Near Silverton in San Juan County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Chattanooga
Photographed by James Hulse, July 9, 2021
1. Chattanooga Marker
The Chattanooga Post Office was established on April 4, 1883, at the head of Mineral Creek. Originally called Sweetville, this small mining community served as a southern staging area for supplies and people coming into the Red Mountain Mining District from San Juan County. Freight bound for the mines was unloaded from wagons in Chattanooga and reloaded onto pack mules and burros for the steep trail over Red Mountain Pass.
By late 1883, Chattanooga's business district included four grocery stores, two bakeries, a restaurant, a clothier, a drugstore, two butcher shops, three boarding houses, and three saloons.
In the summer of 1888, the Silverton Railroad reached the summit of Red Mountain Pass. As a result, freight bypassed Chattanooga and was sent directly into the Red Mountain Mining District, thereby dooming the small settlement.
In 1889, the Eagle Slide (avalanche) roared through Chattanooga. Much of the town was destroyed, yet no one was killed or seriously injured. A few residents chose to rebuild, but most moved on for better opportunities.
Captions
Upper left, top: Silver Ledge Mill at Chattanooga, circa 1908. - Photo courtesy of San Juan County Historical Society
Lower left, bottom: "It seems almost incredible the amount of lumber and supplies which is here unloaded for the mines and camps..." - A description of Chattanooga Red Mountain Review, May 5,1883
Lower middle, top: Horse-drawn wagon on the road above Chattanooga, circa 1920s. - Photo San Juan National Forest archives
Lower middle, bottom: The Silver Ledge Mine, above Chattanooga. - Photo courtesy of Fort Lewis College - Center of Southwest Studies
Upper right, top: Chattanooga was booming in this 1883 photograph. Many residents, however, moved to Red Mountain Town the following year when a suitable wagon road was built over Red Mountain Pass. - Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library - Western History Department
Erected by USDA
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is April 4, 1883.
Location. 37° 52.235′ N, 107° 43.42′ W. Marker is near Silverton, Colorado, in San Juan County. It is on Million Dollar Highway (U.S. 550) 1½ miles north of County Highway 825, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Silverton CO 81433, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Idarado Houses (approx. 3.3 miles away); Reclaiming the Land (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Idarado Mine (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Treasury Tunnel (approx. 3.3 miles away); Boom Towns (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Yankee Girl (approx. 3.3 miles away); Mine Reclamation Improves Water Quality (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Heart of the Red Mountains
Photographed by James Hulse, July 9, 2021
2. Chattanooga Marker
Photographed by James Hulse, July 9, 2021
3. The Chattanooga Marker is the marker on the right of the three markers
Photographed by James Hulse, July 9, 2021
4. The view of the Chattanooga Marker from the pullout on the highway
Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 364 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 7, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
