Construction & Alteration History Date Event
Source
1873
James H. Boyd purchased six acres along Boulder Creek from John Brierly.
Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 8
1874
Boyd built Boulder’s first smelter. It did not immediately open as ore smelting was still in an experimental phase. Boyd Smelter became operational and processed fifteen tons of ore per day – primarily gold and silver with some iron and lime.
Landmark Public Hearing, 2-3
1876
Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 8
1880
James Boyd leased the smelter to Frank C. Goff who prepared ores for Golden Smelting Works. Landmark Public Hearing, 3
1883
Narrow gauge railroad tracks were used to bring materials from the mines to downtown Boulder.
Landmark Public Meeting, 4
Goff processed 20 to 30 tons per day and added a new crusher. Boyd leased the site to Col. Teeters in July. Boyd sold the smelter to John E. Lord who planned to overhaul it into a mill using cyanide to process low grade ore (gold-telluride).
Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 8 Landmark Public Hearing, 3 Landmark Public Hearing, 3 Landmark Designation Public Hearing, 4 Landmark Public Meeting, 3 Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 5
1885
1893 to 1898
Site operated as Spier Gold Works–operations gradually shift into tungsten.
1894
A massive flood wiped out the Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific Railroad and the railroad was abandoned.
1905
Colorado Tungsten Corporation used the mill to process tungsten from the Nederland area.
1910
The Olmsted Brothers recommended creating a series of park reserves along Boulder Creek. The smelter site was identified as a potential natural area. During World War I, Boulder County was the leading tungsten producer in the United States.
1914 to 1918
Landmark Public Hearing, 3
1916
Vasco Mining Company expands smelter building
Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 8
1919
Switzerland Trail of America railroad was abandoned after a cloudburst incident damaged the tracks beyond repair.
Landmark Public Hearing, 4
1920
Vasco sold the property.
Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 8
1920s to 1950s
The reservoirs used to hold water for mill operation were used as sand collection pits.
Landmark Public Hearing, 3, 5 Landmark Public Hearing, 5 Landmark Public Hearing, 5
1933
City of Boulder purchased the Boyd Smelter/Mill site.
1960s
Canyon Boulevard was built and fill material from construction was spoiled on-site, burying extant structures and reservoirs.
1985
Boulder Creek Greenway was built.
Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 8
1997
An environmental analysis study found the soil contained low levels of contamination from uranium mine tailings. Boyd Smelter/Mill site was designated a Boulder Historic Archaeological Landmark by the City of Boulder. Historic Boulder, Inc. received a grant from Colorado Historical Society’s State Historical Fund and City of Boulder for a cultural resource survey and the Boyd Smelter Site: Preservation and Interpretation Plan. ERO Resource Corporation surveyed and excavated the Boulder Creek Path. Multiple artifacts were identified and eventually reburied at the completion of the survey.
Bernhardt Memo
1998
Landmark Ordinance no. 6003 Preservation and Interpretation Plan, 8
2000 to 2002
2017
Technical Memorandum
10-12
Boyd Smelter/Mill Site
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