Willoughby: Amos Bourquin — longtime Aspen mining stockbroker

My father had the fortunate experience of socializing and working with some of Aspen’s early residents when he worked a summer during high school at the Little Annie Mine.

At the time, 1924, John Atkinson, an original part-owner of that mine, had returned to Aspen from California to initiate some exploratory work in the Annie’s upper workings. Father was living in the dorm at the mine, and Atkinson was there often, and long-term acquaintances would stop in to socialize. Father took advantage and absorbed quantities of Aspen mining oral history.

One was Amos Bourquin. He came to the Aspen area in the early 1880s. One of his first jobs was as the toll collector for the road between Ashcroft and St. Elmo — one of the very first roads connecting both sides of the mountains. Another interesting job was as one of the operators of the Aspen Power Plant in its early years.

Like many early arrivals, he filed a few mining claims and invested in others. He opened up the Colorado Springs Mining Exchange office in Aspen, working as a stock and real-estate broker. In 1899, he did $60,000 ($1,750,000 in today’s dollars) in sales in one month.

Bourquin, as a broker, was one of the most knowledgeable residents on all Aspen mine developments. He also, as the name of his firm implies, had strong ties to Colorado Springs and, hence, Cripple Creek. He had dual-residency in both cities. My father was most interested in his part-ownership in the Little Annie and the Midnight. Bourquin was also a director of the Hope Mining Company that was, like the Midnight, driving a tunnel to come in under the Little Annie and Midnight lodes, although from the opposite direction and at a lower elevation. He also had partnership with another mine on Richmond Hill in a partnership with Tom Flynn, who later was one of the founders of the Highland Bavarian Company that initiated skiing in Aspen. Bourquin found silver on the claim in 1904.

Like many Aspen mining investors, he kept tabs on mining opportunities all over the West. His brother went to the Klondike with John Atkinson, and Bourquin followed that closely. He traveled to California, living for a period in San Diego, but went mostly to investigate the new gold mining towns of Goldfield and Tonopah in 1902.

Bourquin’s investments were not only for silver and gold. In 1902, he formed a partnership with other locals, including the owner of Tomkins hardware, called Grand Valley Oil. An oil gusher in Debeque sparked the investment in 4,100 acres of adjoining property.

Also, in the 1920s, Bourquin bought interest in the Park Mine and became a director and founder of the Aspen State Bank. It appears he spend as much time traveling as he did in Aspen. He lived until he was 85, dying in 1943. In his obituary, it was noted that his wife had lived in other locations (California and Cripple Creek) for 30 of those years.

Bourquin joined others, including Mayor Wagner, in enforcing Prohibition in Aspen. In 1924, federal Prohibition agents came and, with Sherriff Davies and the mayor helping, found bootlegged liquor; five were arrested. They received fines of $150 to $300 and 20 to 90 days in jail. The following year, agents came unannounced and arrested two. One had hidden a quart of moonshine in his telephone box. The mayor the next day promised he would put down any bootlegger.

Bourquin was in his mid-sixties when Father interacted with him. Father, during the school months, took mail to the Little Annie camp on the weekends, hiking from town or skiing. So he was well-aware of how long and arduous that trip was. Bourquin told Father that he walked from the Jerome to the Little Annie boarding house in less than two hours. Bourquin made the journey in all seasons. He would come, eat lunch with the others, and then head back to town.

Tim Willoughby’s family story parallels Aspen’s. He began sharing folklore while teaching at Aspen Country Day School and Colorado Mountain College. Now a tourist in his native town, he views it with historical perspective. Reach him at redmtn2@comcast.net.