Colorado Spirit Quest #420

Colorado Spirit Quest Series

Hinsdale County

IOOF Cemetery

Micro located in the cemetery. Bring your own pen & tweezers. Do NOT disturb or deface any graves.

Please make sure container is closed securely and re-hidden as well or better than you found it. Maintaining the difficulty rating depends on you.

History:

Lake City was founded in 1874. See Colorado Spirit Quest #419 – City Cemetery for the early Lake City history. In 1881, telephone service was established to Lake City. From 1882 to 1889, the mining boom collapsed. On August 15, 1889, the first long awaited train arrived in Lake City. The railroad stimulated another mining boom. By 1905, the mining era was over and by 1910 the population of Lake City was 400. Half of the buildings were vacant. Many others were destroyed by fires. In 1933, the railroad ceased operations.

In 1935, Lake City began a resurgence with tourism. Lake City's isolated location and deteriorating buildings gave tourists and summer residents a sense of escaping from civilization. Bootlegging and gambling created the allure of lawlessness. In 1949, the Denver Post wrote about the numerous slot machines: "Virtually every business place in Lake City has one or more machines." In the mid 1950s, 24 hour electricity became available. The grocery store was able to stock frozen foods and the soda fountain was able to serve ice cream. Today, Lake City continues to be a scenic and recreational paradise.

In 1877, the Silver Star Lodge No. 27, International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), established a cemetery for their members and their families. The IOOF Cemetery, also known as New Cemetery or Upper Cemetery, was very restrictive and well organized with well kept records. When the Odd Fellows Lodge was dissolved in the early 1900s, the cemetery was opened to the public. IOOF Cemetery is now the primary Lake City cemetery.

There are subtle differences between IOOF Cemetery and City Cemetery. IOOF Cemetery memorials, fences, and markers are generally more costly, stylish, permanent, and elaborate than those at City Cemetery. IOOF Cemetery contains a higher percentage of Lake City's business and professional people while immigrants, miners, and prospectors are noticeable absent. IOOF Cemetery was Lake City's cemetery of choice and contains many unique grave markers.

Information primarily taken from "Cemeteries of Hinsdale County, Colorado" by Grant E. Houston (1996).

Lake City c1890 Looking Southeast		1889 by Ted Kierseey

Heading Out Henson St.		Lake City Depot

Please take some time to reflect back on the lives of these pioneers and the effort it took to make Colorado such a great state!! The only guarantee in life is death. Where will you be?

Colorado Spirit Quest Information:

The Colorado Spirit Quest (CSQ) is a series of caches placed by many individuals, near cemeteries and historic sites in hopes of paying respect to the many pioneer ancestors that have "walked" before us. There are hundreds of cemeteries in the rural and mountain communities across Colorado. This series will provide a history tour of these cemeteries. If you are apprehensive about cemeteries, avoid this series.

The CSQ endeavor is an enormous and relentless task. It will only flourish if there is a multitude of volunteer cachers willing to place these caches. Each person that places a CSQ cache is responsible for its maintenance.

New volunteers are always Welcome!! If you are interested in being a part of this project, email the owner of Colorado Spirit Quest #1 – Golden Mountain Passage.

Thanks to the current volunteers: Greasepot, Taylorgeotracker, Ivy Dog Parents, Team Boogity3, Grand High Pobah, Boborr 80909, Imusttravel2000, Buzz Lightyear I, Sandhill 49er, MrVolkswagen, Isisfan, Rockymtn8iv, Fork-L-Man, Outdrlvr201, Condor1, 2Cachedivers, arthurat, smilz787, Kyotmoon, Mountain Roamer, SugarPug, Team Tiger Pride, ernie66, drnetwork, Team w-bar-v, Dynamite Rabbit, DustyKat, mtnbirders, RustyBeerCan & Marma, grymreaper, nteclpr, Moose1 & Mama Moose, Joe Friday, 3cacheteers, 3cacheteers, Dasha Aussies, KB0UMW, hiking_fool, tripping, res71cue and 1Mrs1Ogre, and nickgatt, kingbee, The misgnoners, rbradu, shashyaz&foxy, Bugranger Lyonden ut., Any Direction, Sewnssew, and The Meandering Monkeys.