HISTORY
150 Years of Breckenridge
We’ve Always Been Breck
W
ay before Breckenridge was a ski Breckenridge community embraces the Preaching on Skis
resort, it was a town. And over unique aspects of its near and far past and Father John Lewis Dyer, an itinerant Meth-
the past 150 years, the spirit of the town’s 150th anniversary is the per- odist minister who embraced the mountain
the town didn’t shift much. Equal parts fect opportunity to celebrate the fact that life, made his way to Breckenridge in the
outcast and visionary, frontier and fine liv- “we’ve always been Breck.” 1860s. Father Dyer regularly skied across the
ing. With the celebration of Breckenridge’s Continental Divide on 12-foot-long wooden
150th Anniversary in 2009, it is fun to reflect In the Beginning skis to deliver the Gospel, sacks of gold and
on the history, heritage and especially the Founded in 1859 by a small group of pros- mail to the mining population. He founded a
characters that made this Victorian mining pectors, the town’s Gold Rush brought set- Methodist Church in 1880 and is well remem-
town what it is today. tlers in droves seeking their fortune. People bered today as the church remains active. The
came from across the country and around part of the current structure in which the pews
Breck Has Characters the world – Europe, South America and China are located is the shell of the original chapel,
It is the character of the Breckenridge – all to strike it rich. While some found gold, which can be seen at 310 Wellington Road
residents who were forced to build snow each adventurer discovered the glory of the and is included as part of Breckenridge’s his-
tunnels to get around town after snow fell Ten Mile Range and the bounty of its beautiful toric walking tour.
for 79 days straight in 1898. It is the colorful landscape.
humor of Trygve Berge and Sigurd Rockne The first settlers did more than erect Stuffing Animals
who not only founded the Breckenridge Ski a bustling town, they drew a community While Father Dyer was skiing across
School, but also founded a quirky celebra- of colorful individuals who put their stamp the mountains, Naturalist Edwin Carter was
tion of the Norse god of snow in 1963, Ullr on town history. Throughout Breckenridge’s busy collecting specimens of local wildlife.
Fest, which the town still celebrates today. existence, the spirit of the community and Carter first came to Colorado to participate
It is also the modern day zany characters surrounding landscape has inspired residents in the 1859 Gold Rush, but when he saw the
who have the creativity and energy to to participate in the town in their own unique destruction that mining and a growing popu-
participate in Breckenridge’s annual Out- way. And, as with modern Breckenridge lation wreaked on local wildlife, he changed
house Races in celebration of Brecken- townsfolk, the early settlers lived lives full of goals and embarked on a career as a natu-
ridge’s history during Kingdom Days. The stories worth telling. ralist. During his lifetime, Carter assembled
6 BRECKENRIDGE |
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