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What We Do . . . and How We Do It!

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
The San Juan County Historical Society was established in 1964 as a Non-profit 501(c)(3) Colorado Corporation for preserving the history of San Juan County, Colorado. Our mining heritage has been the heart of San Juan County's development.
Society Chairman Beverly Rich and long- time board member and Treasurer Scott Fetchenhier dedicate a plaque to the late “ Zeke” Zanoni. Zanoni served on the board for many years and spearheaded the Society’s extensive efforts to preserve the local history of hard- rock mining.

Society Chairman Beverly Rich and long- time board member and Treasurer Scott Fetchenhier dedicate a plaque to the late “ Zeke” Zanoni. Zanoni served on the board for many years and spearheaded the Society’s extensive efforts to preserve the local history of hard- rock mining.

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2024 Season Capped with 60th Anniversary Celebration

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
On Saturday, September 7, 2024, Silverton came together to celebrate the San Juan County Historical Society’s 60th year of preserving the region’s rich heritage.

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News from the Allen Nossaman Memorial Archive

Casey Carroll,
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Several families visited us over the past year inquiring about where their family members were buried at our Hillside Cemetery. We love perusing Freda’s cemetery books with them and sharing their stories. Often times, they will send us copies of their family photos for our collection.

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Chairman’s Comments

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
April 14, 2025 Dear Members, As I write today, the sun is shining on peaks which are losing their snow very early this year. Our spring has come early with temperatures in the low 60s, making the pussy willows bud and the grass start to green up.
In May of 2017, Ken Safranski is shown with the Museum’s Model 8 Linotype loaded after being rolled out from the former Silverton Standard building on Greene Street.

In May of 2017, Ken Safranski is shown with the Museum’s Model 8 Linotype loaded after being rolled out from the former Silverton Standard building on Greene Street.

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Eighth Wonder of the World Displayed at Museum

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
No less an inventor than Thomas Edison declared Ottmar Merganthaler’s Linotype as the Eighth Wonder of the World. The San Juan County Historical Society is proud to have an example of this wonderous machine in its collection.

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Background on the Mayflower Mill

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
The American West once had hundreds of precious metal mills. Now, most are in various stages of ruin. One important exception is the Mayflower Mill, (or the Shenandoah-Dives Mill) located two miles northeast of Silverton and is a National Historic Landmark.
One Very Small Magical Part of The Eighth Wonder of the World

One Very Small Magical Part of The Eighth Wonder of the World

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One Very Small Magical Part of The Eighth Wonder of the World

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Of the many critical parts of the Linotype machine (The Eighth Wonder of the World), the matrix or mat shown above might be considered the greatest breakthrough. Each mat is a small piece of brass about 1 ¼ inches tall.

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Planning More Space for Large Mining Artifacts

Stephen Rich
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
The Exhibits Department This past season we have been working on plans to build a new building adjacent to the museum. It will house several large air compressors and other artifacts that need to be undercover.
Photo credit Wesley Berg A Northern Flicker looking for insects in the grass and the weeds.

Photo credit Wesley Berg A Northern Flicker looking for insects in the grass and the weeds.

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Looking for insects

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
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