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Marble, nestled at 8000' in the spectacular Crystal River Valley has enjoyed a long and rich history. The location, in the heart of the White River National Forest, has more 14,000 foot mountain peaks than any other part of the United States. While the nearby towns of Crystal, Schofield, Gothic and Irwin were booming with gold and silver discoveries, George Yule, a mining engineer, discovered local marble deposits and recognized their value. The town of Marble, Colorado was incorporated in 1899 and began its history of producing the finest pure white marble in the world.
Col. C. F. Meeks formed the Colorado Yule Marble Co. in 1905 with a stock issue of $2.5 million. The quarry, operated until 1941, is most famous for producing the blocks of marble used for the Lincoln Monument and for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Produced in 1931, the stone was the largest piece of marble ever to be quarried, weighing over 100 tons when first cut and taking 75 men more than a year to quarry.
The declining market for marble and the advent of World War
II forced closure of the quarry in 1941. Located 3.9 miles from Marble, the
quarry is an awe-inspiring site for today's visitors. The marble finishing
mill, built in the town of Marble, Colorado
itself, was the largest one of its kind at the time measuring a third of a
mile in length and employing nearly 1,000 workers. Now listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, the remains of the mill offer a fascinating insight
into the town's past. With the quarry gone, Marble's population dropped drastically.
Today, some 50 residents call Marble, Colorado
their home.
The boom over, Marble, Colorado has slowly come to be known for its scenic beauty. Often referred to as the "Swiss Alps of Colorado," the spectacular valley is a haven for fishermen, hunters, hikers, cross-country skiers and those who enjoy exploring the back roads to nearby ghost towns and secluded mountain meadows and lakes. Marble, Colorado's history lives through its beauty, and is there for all to enjoy. Many famous areas are a short drive and offer many memory-building adventures.
Aspen, with its renowned skiing in winter, music and food festivals all summer, world-renowned restaurants and shopping is always great fun. Glenwood Springs, with the world's largest natural hot springs offers a wonderful way to get rid of the aches of a hard day of hiking or skiing. Crested Butte is Colorado's wild flower capital. There are three lakes within a 5 to 10 minute drive and the Crystal River is world renowned for its fly-fishing.
Click on images below to enlarge
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History and pictures taken from Oscar McCollum Jr's book Marble a Town Built on Dreams. The two books can be purchased by clicking the Book 1 and Book 2 links below.
Contact John or Ann at (520) 529-7435,
E-mail us at: TheWilliamsHouse@aol.com
or visit us at http://www.colorado-directory.com/williamshouse/
Please come and visit the new Marble, Colorado Church website. Please let them know how your found it, by mentioning The Williams Family website took you there.
