New Castle, Colorado: A Coal Town That Survives Despite Disaster

My grandma was born in New Castle Colorado. When I was a kid, in the 80's, we would take grandma up to visit with her sister and mother. We always had fun. I remember being told about the mining accident, and was told that even in the 80's that mine was still smoldering in the mountain, Im wondering if that was true, and if so, is it still on fire??

Burning Mountain is the mountain just west of downtown, but as for the mountain that housed the Vulcan mine, what is its name?

My step-father & his father both worked in this mine, my stepdads father, was killed in one of these explosions. The information that I have in regards to specific information involved about this is very small would love to find MORE information to back up family records, for future family members, so they will be able to pass it on ! . I have pictures of miners, old,old ones of miners standing in front of a supply store ??

One of my GG-Grandfather's nephews was crushed next to the first chute of the Vulcan mine, in Oct., 1895, the year before the first explosion. He was just 24 and not even married yet. It was an accident and he was pushing cars all by himself. It took me a long time to track him down, but glad that he was put to rest in such a beautiful place, with loving attendance. He and family had only been there for about a month.

Two of my grandmother's brothers were killed in the 1913 explosion. The story I was told by my father was that the men had gone on strike for unsafe working conditions. The men killed in the explosion in 1913 had replaced the men on strike. As for my g. uncles, they came down valley from Aspen for jobs. There were no jobs in Aspen at the time.

There is a statue in the park in New Castle to honor the men killed in both explosions. Maybe you can google it to find a picture of it.

Ralph Wendell who was killed in the mine in was an ancestor of mine.

Would love to hear more about the 1913 incident. Shortly after was the Ludlow Massacre. Those were hard times for miners in Colorado.

Hello,
I am curious to know if anyone has information or memories about a rancher named Rapisardi. He had a ranch uphill from Bruce Road. He probably passed away sometime in the mid 20th century. From stories as a child, I do recall that he was remembered as a man that weighed about 300 lbs., had amazing strength, ordered his dried pasta in crates from Italy, etc.. Anyone has anything to add? Thanks.

Angelo Rapisardi (sp?) lived on the ranch adjoining the Bruce ranch (my grandfather’s and then my father’s) on the east. Bruce Road, named for my father was the southern boundary. I was quite young and have no recollection of what he was like other than that he was large. The Cerise family took over that ranch in the 1940’s and posted a sign on the closed gate reading “Keep out or get shot”!

Verlene, I would love to talk with you about the Bruce family. I'm very familiar with the history of the mine explosions and the area itself having spent the past 30 years doing historic research. Vernon Bruce was the best man at my grandfather's wedding, EJ Rippy, in 1921. Let me know if there is a way to contact you. I have an old school photo that I believe your are present.

Hello all,

My name is Bridget Ries. My husband and I bought in Canyon Creek and are told this property hosts an original livery that served this area many moons ago. I hosted the McNeil's of the New Castle Historical society and they came to see the stone structure out back, at the very top of the hill, butted up against a steep rise to the flat tops.

My husband and I would love to find any photos of the South Canyon mines and I am having a hard time finding very many. We hope to have a local artist paint an image of one of the actual tunnels in the mines on our garage doors~kind of like a 'trompe l'oeil' as though you are actually looking into the depth of a mine/tunnel...?

I am also interested in finding anything out about this livery. I aim to claim Doc Holliday slept here!!! Prove me wrong! It's a very cool old structure. The roof is gone and it is a square stone 4-walled structure with a couple of windows and 3 doors on the front! It looks like it had 3 separate rooms~probably one for the caretaker, one with the hearth and a main gathering area, and one for bunks probably... We have found a few very large horse shoes like those of draft horses. And I hope to host an historical dig too! Thoughts anyone?!

I have family roots ties with New Castle, where both of my maternal grandparents grew up (born 1892 and 1894). Both of my grandmother's parents served as mayors, as did my grandmother's brother (the Ritters of Ritter Plaza fame).

My grandfather's father was a mining safety engineer who helped advise coal companies on how to avoid fires, explosions, and cave-ins, and often visited the aftermaths of mining disasters. Great long-distance love story: my grandparents separately ended up in southern California years later reconnected through a mutual friend when they were in their early 30s.

It is great the several of the old buildings still survive. My younger son did a walking tour of the town, something that is certainly on my bucket list.

Raised 10 miles up Garfield Creek , went to school in New Castle Angelo Rapasardie ( not sure of spelling ) was heep rancher and very friendly man , very large in size , had a car with seat moved back to enable his driving and reaching pedals. For years out at Hank Williams Rocking Pines Restaurant. There was a artists rendition of him earing spaghetti. He was as I remember , of Greek Descent and people liked him. He had a granddaughter named Margie who I ent to school with in New Castle back in the late 50s . Good memories I have of the old New Castle

Me again , my dad arched 10 miles up Garfield Creek but c when Joe Shanks sold the property to the Talbot family from Palisade and Ross Talbot moved onto the property, my dad , Ralph " Bud " Snead irrigated their hay ground for the Talbots , my dad and Ross old tell stories of going up onto the burning coal mine property , either looking for lost cattle or deer hunting and then seeing an animal fall into a dark smoking hole to disappear, when it happened the second time , they promptly quickly went down the hill to safe stable ground. Frank Porter of Alkali Creek told us similar stories years later

My great grandparents, grandparents, great uncles, aunts and second cousins lived in and just outside of Newcastle. I used to spend my summers there in the 60s and 70s. It was a very colorful and friendly community. I have many fond memories of visiting the older folks there. The Flynn’s had the store then. The 3 Mativi? brothers had some business’ there (gas station & Liquor Store). The Dawson’s had the Taxidermy. The Rippy’s ranched down the Cerise Road. I used to listen to the old timers tell the local stories and legends. They worked the mines for grub steaks. After scrimping and saving, later were able to ranch and tend orchards. Mr. Angelo Rapasardi was such a strong large man had won a bet by carrying a large gunny sack of potatoes using only his teeth down main street. Now as an older man myself, I have trouble recalling the exact spelling of the names of these people. I would sit for hours listening to my grandfather and his friends while they played cards at local restaurant bars. When there were disasters, people pulled together and adopted some of the children. I would cringe and stare up at the snow barren steam vents from the coal mines. It is a beautiful valley.