Let's Talk About Bonanza - Colorado That Is

 

Post by Doris McCraw aka Angela Raines

Photo property of the author

Bonanza. The name brings up dreams of gold, and silver, of hitting the big time. That is what happened in the Colorado town of Bonanza. This is just south of Tin Cup, and west of Canon City, where portions of my novel "The Outlaw's Letter" takes place.

The town site sits over 9,400' in the mountains about forty miles southwest of Salida, Colorado. The story is that a man named Tom Cooke from Salida was in the mountains looking for wild horses when he came across a vein of silver. The town grew quickly to over 1,000 residents after its founding in 1880.

Token coin with the value of $1.00, issued by the Rawley Mine Commissary in Bonanza
from Wikipedia

The Daily Enterprise, a Bonanza town newspaper ran from  May 2, 1882, to July 13, 1882, for a total of 38 issues.  What is fascinating is in the inaugural issue they carried a story about women's garters. Below is the full article: 

Jeweled Garters.

New Yorik Sun. The fashion of wearing jeweled garters has spread so rapidly that jewelers ell keep them in stock. They are very expensive. A member of a conspicuous firm explains: “The rage is nonetheless strong and it promises to spread indefinitely as the trend is as unlimited as the purse. All the prominent society women and many who are not in society wear them. You see, women constitutionally delight in pretty things and their adornment is of more interest and enjoyment to them than anything else. If you will come downstairs I’ll show you the stock:.” 

There was a show-case full of them, each pair mounted in a velvet box. The pattern was the same in all as far as the band was concerned. The band was a full inch wide, made of fine elastic and covered with beautiful woven silk of every conceivable shade, pale blues and warm reds predominating. They are designed to match the tint of the dress worn with them. 'ln one case two heart-shaped clasps, of colored gold, inlaid with crossbars of " turquoises and pears, joined the ends of a scarlet band with little tie frills of silk along the edges. The price was $l9O. A pair with two oval clasps of hammered gold, perhaps an inch in length, could be bought for $43, while the cheapest pair with plain gold clasps, was $46

“It's a curious fact,” said the jeweler, “that the cheap ones won’t sell. When a customer wants an elegant garter he, I mean she, Is willing to pay for it.”

 A pair that cost $225 had two shields with three large pearls in each and little diamonds at the edge. Another pair was expensive though its delicate lace, which was arranged in a fuffy bow-knot, with two little gold disks clasped in the center.

At another establishment, the jeweler said: “The majority of them are made to order. Your visit is opportune, as 1 have just finished the most expensive pair that, ever left my factory. The price is $1,200.” In this, the lace and pearl-colored silk band was joined by an elaborate clasp. On one side was the lady's monogram in pearls; on the other the coat-of-arms, with frosted storks’ heads, a crest of delicately carved gold, and a motto set in chip diamonds. It was a present from a mother to her daughter, who is to be married soon.

“Has the demand for such garters increased?” 

“It is a hundred percent, greater than last year, and grows constantly.”

In the final issue was found this article: 

I hope you found these tidbits interesting. Until next time:

Stay safe, stay happy, and stay healthy.

Doris