Historic Archaeology Component Form
Resource Number : 5BL.7094
Temporary Resource Number : N/A
accommodate the new Boulder Creek Corridor, Boulder County Justice Center, and road construction (Smith 1997). The Boyd Smelter and Mill site was first documented as an archaeological site by Jack. E. Smith in 1997. Smith, a retired archaeologist and Boulder native, combined extensive archival research with his own personal memories of exploring the smelter ruins prior to their removal circa 1960s–1970s (Smith 1997). The smelter/mill was designated as a local historic landmark by the City of Boulder on August 4, 1998 (Landmark No. 98-2; Ordinance No. 6003). Gladden, Sanford Charles 1982 Early Days of Boulder, Colorado, Vol II. Boulder Genealogical Society, Boulder, Colorado. Pp. 670–672. Sanborn Map Company 1886 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado. July 1886. Map. Available at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4314bm.g009581886. 1895 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado. September 1895. Map. Available at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4314bm.g009581895. 1900 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado. November 1900. Map. Available at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4314bm.g009581900. 1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado. February 1922. Map. Available at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4314bm.g009581922. Smith, Jack E. 1997 Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Management Data Form and Historical Archaeology Component Form for 5BL.7094. Historic Boulder, Inc. On file at the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Denver, Colorado. 1998 Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Site or Property Reevaluation Form for 5BL.7094. Historic Boulder, Inc. On file at the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Denver, Colorado. Twitty, Eric 2007 Amendment to Metal Mining and Tourist Era Resources of Boulder County Multiple Property Listing. Mountain States Historical, Boulder, Colorado. 7. Is this site located in a NRHP historic landscape ? Yes No ; If yes, please describe : 8. Component or Feature Description (expand as necessary) : The Boyd Smelter site was first documented as an archaeological site by Jack. E. Smith in 1997. He updated the site with additional features and details in 1998. PaleoWest revisited the Boyd Smelter site in December 2020, documenting nine features (F1–F9). Because previous site recordings did not use consistent feature numbers or map references, only Features 1 and 2 correspond with previous numbering systems. Feature 1: Railroad bridge foundation stones/retaining wall. Located on the south bank of Boulder Creek, F1 comprises a two-course limestone block wall built into the cut bank. This feature doubled as a retaining wall and support structure for the Switzerland Trail railroad (Smith 1998). After this feature was first documented in 1998 (Smith), a modern concrete block retaining wall extension was constructed on top of the west end of F1. In addition, remnants of the north support that Smith observed “scattered along Boulder Creek” are no longer present. Because this feature is bounded by Boulder Creek to the north and private property parcels to the east, south, and west, PaleoWest was unable to access the structure to take detailed measurements. We estimate that the Historic-period portions of F1 measure approximately 30 feet long × 5 feet tall. Two artifacts were found in association with F1. A fragment of a railroad tie and a rail segment embedded along the north bank appear to have been repurposed for erosion control. The rail tie measures 2 inches wide × 3.75 inches tall × 14 feet long. Feature 2: Group of three water line support footings or pylons arranged in a north-south line. This water line was not directly related to the operation of the Boyd Smelter/Mill; rather, F2 comprised part of the city water line. One
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