BRECKENRIDGE — Sallie Barber Mine, which produced zinc for over 50 years, is going through a stabilization effort to preserve the historic site.
The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance is leading the project in cooperation with the Summit County and Breckenridge open space departments. Heritage Alliance Vice President Larry Crispell explained that preliminary stabilization will occur this fall to ensure the mine doesn’t collapse this winter and that more permanent work will be done next summer pending county approval.
Heritage Alliance Executive Director Larissa O’Neil wrote in an email that stabilization efforts will focus on the mine’s ore bin, which is “in poor condition and at risk of further deterioration.” Some siding and roofing materials will be used to protect the mine through the winter.
The Sallie Barber Mine was discovered by prospectors in 1881. Crispell said the mine was not heavily developed until the 1890s, and peak production occurred around the 1900s. At the turn of the century, zinc ore was in demand on the national scale for manufacturing needs, and several Colorado mining areas became principal suppliers, O’Neil explained.
“We’re really lucky to have so many elements left from the original work on the site,” Crispell said, adding that a steam hoist also remains. “By stabilizing and preserving what’s there, it will allow people to go up there and understand this mine for many years to come.”
Crispell noted that the Sallie Barber Mine is incredibly popular because it is easily accessed. He said he often sees multigenerational groups of people making their way to the mine in the summer.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to use a very popular site to keep introducing children — the new generation — and have them understand and value heritage so that as times goes on, these sites will continue to be valued and preserved and stabilized and understood,” Crispell said.
