The History Of Jasper, CO

Jasper is the oldest settlement in the area often described as the Platoro mining district. It was first prospected around 1879 by miners from Cornwall, England. There were 2 camps which by 1882 were combined to create the town of Jasper who even had a post office from 1879 to 1927. 

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The book "Geology and Ore Deposits of the Platoro-Summitville Mining District, Colorado" by the Colorado Geological Survey describes the history of Jasper, Colorado as below. 

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"Jasper is located in the Alamosa valley, just below where the river makes a great sweep around the northern base of Cornwall Mountain. Next to Summitville it is the oldest of the towns to be located in the district under consideration. It was founded in 1874-1875, at which time the first ore prospects were opened up.

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The Perry mine was the first to be located and was discovered by Andrew Johnson, with whom Alva Adams was in partnership. Later associated with these men were G. G. Calkins and Pascal Craig. These men, together with Frank Moody, who later became interested in Jasper and laid out the townsite, still own most of the territory around Jasper. They controlled the Perry and Gaudaloupe mines under the name of the Cornwall Mining Company.

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The Miser mine; the only other mine of consequence at Jasper is owned by Frank Moody, Dr. Ross, G. W. Ballentine and John Gabriel, all of Denver. About two and a half miles above Jasper in the Alamosa valley is a group of old buildings and workings called the Sanger mine. Interesting tales are told as to the manipulation of this property, tales that are perhaps not possible to verify, but that are commonly accepted as true.

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The story goes that the founders of this enterprise claimed to have a mountain of what they termed "bird's-eye porphyry" that had an average value of ten dollars a ton. After securing all the money possible by means of these alluring but false representations, the too confiding investors were swindled out of their money and the "mine" ceased operations. There is no doubt about a mountain of rock, but it assays only a small fraction of what was claimed. However much truth there may be in this story, it remains true that the unsavory reputation gained thereby for Jasper has operated to discourage investment in such genuine mining enterprises as Jasper may have to offer."

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