Sawmill, Breckenridge (304 at Wedgewood Lodge)
by Julia Anna Moore Hello friend, Welcome to the Wedgewood Lodge, slope-side, next to Snowflake Lift. Snowflake is a one-of-a-kind two-person lift that has a mid-load station and 70-degree turn to put you at Peak 8. It’s personally one of my favorite lifts of all time especially when snow is quietly falling, blanketing the landscape in Colorado’s legendary white powder. We’re extremely stoked that you have chosen Breckenridge, and even more so that you’re staying with us. We pride ourselves in being a long-standing boutique experience, with studio spaces to three bedroom townhomes. We’re still family-owned and operated and specialize in group travel and weddings. Whether you’re here for the ski season or a summer getaway, we are only a few blocks from Main Street and just a stones throw from the slopes where you can ride and hike. We renovated in 2023–2024 and within that renovation we decided to customize each and every space with unique historic photographs curated by me (Jules)! The artwork in your unit is unique to you and contains a piece of Breck’s history. In addition, you’ll see some of my own photographs sprinkled throughout the space. Each unit is also named after a run somewhere in Breck’s 3,000+ acres, with the story behind it explained below. Unfortunately, we only have 52 units, so a lot of runs were left unmentioned but we hope that you get to explore as much as you can. At Wedgewood, we love where we live and want to display how far the town has come. Thanks for coming, and enjoy your stay. How to get to Sawmill. I chose this run because it’s a super beautiful and calm green run in the forest. You feel isolated from the rest of the resort and its a nice way to get back to Peak 9. The only problem is that you have to be a decent skier or rider to get here, at the minimum you will take Peak 8 Transfer which is a blue run, and it’s only up from there in difficulty such as icy and steep black diamond, Shock, or bumped out and exposed Mach 1. This run was probably named after the great number of portable sawmills that existed in the area during mining times. Lumber was of great value and sawmills were everywhere. Probably makes sense that the run is inside the forest. The Kaisers. The Kaiser family had stakes in the town during the ming era. They opened the Kaiser Meat and Grocery Store in 1904, which was the firest glass front buliding in town. They were also involved with the Morning Star Mine and the local school board and other public affairs. The Kaisers had a large family, of which their daughter June tragically died at the age of 12 to what was believed to be a heart problem. Their family home is now the Hearthstone Restaurant which is a beautiful farm-to-table culinary experience. Reservations are recommended. From top to bottom: Large piles of snow cover Lincoln Avenue in front of Kaiser’s Market in Breckenridge: A man standing outside Kaiser’s Market looks at the enormous piles of snow remaining on Lincoln Avenue in Breckenridge, Colorado after the “Big Snow” winter of 1898–1899. Original creator: circa 1899; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. Kaiser’s house on Ridge Street, Breckenridge: Kaiser’s residence on Ridge Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. Constructed in 1885 as the home of Mr. Ira A. Cammett, the property was acquired in 1891 by Johann Christian (“Chris”) Kaiser. Chris and his wife, Ida, were long-time proprietors of Kaiser’s Market on Lincoln Avenue. They raised three sons in this house, Edwin, Harold, and Carl. The home featured a west facing square bay window and a second floor dormer window on the south side. Within the fenced yard are stairs leading up to the front porch and entrance. St. Mary’s Church and its bell and belfry (added in 1899) is in the background. Original creator: circa 1930s-1940s (Creation); Unidentified. Breckenridge History Photograph Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Gold dredge, Breckenridge, Colo: View of the Blue River Placer Mining Company (or Continental Mining Company) bucket-line dredging boat, in Breckenridge, Summit County, Colorado. The covered stacker of the hydraulic mine and processing plant extends over tailing piles; a person is on deck. Original creator: [1917–1938?]; Unidentified. Denver Public Library Special Collections, X-60157. June Kaiser rides her horse Nellie in Breckenridge: June Kaiser, daughter of Carl and Esther Kaiser, rides her horse named Nellie in a grassy area across from the 1909-built courthouse in Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten caption on the reverse: “June & her horse Nellie” and “July 1942.” Original creator: 1942 (Creation); Unidentified. Breckenridge History Photograph Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado. A couple pose by the Continental gold dredge on the Blue River: A man and woman, probably Carl and Esther Kaiser, stand in front of a gold dredge. Signs and notices on the dredge warn “No Admittance” and “Danger No Trespassing”. Handwritten caption on the front: “Gold dredge managed by Carl Kaiser 1933–1938”. The Yuba dredge (renamed Continental dredge) operated on the Blue River from 1917 to 1938, when it was dismantled and moved to Fairplay, Colorado. It was the last of the nine dredges operating around Breckenridge. Original creator: 1933–1938 (Creation); Unidentified. Breckenridge History Photograph Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Alice, Ida and June Kaiser with friends in a 1914 Dodge sedan in Breckenridge: Alice Kaiser drives her sisters, Ida and June, and friends in a 1914 Dodge sedan down Ridge Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten caption on the reverse: “‘Sophisticates and Myrtle Bridge — 1936”, “Carl Kaiser house on left — Chris Kaiser house on right” and “Alice Sandefer driving ‘her’ car”. Alice, Ida and June were the daughters of Carl and Esther Kaiser, and granddaughters of Chris and Ida Kaiser. Note: Carl an Esther Kaiser’s house is often referred to as the “Ladybug House”. Original creator: 1936 (Creation); Unidentified. Breckenridge History Photograph Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado.
Pioneer, Breckenridge (207 at Wedgewood Lodge)
by Julia Anna Moore Hello friend, Welcome to the Wedgewood Lodge, slope-side, next to Snowflake Lift. Snowflake is a one-of-a-kind two-person lift that has a mid-load station and 70-degree turn to put you at Peak 8. It’s personally one of my favorite lifts of all time especially when snow is quietly falling, blanketing the landscape in Colorado’s legendary white powder. We’re extremely stoked that you have chosen Breckenridge, and even more so that you’re staying with us. We pride ourselves in being a long-standing boutique experience, with studio spaces to three bedroom townhomes. We’re still family-owned and operated and specialize in group travel and weddings. Whether you’re here for the ski season or a summer getaway, we are only a few blocks from Main Street and just a stones throw from the slopes where you can ride and hike. We renovated in 2023–2024 and within that renovation we decided to customize each and every space with unique historic photographs curated by me (Jules)! The artwork in your unit is unique to you and contains a piece of Breck’s history. In addition, you’ll see some of my own photographs sprinkled throughout the space. Each unit is also named after a run somewhere in Breck’s 3,000+ acres, with the story behind it explained below. Unfortunately, we only have 52 units, so a lot of runs were left unmentioned but we hope that you get to explore as much as you can. At Wedgewood, we love where we live and want to display how far the town has come. Thanks for coming, and enjoy your stay. How to get to Pioneer. Pioneer is a long blue run on Peak 7. You can get there via Independence SuperChair or from the T-Bar. It’s labelled as a family zone so there will be slow signs here and is a great learning area. If you want to get away from the family zones, choose any blue run nearby that does not have the yellow highlight. It’s unclear if there is historical significance to the naming of this run, but its possible that it was named after the fire company that originally existed during the mining days of Breckenridge: Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company, №1. Fighting natures beast: avalanches. I think it’s extremely impressive that in the early days people figured out how to protect infrastructure from avalanches. These deadly slides still show scars on our mountains today, and methods to protect people such as snow sheds are still used all over the world. Theres a photo in this collection where you can recognize the mountain and the avalanche scar because the slide has happened multiple times — see if you can find it. From top to bottom: View from the interior of Snow sheds, looking towards South Park: View from the interior of the snow shed covering narrow gauge railroad tracks at Boreas Pass, looking south towards Park County, Colorado. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: “View from the interior of Snow sheds, looking towards South Park. Original creator: Circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Railway snow shed in Illinois Park near Breckenridge: Narrow gauge railroad and snow shed over the tracks at Hook Eye Curve in Illinois Park near Breckenridge, Colorado. Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Rotary snowplow and trains on Boreas Pass head for Breckenridge during the Big Snow of 1899: A convoy of train engines on snowy Boreas Pass head for Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten on the reverse: “Probably the relief train comi[ng] on top Boreas Pass heading for Breckenridge 1899 Original creator: 1899 (Creation); Unidentified. Agnes Miner Collection; Gift, Colorado Springs Ghost Town Club. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Colorado and Southern Railway blocked by snow slide, west side of Ten Mile Canyon: Colorado and Southern (C&S) Railway Engine №10 is blocked by a large snow slide covering the tracks on the west side of Tenmile Peak (Peak 2) in Ten Mile Canyon near Frisco, Colorado. One of the worst snow storms to hit Summit County in years began on December 12, 1922. Two snow slides occurred on December 15 near Curtain, one on the east side and another on the west side of the Curtain train station. Original creator: 1922 (Creation); Sayre, Robert H.. Robert H. Sayre Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Men in a two-horse team wagon travel a road cleared through a snow slide, Ten Mile Canyon: Two formally-dressed men in a wagon pulled by two horses with a driver travel a narrow road that has been cleared in a snow slide. Probably taken in the Ten Mile Canyon, Colorado, near the Curtain train station where a snow slide occurred on December 15, 1922. Caption on right of photo has a date of 6/8/22, but that may not be correct as snow would have mostly melted by June. Original creator: 1922 (Creation); Sayre, Robert H.. Robert H. Sayre Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Railroad blocked by snow from an avalanche, in the Ten Mile Canyon near Frisco: Train stopped on its tracks blocked by snow from a snow slide or avalanche in the Ten Mile Canyon. The Ten Mile Creek runs through the canyon along the railroad bed. Handwritten on the reverse “Train from in [illegible] Saturday morning. There was a couple feet of snow over the top of the rear coach.” Original creator: Early 1900s (Creation); Unidentified. Agnes Miner Collection; Gift, Colorado Springs Ghost Town Club. Breckenridge History, Colorado.
Ego Lane, Breckenridge (204 at Wedgewood Lodge)
by Julia Anna Moore Hello friend, Welcome to the Wedgewood Lodge, slope-side, next to Snowflake Lift. Snowflake is a one-of-a-kind two-person lift that has a mid-load station and 70-degree turn to put you at Peak 8. It’s personally one of my favorite lifts of all time especially when snow is quietly falling, blanketing the landscape in Colorado’s legendary white powder. We’re extremely stoked that you have chosen Breckenridge, and even more so that you’re staying with us. We pride ourselves in being a long-standing boutique experience, with studio spaces to three bedroom townhomes. We’re still family-owned and operated and specialize in group travel and weddings. Whether you’re here for the ski season or a summer getaway, we are only a few blocks from Main Street and just a stones throw from the slopes where you can ride and hike. We renovated in 2023–2024 and within that renovation we decided to customize each and every space with unique historic photographs curated by me (Jules)! The artwork in your unit is unique to you and contains a piece of Breck’s history. In addition, you’ll see some of my own photographs sprinkled throughout the space. Each unit is also named after a run somewhere in Breck’s 3,000+ acres, with the story behind it explained below. Unfortunately, we only have 52 units, so a lot of runs were left unmentioned but we hope that you get to explore as much as you can. At Wedgewood, we love where we live and want to display how far the town has come. Thanks for coming, and enjoy your stay. How to get to Ego Lane. This run is not technically on the map because it’s technically a continuation of Spruce, the black run above it. Ego Lane is a green run thats supposed to give you a ego boost on the way back home at the end of the day. It was originally the northern-most run back to the base of Peak 8 where Breckenridge started operations in the 1960’s. You can cut into Ego Lane from green run Swinger or blue run Crescendo as well. Its recommended for all levels. The significance of beautiful Peak 8. Peak 8 appears in even the earliest photos of the area and it’s undeniably beautiful and iconic. The Mountain Utes called todays “Ten Mile Range,” the “Shining Mountains.” During mining times, Peak 8 was called Mount Tillie Ann, in honor of the first white women, Matilda Silverthorn, to climb Peak 8. It’s rumored that she was the first white person in general to climb this gnarly mountain, petticoats and all. There is not enough space on these walls to fit all the beautiful photos from Peak 8, but here are a few: From top to bottom: Mount Tillyann near Breckenridge: Denver, South Park and Pacific (DSP&P) railway between Boreas Pass and Breckenridge, Colorado. In the background is Peak 8 of the Tenmile Range. In the 1880s-1900s, Breckenridge locals called the mountain Peak Tilly Ann, named after Matilda Silverthorn and Ann Remine, the two young women that allegedly first climbed Peak 8. Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Snowboarder catching air on his snowboard: In 1984 Breckenridge became the first Colorado resort to allow snowboarding. The following year, it hosted the first snowboard World Cup and has hosted major winter events nearly every year since. Original creator: (COLO.)–1980; BHA POSTCARD COLLECTION. DR. SANDRA F. MATHER ARCHIVES, BRECKENRIDGE HISTORY No title: No description. My description: One of the original chairs on Peak 8 in the early days of Breck’s ski history. It’s painted light blue, in the foreground you see post #6, in the background you see two people seated on the chair lift and behind that there are white capped mountains. Peak eight in early autumn after the first snowfall: View of Breckenridge, Colorado from Lincoln Avenue in early autumn after the first snowfall on Peak 8 of the Tenmile Range. The 1882-built wood frame schoolhouse with bell cupola stands prominently among the houses and churches. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount. Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado. The original parking lot at the base of Peak 8, Breckenridge Ski Area, Breckenridge: Parking at the base of Peak 8 was free. Original creator: (COLO.)–1963; PHOTOGRAPH BY MERLE LYDICK . DR. SANDRA F. MATHER ARCHIVES, BRECKENRIDGE HISTORY. The Bergenhof Bar and Restaurant at the base of Peak 8 restaurant: During the opening in 1961, The Berfenhof was the only bar/restaurant at the ski resort. Its wrap-around deck, stone fireplace and ski area views made it a popular après hangout for nearly five decades Original creator: Circa 1960s; JOHN A. TOPOLNICKI SR. PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION. DR. SANDRA F. MATHER ARCHIVES, BRECKENRIDGE HISTORY / JOHN A. TOPOLNICKI SR. PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION
Mineshaft, Breckenridge (127 at Wedgewood Lodge)
by Julia Anna Moore Hello friend, Welcome to the Wedgewood Lodge, slope-side, next to Snowflake Lift. Snowflake is a one-of-a-kind two-person lift that has a mid-load station and 70-degree turn to put you at Peak 8. It’s personally one of my favorite lifts of all time especially when snow is quietly falling, blanketing the landscape in Colorado’s legendary white powder. We’re extremely stoked that you have chosen Breckenridge, and even more so that you’re staying with us. We pride ourselves in being a long-standing boutique experience, with studio spaces to three bedroom townhomes. We’re still family-owned and operated and specialize in group travel and weddings. Whether you’re here for the ski season or a summer getaway, we are only a few blocks from Main Street and just a stones throw from the slopes where you can ride and hike. We renovated in 2023–2024 and within that renovation we decided to customize each and every space with unique historic photographs curated by me (Jules)! The artwork in your unit is unique to you and contains a piece of Breck’s history. In addition, you’ll see some of my own photographs sprinkled throughout the space. Each unit is also named after a run somewhere in Breck’s 3,000+ acres, with the story behind it explained below. Unfortunately, we only have 52 units, so a lot of runs were left unmentioned but we hope that you get to explore as much as you can. At Wedgewood, we love where we live and want to display how far the town has come. Thanks for coming, and enjoy your stay. How to get to Mineshaft. This is only for expert skiers exemplifying some of the steepest parts on Peak 9 other than Needles Eye. Tight trees, can be ran out but is good on a morning after a storm. Do not attempt this area if you’re unsure about your skill level. This run can be accessed by E-Chair. “E” doesn’t necessarily stand for experts, but it might as well. Gold and picket fences. Many people traveled West to find riches in gold mining and industries to support the population. Breckenridge was no exception with mines dotted all over the surrounding mountains. This unit is a salute to the normal people who came here to try to make a life for themselves. Unfortunately after the mines stopped operating, many folks left, turning Breck into a near ghost town. You can read a complete history of mining in Breckenridge here. From top to bottom: Four young women pose outside a house in Breckenridge: Four young women stand side by side in the snow outside a house in Breckenridge, Colorado. From left to right: Edna York, Florence (Tressler) Myers, Ada Sperry, Ada Davison. They are dressed in long-sleeve, loose-fitting blouses tucked into straight skirts cut above the ankle. The wood frame house behind them features a covered porch and decorative brackets on the posts. Original creator: Circa 1910s; Breckenridge History Archives. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. No title: Two young girls sit astride their burros in front of an Negative, Glass Plate L-shaped house with gabled ends. One of the girls holds a toddler in front of her seated on the saddle. A little boy walks towards them. Fronting the house is a white picket fence and wood boardwalk. Breckenridge, Colorado. Original creator: 1899; Mary Marks. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. A family poses outside a two story house with a picket fence, probably in Breckenridge: A family poses outside a house, probably in Breckenridge, Colorado. A woman sits upright in a hammock strung between the corner of the house where it meets a one story addition. Next to her a man wearing a bowler or derby hat sits in a chair. Two young boys, one wearing a straw boater hat, stand nearby. A picket fence borders the two story side gable clapboard house. Original creator: Circa 1890s; Unidentified. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Miners stand by the Pelton wheel in Breckenridge: Miners stand in front of the first successful Pelton wheel to operate in Summit County, Colorado. Circa 1880. This “new” technology, first used in California, provided hydropower for the Gold Pan Mining Company operations at the south end of Breckenridge. Behind the men is a large pile of rocks and boulders. Original creator: Circa 1880; Phares, M.E.. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. People pose with dogs at the Silverthorn’s house on Main Street: Well-dressed young women and one young man pose with dogs on the covered front porch of Judge Marshall and Agnes (Ralston) Silverthorn’s house on Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. The two women sitting on the porch’s lower steps may be the Silverthorn’s granddaughters, Agnes Eleanor Finding (left, in a contrasting vertical stripe dress and cradling a small dog) and her sister Charline Antoinette (right, wearing a dark dress with white paneled front and a large brimmed hat with white plumes). Between them, sitting on the top step, is a girl holding a puppy on her lap and a large dog. Another woman sits on a chair by the front door, her gloved hands folded across her lap. A bicycle leans against a chair in the lawn. Original creator: Circa 1910s; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. Finely-dressed passengers in a decorated horse-drawn carriage: A man, woman and young girl look out the window opening of a horse-drawn passenger carriage or coach piloted by two coachmen. The covered-carriage is decorated with ribbon garland around the body and streamers woven through the four wheels. All are finely dressed; one coachmen wears a top hat. There is a mansion/large house in the background. It appears as though they are traveling in an urban area, possibly somewhere in Colorado. Original creator: 1920–1929 (Creation); Sayre, Robert H.. Robert H. Sayre Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado.