Forget timelines. Think of the past as a cozy chat with ghosts through old junk. Browse the latest posts below or select a category to explore.
- Artifacts (5)
- Musings of the Curator (3)
A New Image of the Early Days of the Rosita Silver Mining Camp Has Been Found
This is a newly discovered image of Rosita, Colorado in the 1870s, and is taken from near the summit of Game Ridge and looking to the west. There are not many buildings visible, which places this exposure very early in the history of the town, probably 1873. The few buildings in the picture appear to be a small cluster of log cabins in the center of the townsite, near the current intersections of County Road 323 and County Road 328. Those would soon be replaced with businesses. Euclid and Grouse or Quartz streets are platted and built in this picture.…
My Friend and a Generous Contributor to the Rosita Museum: Chris Ueberroth
Chris is originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma and moved to Custer County in the late 1990s, where he built his off-grid home with his own hands overlooking Hungry Gulch, just outside of the old town of Rosita. Chris is a man of different interests and talents. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959-1962 with the 378th Ordinance company, and then for another 4 years with the Army Reserves. He is also a faithful volunteer for local veterans functions. Chris is an avid collector of interesting things including a comprehensive collection of cartridge casings, Western railroad memorabilia, and a genuine mine…
The Death of Truax the Blacksmith, By Intentional Overdose of Morphine, June 1st, 1882, in Silver Cliff, Colorado
A transcription of an article from the June 1st, 1882 Weekly Herald, Silver Cliff, Colorado, and two handwritten letters, one from Mr. Truax to Mrs. Truax, and one From Mrs. Truax to her sister announcing the death. Weekly Herald, June 1, 1882- This morning it was rumored that one of our citizens by the name of John C. Truax had died of an overdose of morphine, and a Herald reporter at once visited the home of the above named man, on first street below Hudson, and found the awful reality. There he lay on a bed in the back part…
Tragic and Poignant Letter from Hugh McKay to Matty, Sent from Rosita, Colorado, May 13, 1882, Sent to Kahoka, Missouri, Letter 2 of 2
Spelling and grammatical errors are retained, and illegible sections are indicated by _____. Clarifications are added in parentheses. Friday A.M. Rosita May 13th 1882 My Dear Matty Yours of the 4th was Recd yesterday I was so Glad to hear from you but verry sorry to hear you were Suffering with Bronchitis The big Snow Storm is over weather Clear and Bright, heavy frosts & Ground frozen this morning I am feeling much Better only I am verry week yet, and wont gain any strength until I get lower down I hope _____ this your health has Improved I had…
Letter from Hugh McKay to Matty, from Rosita, Colorado, July 3, 1881 and likely mailed to Kahoka, Missouri, Letter 1 of 2
Spelling and grammatical errors are retained, and illegible sections are indicated by _____. Clarifications are added in parentheses. Rosita, July 2, 1881 My dear Matty, I rec’d your last two papers & and last letter yesterday evening. I am glad your health is better but sorry you have the blues. Come my dearling, there is a better time coming for us, I hope I feel cheerful and in good spirits. Jack is well. I tell you, we crowding things along so hard that we only have time to think and talk about our business. We came here to make money…
The White Whale of Rosita, The Ahab of Rosita
As a seeker of truth and the impartial curator of the Rosita Museum I ride the waves of history where they take me. I usually do not impose any expectations on my explorations, except to hope to better understand the history of the town, and maybe discover interesting specimens for exhibit. There is one specimen which eludes my pursuit. I know it exists, but I have never seen one in person… Sometime around 1879 a token was used by the Rosita Brewery in at least two denominations, one token marked for 5 cents and one marked for 10 cents.The tokens…
Upcoming Virtual Exhibit: The cellar of an Old West saloon which burned in the great fire of 1881.
Initial test holes on a site in the business district revealed the cellar of a saloon which has lain undisturbed since it burned down in the great fire of 1881. The original inventory contents of the cellar are still present, along with rubble and charred lumber from the fire. Exavations should be complete by the end of summer, 2025, and photos of artifacts and the excavation will be available for view. This is a rare opportunity to better understand the day to day life of a business in Rosita during the silver mining era.
The Beginning of Everything
In the summer of 1980 I was 3 years old, and my aunt and uncle were building an off grid cabin in an eddy along Hungry Gulch in Rosita. The cabin was only a floor on pilings at that point, and the first night we camped there on the platform, playing Uno by lantern light and I ate Oreo cookies with a glass of powdered milk. It was Heaven. I stayed up all night in my sleeping bag breathing mountain air, watching shooting stars, and eager to explore when the sun rose. The first morning I left at sunrise to…
The Rosita Museum 