Autumn at the Crystal Mill

by Norma Brandsberg

Title

Autumn at the Crystal Mill

Artist

Norma Brandsberg

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Photograph - Photograph

Description

This old Crystal Mill located in the Gunnison National Forest, near Marble, Colorado, was on my bucket list for photographing on a recent trip, difficult because it requires an over 7 mile one way trip in a 4-wheel drive over an extremely rough road over boulders and other impediments in the road including a couple streams. I wondered at times if we should have started the journey, but was committed. I hope you enjoy this view as much as I enjoyed this adventure. I've added some texturing effects to my original photo.

The Crystal Mill, or the Old Mill is an 1892 wooden powerhouse located on an outcrop above the Crystal River in Crystal, Colorado, United States. It is accessible from Marble, Colorado via 4x4. Although called a mill, it is more correctly denoted as a compressor station, which used a water turbine to drive an air compressor. The compressed air was then used to power other machinery or tools.

In the 21st century, the mill is usually called the Crystal Mill or the Old Crystal Mill. Many decades ago, when the mill was still in use, it was called the Sheep Mountain Power House at the Lost Horse Millsite, or simply the Lost Horse Mill. Sometimes it is erroneously called the Dead Horse

The mill was constructed in 1893 by George C. Eaton and B.S. Phillips, promoters of the Sheep Mountain Tunnel and Mining Company. It was built as a power plant for the Sheep Mountain Tunnel. Originally it had a horizontal waterwheel which generated compressed air for miners in the nearby silver mines. It fell into disuse in 1917 when the Sheep Mountain Mine closed.

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May 6th, 2024

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