local partic-ipating merchants. An entry form with a signed waiver is required for each event and will be available prior to the events.

Entrants must be dressed in Victorian costumes, circa 1880s, based on the selected category. They must line up, walk down the street, turn to show off the cos-tume and walk back to the start. Entrants will be judged on original-ity, overall appearance, authentic-ity and presentation.

Following are Sunday’s events in the order in which they will occur:

• Mosey – a costume event for the most authentic 1880s dressy couple strolling the main street. The first- place couple wins $25; second, $15; and third, $10. This is an adult event.

• Most authentic 1880s child's costume. First place, $10.

• Most authentic 1880s ele-gant female costume. First place, $10.

• Most authentic 1880s male costume. First place, $10.

• Most authentic 1880s saloon girl. First place, $10.

Stick around for the pie-eating contest, as well.

This couple competes in the mosey during Boom Days 2010.

It is said that the pre-World War II celebrations in Leadville,similar to Boom Days, were known as Tabor Days.


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Emmit Hoyl won the title of all-around mining com-petitor following the mining events at the 2010 Boom Days.

Drilling matches go back as far as 1885, when matches for side bets were made in the various min-ing sections. A State Mining Congress was established in the 1890s, and two Leadville miners, Mike Sullivan and Con O’Neil, brought home first prize, a silver bucket, in 1895.

The rocks used in present-day competitions come

from the Climax Mine.Miners from many different locations come to Lead-

ville to participate in such events as jackleg drilling, hand-mucking and hand-steeling.

Events begin at 9 a.m. both days and proceed in this order: Saturday, single jack, spike driving, men’s hand-mucking, women’s hand mucking, singles hand-steeling; Sunday, team jackleg drilling, team hand steeling.

The kids’ mining events follow the team hand-steel-

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no dogs allowed.

DOG-FREE EVENT.

PLEASE REMEMBER:BOOM DAYSis a

Mining competitions are tradition

Care must be taken to not smash your partner’s hand in team hand-steeling.

Auto showis after parade

The 6th annual Boomin’ Auto Show will return to Harrison Avenue on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 6, around noon following the Boom Days parade.

All types of vehicles including bikes may enter. There will be awards in various categories, with judging done by show participants and others.

Entry fee is $20 per vehicle.For information, call Vern Velasquez, (970) 376-

2191, or e-mail [email protected].


The Matchless Mine& Baby Doe’s Cabin

The Matchless Mine is owned and operated by the National Mining Museum

Guided Surface Mine Tours Daily 10am-4pmMemorial Day Weekend thru late September (weather permitting)

1.25 mi. on E. 7th St. from Harrison Avenue, Leadville CO719-486-1229 www.matchlessmine.org

? @( Free gold-panning lessons (

Rod & Gun Club showThe 26th Annual Rod & Gun Show will take

place at the 6th Street Gym during Boom Days.It will feature gun paraphernalia for sale and

trade, ammunition, collectibles, many firearms dealers, and arts and crafts.

The show will be will be on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 6th St. Gym. Admission is $3 for adults and free to children under 10. Children must be accompanied by a parent.

Purchase raffle tickets at the show for the follow-ing prizes. Drawing is Sunday.

• 1st: Henry 44-magnum Golden Boy rifle, cus-tom engraved by Legacy Firearms

• 2nd: Leopold spotting scope – Wind River 20-60Xx80mm angled

• Buck hunting knife – Alpha Hunter.

Softball tournamentThe Leadville Eagles Aerie #91 is sponsoring the annual

Boom Days Softball Tournament on Aug. 6 and 7.

Softball games will start at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Teams will play until dusk at Harrison field on Saturday and until 10 p.m. at Leiter field.

The championship game will be held Sunday after-noon at Leiter field.

To enter a team, contact James Gerbitz, (970) 389-3892 or Jeff Lake (970) 376-3248. Entry is $275 per team.

Kids can muckThe children’s mining events will follow the adult

mining events on Sunday, Aug. 7, likely around noon, but registration starts at 10 a.m. Sunday behind the Elks Club.

Tim and Lora Behm of Tim’s Auto Body again are in charge of these timed mucking events in age groups of 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. Children pay a $1 entry fee. They use a small shovel to muck into buckets with the buckets and rocks getting bigger based on the ages.

Each participant gets a soda, snack and participation ribbon. The top three in each group win ribbons and trophies.

Boom Days briefs

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