This story below (abridged version) was originally printed in the Aspen Democrat-Times in 1916. It was written by Josiah W. Deane, then Pitkin County Judge. Deane was born in Massachusetts in 1853, came to Leadville in 1878, and to Aspen in 1880. He was a member of the B. Clark Wheeler party who came to Ute City over Independence Pass to develop mines. Here are Judge Deane's words:

"We had come here across the ranges, blazing our own trails, all first arrivals on foot, each with pack on back. Some few had made up and come over with rude hand-drawn sledges and had used snowshoes, but the most of us had camped by day and traveled the crusted snow by night.

"...Before women dawned, when all our cooking was necessarily in the open oven over coals, we met at night about a small hollow, right east of Tomkin's warehouse... In that pit's center, we had a roaring fire, and there we talked of home, of the girls we'd left behind us, of the city we would build here, of the comforts we would establish, the conveniences with which to surround. A leader would start a song and more than 300 voices would swell grand choruses. ...During the days, most of us were in the hills and did not meet arrivals until the evening glow.

"So, late one afternoon, when we came through the brush around the last bend of the trail, every man came to a halt, for at the southeast corner of Mill and Durant streets a big white tent had been put up. The tent bore the sign, "Clarendon Hotel." ...the transfixing sight was two skirts hanging on a line from a pole that had been set and from whose top hung a quarter of beef above the reach of flies. The line's other end was attached to the tent. They were the soiled calico dresses the women had worn on the journey, but how good they looked fluttering there in the breeze. The fulfillment of one great hope had begun and those worn garments were evidences....

"Because one dress was for a tall woman, and for a shorter, we knew there were two to be met. Ninety per cent of us were bachelors and commotion was violent when rumor gained that one of the ladies had not been wed. She surely and immediately found she had plumped into the thick of opportunity. Eventually she selected wisely and well.

Thanksgiving Duly Arrived

"More women had come. At terrific freight rates our dunnage had been brought to use on jacks over the trails we had made on purpose to get it.... Most of us lived on Deane Street....we were glad we had effete raiment, and that others had so provided themselves, when the invitation came from our ladies for all of us to be their guests. Thanksgiving evening. Our diet had been simple and were bidded to a feast. How had they conjured that menu of delight?

There was one road which had been contracted to "be constructed as a road over which four mules could haul a wagon" (between Cottonwood Hot Springs and Buena Vista). Users often challenged that this condition had been met—it was rough traveling. And the early winter had closed even this road.

"Our ladies must have had fairy resources ...for we were splendidly fed, daintily cared for, and reluctantly we wandered forth from Paradise to the tents and cabins there to prolong the dream rather than to sleep.

The Christmas Grand Surprise

"Much counsel was had among the unfamilied men. Committees learned special qualifications and surprising accomplishments. There were professionals in the culinary line. Some stoves had arrived, but we wished ovens of capacity and built them. Twelve husky experts on Norwegian snowshoes (skis) were sent out with funds enough for a trip to New York, and with unlimited discretion in selection....A week before Christmas they came back from Buena Vista with turkeys, chickens, cranberries, eggs, butter, confectionery and other good things to eat. Big sled loads they had hauled of abundance and variety and with the very top of the markets.

Alas and Alack

"In proudly unloading it was heartbreakingly discovered there had been omissions. "By George, boys, how did we ever come to forget the oysters and the celery?" "That very night three of them started back and they came home with a plenty. Seventy-five miles out and seventy-five miles back.

"Four hundred very proud men invited nineteen of God's best women to sit as guests to Christmas (A.D. 1880) dinner at 5 PM, and linger for the evening.

"We had surprised them for not a word had leaked out. If we were astonished at what they had spread for us, they were astounded at what we placed before them.

"Then we had music, solos, quartets, duos, violin, guitar, and a little organ we packed from place to place for accompaniment. The organ was no bigger than a hand-organ, but had volume enough for a church. . .

"Affairs prospered, vast mineral wealth was uncovered. The railroads came in 1887. In 1889, we reached high tide and from then until the panic of 1893, when silver was demonetized, the brightest, busiest, best and most attractive town in the west was Aspen.

"When has the West known a finer people? Where was ever such spirit of helpfulness?

"I could make a volume of the loving deeds that were common in every day life. It was remarked of us by all visitors. Our hands failed in gentleness, they were not empty when grasped by need. Our charity was the charity of participation and not of callous bestowal.

"The old site is here as beautiful as then. By less than a handful of millions have the storied riches been taken from the hills. Again we shall see the loaded wagons and the burdened trains, and a flood or riches flowing on iron wheels to be converted at the smelters.