Guest sfarson Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 In the late 1800's the town of Gillett sprung to life a few miles north of the mining communities of Cripple Creek and Victor, Colorado. But rather than minerals, Gillett is mostly famed for moments, an event of August 1895... the only bullfight ever to take place on U.S. soil. The event was highly publicicized. Celebrities from afar traveled for the first-ever event. Bullfighters and bulls were imported for the event from Mexico. A bullfighting ring was constructed. And it ended... with a near riot. Some believe the bulls were tired from the travel. I guess they didn't put up much of fight, and that's what the spectators wanted. The meat was donated locally which appeased some of the locals. Nevertheless, never has there been a bullfight in the U.S. before, and since. Here's the bullfight ring constructed for the event... An empty meadow today... The action in the ring... Now this actually was quite a sizeable town 120 years ago... Hardy residents called Gillett at 10,000ft. elevation home. Seemingly every time I pass through on a bike I am chilled. The barbed wire fence here, and behind me prevented a slightly better "now" perspective... So what has happened to this ghost town? Things were in decay the early 1900's, but the coup de grace came in June 1965 when most of the ghost town structures were swept away after a heavy rain overwhelmed a small earthen dam reservoir that supplied water to the residents long ago. Here's the Catholic Church out in the suburbs of Gillett back in the 1940's... Following the flood 47 years ago. Didn't want to disregard the "no tresspassing" sign, nor risk sensitive body parts to the barbs!, so from a distance. Some rocks of the church remain... Well, a few miles later, did have to take a pic of the bike coming along for the exploration... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Polarbear Posted May 24, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 24, 2012 Nice and interesting. Thanks. I think this last shot should be a calendar entry for the next one. C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglasthecook Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Nice and interesting. Thanks. I think this last shot should be a calendar entry for the next one. C I agree on both points!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 2002 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Again, I hope that you're compiling these "Then and Now" photos into a book. This intrigues me so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer kox Posted May 24, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 24, 2012 Very interesting - as always! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmythecop Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 woof. the photo of the 5th gen is one of the best I have ever seen. Looks like a backdrop was rolled down behind the bike in a studio, like it was too good to be true. Man, that is a COVER calendar pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum CEO HispanicSlammer Posted May 24, 2012 Forum CEO Share Posted May 24, 2012 That spot is not for postin, its just for lookin thru (yea I watched Josie Wales one too many times) Looks like Sfarson found my Pikes Peak secret spot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer tbzep Posted May 24, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 24, 2012 the only bullfight ever to take place on U.S. soil. You obviously didn't see me load my stubborn idiot bull to sell last fall. I tenderised his sorry a$$ while still on the hoof. BTW, I love your "then and now" pictorials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 You'd think they could have used some local bulls........... Great pictures and history as well....... always look forward to your postings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V4 Rosso Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 That is one of the best looking HDR pictures I've ever seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer rdguy Posted May 24, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 24, 2012 Yep, that's a calendar photo, and yep, needs to be a book. Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Hey thanks all. Was putting the cam away when I noticed the sun through the clouds was lighting up the backdrop like a spotlight while keeping the bike "unlit". Groaned and took the camera out of the case, walked back and snapped the pic. HS, been taking group rides to the spot for years. Ahhh... Josey Wales. Remember the old STN group rides? I wonder how many times I blissfully rode through the old Gillett townsite unaware of the past there. Seemingly, the sun routinely cooperates here at this photo stop... BTW, County 83 from the sign above is now closed, replaced with a new and paved County 82 rising high above Victor/Cripple Creek. Great views of the Sangre de Cristos on the west end. It was finished last October and is part of the official Gold Camp Loop. From a vid screen capture... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer CornerCarver Posted May 24, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 24, 2012 Very cool history, if they had included motorcylces in history I would have paid more attention! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer vfrcapn Posted May 25, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 25, 2012 Amazing pics as always, really like the then vs. now. You see what looks like a pristine landscape you assume has been that way for a very long time, then an old pic shows you how much the earth can erase evidence of our existence in a pretty short geological time. That bike shot looks like a painting, definitely needs to be in the calendar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum CEO HispanicSlammer Posted May 25, 2012 Forum CEO Share Posted May 25, 2012 Sfarson I got monday off maybe some of that twisty stuff off hwy 285? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 A great suggestion, but have a fam day planned for Memorial Day. But let's connect some time this season. Saw Bill the other day. Do you still tend to have Monday's off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer obryap Posted May 25, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 25, 2012 Well, a few miles later, did have to take a pic of the bike coming along for the exploration... Thats an awesome picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum CEO HispanicSlammer Posted May 29, 2012 Forum CEO Share Posted May 29, 2012 Steve Mondays for sure, I have all those off - this one is not a good idea though, too many harleys and police out this weekend. Tomorrow ~ Tuesday I am gonna go hit the top of Mt Evans if you have a few hours to kill in your retirement? I know retired for you just means more things to do! I ended up riding the petal bike up to Manitou springs today, I want to hit all those tight twisties on the way, ute pass, 67, deckers, pine to pine junction, that great road you showed me black mountain road, maybe even Kings mountain? little cub creek, parmalee - yea all that stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjadoc Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 That pic is sooo classy and epic write ups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dr.toto Posted May 30, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 30, 2012 Good post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dude Posted May 30, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted May 30, 2012 Man if that first pic isn't calander potential, I don't know what is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Steve Mondays for sure, I have all those off - this one is not a good idea though, too many harleys and police out this weekend. Tomorrow ~ Tuesday I am gonna go hit the top of Mt Evans if you have a few hours to kill in your retirement? I know retired for you just means more things to do! I ended up riding the petal bike up to Manitou springs today, I want to hit all those tight twisties on the way, ute pass, 67, deckers, pine to pine junction, that great road you showed me black mountain road, maybe even Kings mountain? little cub creek, parmalee - yea all that stuff! HS... I used to have a commitment every Monday but things are now shuffled around a bit so some Mondays are free. Will keep you posted. BTW, Saw Bill at a Bailey restaurant with his wife (and a new (previously owned) bike) a few weeks ago. Perhaps there will be a Monday where he can shake free as well. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoOp Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I love riding to and through historical sites. Your writeups always get me thinking about where I should set my next one. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer majordomo490 Posted June 7, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted June 7, 2012 Great stuff. What kind of camera do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Majord... The camera is a Canon SX 260 HS. A very good point and shoot. I ride/travel light and like having a camera that fits in the jacket pocket. A previous incarnation of this line, the Canon SX 200 IS was the workhorse for most of the book's chapters, and I came away so impressed, I bought one of its descendents, the 260 HS. Lately I've been working with the Droid phone's camera. As long as one doesn't need to zoom, and the lighting is decent, it has some potential. Always having the cam with you via the phone... now that is worth at least some experimenting! A recent Droid test... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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