Fraser in Grand County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Doc Susie

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2025

1. Doc Susie Marker

Inscription.

Doc Susie. . , She looks tired, worn out after being up most of the night, tending to a sick patient. She's walking home in deep snow on a very cold windy night with her medical bag and railroad lantern. In her younger years she joked about carrying a six gun, "to ward off mountain lions or overly amorous men." But true or not, at 70 years of age, this night is seemingly too much for the frontier medical doctor. , Dr. Susan Anderson, born in 1870, came up to the high country as a young physician, hoping to prolong her life after being diagnosed with lung disease. She lived to the age of 90, gaining admiration for a lifetime of caring for the sick and injured, reaching patients on horseback, snowshoe, buckboard or by train. , Doc Susie has been described as "very professional in attitude, and one who did not suffer fools gladly." Her medical office in her log home was quite cluttered, and patients were often examined on her bed. She entered patients homes without knocking, explaining to outsiders, "people hereabouts don't put much importance in formalities." , Settlers didn't have a great deal of loose cash, so Doc Susie was paid with fire wood, fix up labor on her log home, or money when available. Doc Susie's father was a gold miner in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and he initially paid to send her off to medical school. She earned her M.D. at the University of Michigan in 1898 and joined the ranks of women struggling for entrance and recognition in the male dominated medical profession. , Returning to Colorado, she was forced to work as a nurse due to society's prejudices. Women were supposed to be nurses, not doctors. While nursing diphtheria and tubercular patients in Colorado's front range towns, she herself was struck down by tuberculosis. Thinking the dry mountain air might prolong her life, she took a sales clerk position in a Fraser, Colorado, dry goods store. Ultimately a man asked if she could save his critically ill horse, which she labored over for several days. "Thank goodness he lived," she said, and soon people accepted Susan Anderson as a real doctor. , Newspaper articles told of her unusual life in the high mountains, and actress Ethyl Barrymore wrote Doc Susie, asking to buy her life story for an early Hollywood movie. Doc Susie reportedly answered Barrymore's letter with one word, "fiddlesticks." , Doc Susie died in Denver’s county hospital with little or no funds, and was buried next to her father in Cripple Creek, Colorado. When her former patients of the Fraser River Valley learned that she was lying in an unmarked grave, they passed the hat and bought a proper headstone and had it engraved, “Susan Anderson, M.D., Doctor to Grand County, 1870-1960.” , This plaque was donated by the Fraser River Valley Lions Club

She looks tired, worn out after being up most of the night, tending to a sick patient. She's walking home in deep snow on a very cold windy night with her medical bag and railroad lantern. In her younger years she joked about carrying a six gun, "to ward off mountain lions or overly amorous men." But true or not, at 70 years of age, this night is seemingly too much for the frontier medical doctor.

Dr. Susan Anderson, born in 1870, came up to the high country as a young physician, hoping to prolong her life after being diagnosed with lung disease. She lived to the age of 90, gaining admiration for a lifetime of caring for the sick and injured, reaching patients on horseback, snowshoe, buckboard or by train.

Doc Susie has been described as "very professional in attitude, and one who did not suffer fools gladly." Her medical office in her log home was quite cluttered, and patients were often examined on her bed. She entered patients homes without knocking, explaining to outsiders, "people hereabouts don't put much importance in formalities."

Settlers didn't have a great deal of loose cash, so Doc Susie was paid with fire wood,

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fix up labor on her log home, or money when available. Doc Susie's father was a gold miner in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and he initially paid to send her off to medical school. She earned her M.D. at the University of Michigan in 1898 and joined the ranks of women struggling for entrance and recognition in the male dominated medical profession.

Returning to Colorado, she was forced to work as a nurse due to society's prejudices. Women were supposed to be nurses, not doctors. While nursing diphtheria and tubercular patients in Colorado's front range towns, she herself was struck down by tuberculosis. Thinking the dry mountain air might prolong her life, she took a sales clerk position in a Fraser, Colorado, dry goods store. Ultimately a man asked if she could save his critically ill horse, which she labored over for several days. "Thank goodness he lived," she said, and soon people accepted Susan Anderson as a real doctor.

Newspaper articles told of her unusual life in the high mountains, and actress Ethyl Barrymore wrote Doc Susie, asking to buy her life story for an early Hollywood movie. Doc Susie reportedly answered Barrymore's letter

Doc Susie Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2025

2. Doc Susie Sculpture

with one word, "fiddlesticks."

Doc Susie died in Denver’s county hospital with little or no funds, and was buried next to her father in Cripple Creek, Colorado. When her former patients of the Fraser River Valley learned that she was lying in an unmarked grave, they passed the hat and bought a proper headstone and had it engraved, “Susan Anderson, M.D., Doctor to Grand County, 1870-1960.”

This plaque was donated by the Fraser River Valley Lions Club

Erected 1995.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 39° 56.742′ N, 105° 48.834′ W. Marker is in Fraser, Colorado, in Grand County. It can be reached from the intersection of Zerex Street (U.S. 40) and Clayton Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker and sculpture are located on the Headwaters Trail Alliance Visitor Center grounds in Fraser's "Walk Through History Park". Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 Zerex Street, Fraser CO 80442, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Doc Susie Marker & Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2025

3. Doc Susie Marker & Sculpture

The historical marker is on the left side of the sculpture.

this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies and on the Continental Divide.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

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 walking distance of this marker: Frontier Infantry (here, next to this marker); Sheriff Billy Cozens (a few steps from this marker); Jim Bridger (a few steps from this marker); The Western Heritage Collection (a few steps from this marker); Jeremiah (John) Johnson (a few steps from this marker); Indian and Eagle (within shouting distance of this marker); The Rancher (within shouting distance of this marker); Gone Fishin' (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fraser.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Western Heritage Collection

Also see . . .
1. Susan Anderson (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Anderson became a licensed physician after graduating from medical school in 1897. She returned to Cripple Creek before moving around Colorado in attempt
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2025

4. J.M. Hoy Marker
The sculptures and bronzes in Fraser's "Walk Through History Park" were gifted and created by J.M. Hoy whose artistic talent, passion and vision has linked our history with our present and future. Thanks, Jim — September, 1995
to practice in Denver, Greeley and Eaton, but found it difficult to find work. In 1904, she was appointed Coroner of Grand County, Colorado, during which time she investigated many of the deaths involved in the construction of the Moffat Tunnel railroad.
After contracting tuberculosis in 1907, Anderson relocated to Fraser, Colorado, where residents affectionately nicknamed her "Doc Susie"; for 49 years, she was the only physician in Fraser. She tended to a range of patients and medical conditions including childbirth, skiing injuries, and particularly pneumonia during the 1918 flu pandemic. Although most of her work involved making house calls to patients, Anderson never owned a horse or car, and she was usually paid in food or firewood rather than money. Anderson was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1997.

(Submitted on November 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Meet Doc Susie (Doctor Susan Anderson Chapter, NSDAR).

Excerpt: Our NSDAR chapter is named in honor of Doctor Susan Anderson (1870-1960). In 1907, she moved to Fraser, Colorado, where she thought the high mountain
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2025

5. Doc Susie Mural
(on east side of nearby historic Cozens Ranch House)
Doc Susie
1870-1960
Her first patient
”We built this [Moffat] tunnel”
1918 Flu epidemic
air could improve her health. “Doc Susie,” as the local folks called her, treated people in several towns along the railway. She delivered babies, cared for the sick, treated injuries of the ranchers, farmers, railway and tunnel workers, logging men, and sometimes even animals! She cared for people during the major influenza epidemic of 1918. In 1926, she became the Coroner of Grand County. As a professional, she inspired young girls to pursue lives beyond the drudgery of most women of that era.

(Submitted on November 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Susan "Doc Susie" Anderson - Frontier Physician in Colorado's Mountain Communities.

(By Mary Dodge Allen) Excerpt: Doc Susie was one the first women physicians in Colorado. She practiced medicine in the rugged, rural mountains of Grand County for nearly 50 years. She was dedicated to serving her patients, making house calls in all types of weather...

(Submitted on November 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

4. The sculpture trail in Fraser Colorado (Quiltripping.com).

(by Rose Palmer) Excerpt: In Fraser,
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this trail is anchored by the “Walk Through History Park” with sculptures in bronze created and donated by J. M. Hoy. For Mr. Hoy these sculptures and the research into the stories of each character, were a labor of love. They were made as a part of his Western Heritage Collection as a means of inspiring young people to learn about America’s frontier.
Doc Susie
For 49 years, Doctor Susan Anderson was the only doctor in the town of Fraser. She spent a lifetime caring for the sick or injured, getting to them by whatever means possible – horseback, snowshoe, buckboard wagon or train. She was one of the early women doctors, making a name for herself in a field dominated by men, and did not retire from practice till 1956.

(Submitted on November 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 15, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.