Near Ouray in Ouray County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Larson Brothers Mine

Photographed By James Hulse, July 9, 2021

1. Larson Brothers Mine Marker

Inscription.

Larson Brothers Mine. . , W.C. Davis and G.C. McGee recorded the Ida L. and Dauntless mining claims in 1888. In 1893 Davis sold his interest in these and other claims to W.F. Abrams of San Diego, California. McGee kept his interest until selling it to A.G. Bruner in 1910. Beginning in 1917 Bruner fell behind in tax payments and Charles L. Larson of Denver purchased the Ida L. and Dauntless in 1933 for $200., Charles died in 1936 and property went to his wife and two sons, Harry and Milton Larson. By 1937 they had constructed a small flotation mill, a small bunkhouse, blacksmith shop and a snow shed over the mouth of the adit. The concrete foundation for the mill is located just behind the adit. The property had a 180-foot tunnel and a two-compartment shaft. In 1937 they shipped 25 tons of concentrate valued at $100 per ton but further development was limited due to financial problems. Kenneth Gerard became a partner with the Larson Brothers in the 1940s. In 1951 Gerard started a diamond-drilling program. Leasees occasionally worked the mine up until the 1960s., In the late 1950s the Larson Brothers bought the nearby Beaver and Belfast Mines for back taxes. Harry died in 1959 and Milton continued to live in Ironton until his death in 1964. Milton Larson was best known as Ironton's last resident. His friends dubbed him Ironton's "mayor." In 1961 he was given an all-expense paid trip to New York to appear on What's My Line where his line was "I am the only resident of Ironton, Colorado." His appearance is preserved on Youtube., In 2005, Ouray County purchased the claims from the Garard family with a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado., The Larson Brothers Mine is an important historic site and is listed as a Ouray County Historic Landmark. A conservation easement on the property conveyed to the Trust for Land Restoration ensures protection of this historic site from inappropriate development., The boarding house/office building was re-roofed in 2005 (see photo below) and the building repaired in 2018. Please treat the building with respect and do not remove anything from the site.

W.C. Davis and G.C. McGee recorded the Ida L. and Dauntless mining claims in 1888. In 1893 Davis sold his interest in these and other claims to W.F. Abrams of San Diego, California. McGee kept his interest until selling it to A.G. Bruner in 1910. Beginning in 1917 Bruner fell behind in tax payments and Charles L. Larson of Denver purchased the Ida L. and Dauntless in 1933 for $200.

Charles died in 1936 and property went to his wife and two sons, Harry and Milton Larson. By 1937 they had constructed a small flotation mill, a small bunkhouse, blacksmith shop and a snow shed over the mouth of the adit. The concrete foundation for the mill is located just behind the adit. The property had a 180-foot tunnel and a two-compartment shaft. In 1937 they shipped 25 tons of concentrate valued at $100 per ton but further development was limited due to financial problems. Kenneth Gerard became a partner with the Larson Brothers in the 1940s. In 1951 Gerard started a diamond-drilling program. Leasees occasionally worked the mine up until the 1960s.

In the late 1950s the Larson Brothers bought the nearby Beaver and Belfast Mines for back taxes. Harry died in 1959 and Milton continued to live in Ironton until his death in 1964. Milton Larson was best known as Ironton's last resident. His friends dubbed him Ironton's "mayor."

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In 1961 he was given an all-expense paid trip to New York to appear on What's My Line where his line was "I am the only resident of Ironton, Colorado." His appearance is preserved on Youtube.

In 2005, Ouray County purchased the claims from the Garard family with a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado.

The Larson Brothers Mine is an important historic site and is listed as a Ouray County Historic Landmark. A conservation easement on the property conveyed to the Trust for Land Restoration ensures protection of this historic site from inappropriate development.

The boarding house/office building was re-roofed in 2005 (see photo below) and the building repaired in 2018. Please treat the building with respect and do not remove anything from the site.

Erected by Ouray County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 37° 56.277′ N, 107° 40.516′ W. Marker is near Ouray, Colorado, in Ouray County. Marker is on Million Dollar Highway (U.S. 550) ¼ mile west of County Highway 20, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located on the building by the side of Highway 550. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ouray CO 81427, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles

Larson Brothers Mine Marker by the highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, July 9, 2021

2. Larson Brothers Mine Marker by the highway

of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mine Reclamation Improves Water Quality (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Silverton Railroad (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Heart of the Red Mountains (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Treasury Tunnel (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Yankee Girl (approx. 2.1 miles away); Boom Towns (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Idarado Mine (approx. 2.1 miles away); Reclaiming the Land (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ouray.

Regarding Larson Brothers Mine. The 2005 item should have said Gerard, not Garard. Reference:

Abandoned Mine & Long Lost "Larson Home" Found - Ironton Colorado - Derelict Doug
https://www.derelictdoug.net/derelict-doug-blog/milton-larsons-abandoned-mine-and-home-ironton-colorado#google_vignette

The Larson Brothers Mine Marker is located on the old building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, July 9, 2021

3. The Larson Brothers Mine Marker is located on the old building

The entrance to the Larson Brothers Mine is on the left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, July 9, 2021

4. The entrance to the Larson Brothers Mine is on the left

Inside view of the Larson Brothers Mine image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, July 9, 2021

5. Inside view of the Larson Brothers Mine

The general area of the Larson Brothers Mine and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, July 9, 2021

6. The general area of the Larson Brothers Mine and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 422 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on December 23, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 8, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.