123 Years Ago
The September 4, 1901 Colorado Transcript included an article reviewing various mining prospects in Jefferson County. Although the county never produced much in the way of metal, the Transcript never stopped hoping that this would be the site of the next gold rush (or silver rush, or any other profitable metal).
Undoubtedly the best prospect yet opened up in the foot hills near Golden is Henry’s Koch’s claim on his patented ground on the eastern slope of Lookout mountain and in plain view from this city. Mr. Koch has uncovered a ten-foot vein of mineral which runs from 12 to 30 per center, copper and from $3 to $5 in Gold, average about $20 per ton.
Colorado Transcript – Sept 4, 1901.
You might wonder why you’ve never heard of this oh-so-promising mine. Henry Koch owned the eastern slope of Lookout mountain for about 40 years, and for most of that time, he was on the verge of a big mining strike.
We do not desire to appear inordinately jubilant over the discovery of the new copper fields in the immediate vicinity of Golden, but from all appearances we are on the eve of a veritable boom that will have a substantial bottom. The discovery by Mr. Henry Koch of almost pure native copper…is instigating a large amount of prospecting by practical miners. Colorado Transcript – Nov 14, 1883
Henry Koch is more encouraged than in years before…. A ton of ore from his tunnel…yielded eleven ounce s of silver, two dollars and fifty cents. Colorado Transcript – December 15, 1904
Henry Koch is again putting considerable time in his mine…and last week struck a the most promising vein yet encountered. Colorado Transcript – February 24, 1910
Henry Koch died in 1920 without ever making the big strike. He is buried in the Golden Cemetery. His land is now part of the Beverly Heights subdivision and student housing for the Colorado School of Mines.
Many thanks to the Golden Rotary Club for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of September.
