Original photo of company store. Photo from CF&I steelworks archives.
Written and photos by Mike Johnson-Robinson and used with his permission.
Brookside, Colorado was initially homesteaded by Sylvester Davis in 1873, and soon a small town popped up called Springfield (due to multiple little springs bubbling up). In the 1880's coal was found and word soon spread to the AT&SF Railroad. The Brookside Mine would soon spring to life along with a new name to the town. In 1888 Brookside, Colorado is officially founded.
The railroad puts in a spur from the mainline in 1888 and Brookside Mine is in full operation by 1896 with three sets of tracks, including a narrow gauge specifically for selling coal to Cripple Creek and Victor area. There were two standard gauge tracks, and Florence and Cripple Creeks narrow gauge track. They produce 1.5 Million Tons of Coal between 1896-1910 and the town flourishes, becoming a CF&I town housing 275 payroll employees, complete with Company Store and Offices.
HOWEVER, unlike most of CF&I coal camps, many of Brookside's houses were privately owned. In 1902, Camp and Plant reported that only about ten houses in town were company-owned. Being so close to multiple springs, and being underground the mine floods multiple times, with CF&I finally closing it in 1912 after pulling out over 1.5 Million TONS of coal.
1913 brings many changes in Brookside as the town officially incorporates, but mine strikes over low wages closes the mine. AT&SF however, leases the land and coal rights to some ambitious miners Charles Vezetti, Rocco Moschetti, and John Lippis and they reopen the mine.
It wasn't long though and turmoil struck again. The mine strikes of 1914 were especially violent, the "Ludlow Massacre" occurred during that strike and there was fear and unrest throughout all the Colorado coal fields. In March of 1914, gunfire tore through the normally peaceful Sunday morning in Brookside. Reports of exactly how many shots were fired varied greatly, but most estimates fell between 50 and 100. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but mine offices and buildings were the target. In July 1915 the mine suffered a catastrophic fire, destroying most of the mines buildings and causing over $10,000 worth of damage (just over $318,000 in today's [2025] standards).
A two-room public school offered classes to children of the community until about 1921 when a new brick school containing four rooms was built. Some may remember that brick building as an early home of Fremont County Head Start and as Town Hall for a time. The old two-room schoolhouse was converted into a Catholic church in the 1920s. St. Anthony's served the local Catholic community for decades. In 1920, Father Edmund Butz, learned that the school building at Brewster was to be replaced and that the old school could be purchased and moved. He appointed a committee of Joseph Vezzetti, Mariana Zontine, Louie Merlino, and Paul De Noble to pursue the idea. They eventually raised about $500.00 (just shy of $16,000 in 2025) toward the project. Mrs. Charles Vezzetti sold them an acre of land for $30.00 ($950 in 2025). They bought the building, hired Frank Tisone to move it, and began the process of converting it into a church.
Sometime later the lease is acquired by Tom Orecchio and a new slope is opened. In 1933 AT&SF sells the mine to the same Charles Vezzetti, and new partners J.B. Scavarda and J.A. Cresto. The mine opens and closes multiple times under new ownership, names and owners listed for various portions of the Brookside mine over time include: Dutch Oven (Joe Balone), Big Three (Silengo & Bosco), Brook Cañon, Grand Prize, Cañon Red Star (Joe Balone), Boulder Cañon, Spring Cañon, Cañon City Coal (Harold May), Carson Coal & Oil, Strainer Cañon, Brook Coal, and L and C (Clem Lovisone & Ted Colarelli).
Sadly, even the most ambitious men and plans would come to an end, as state inspectors finally close the mine in 1960 due to fires set by vandals in the Orecchio slope. The fires were spreading through the coal seam and smoke was seeping into the other shafts, so state inspectors closed and sealed the mine, deeming it unsafe for further operations.
Today Brookside is a quiet community, housing Fremont County Headstart, and peaceful little Spring Creek Park. The prk was cleaned up, trails cut into the old mine site, and opened in 2010. It offers a few walking trails allowing you to follow in old-timers footsteps. You'll walk past foundations to the many mine buildings, and old trestle foundation, closed air shaft, and even past a few rocks that were carved on in the 1890's. Be careful of snakes, spiders, and other Colorado wildlife in the park, and please be respectful of the history of the area. Take only pictures, and memories and leave no trace.
Old Miner's Cabin
