The Portland Legend - Ron West as Jimmy Burns

Ron West Brings Jimmy Burns and the Portland Legend to Life

The Southern Teller County Focus Group (STCFG) will be hosting its tenth annual historic mine tour Saturday, May 23. The tour will include a visit to the historic Goldfield City Hall where Colorado Springs actor Ron West will portray Jimmy Burns, one of two pioneers who discovered one of the richest gold mines in the district. The tour will also include a visit to the Portland Mine above Victor.

This city hall is owned by Teller County and is not open to the public. The 1890's mine is on private mine land not accessible to the public – do not miss this opportunity to view these sites. This tour is possible due to the cooperation of Teller County and the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company, on whose property these structures are located.

Born in Portland, Maine in 1853, Jimmy Burns had a number of careers, traveled parts of the world, and made and lost fortunes before following his sisters and brother to Colorado Springs. After arriving in 1886 he performed many jobs for the city including those of a plumber and street grader and also as the foremen of the Matt France Hook & Ladder Company. There he and a friend named Jimmie Doyle, who was also from Portland, formed plans to go into the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District to seek their fortune. Battle Mountain was said to be the place to be as miners such as Winfield Scott Stratton, Sam Strong, and the Woods Brothers had already established paying claims but the mountain had little left for tenderfeet. After pouring over claim maps and repeatedly walking the hills, Burns and Doyle laid claim to a triangular piece of land that was barely larger than a tenth of an acre. Being tenderfeet they knew very little about mining but with the help of knowledgeable friends like John Harnan and powerful friends like Stratton, the Portland Mine grew from that tiny little parcel to 183 acres and three separate shafts producing millions of dollars of gold every year and making each of the partners very rich in the meantime.  The Portland Gold Ming Company would found the town of Goldfield to provide homes for its miners and even during the strikes of 1894 and 1903-1904 the Portland would continue to provide for its miners when all the other mines had closed.  Jimmy Burns was a fortunate man but earned every dime he made. And he gave too. Burns greatest gift was to the city of Colorado Springs, The fabulous Burns Opera House.

Meet at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum no later than 9:30 the day of the tour. All participants will be required to sign waivers. Most all transportation to the sites will be by an or bus with a very limited number of vehicles carpooling. This tour is very popular and advance, pre-paid reservations are recommended online at VictorColorado.com. Online reservations are by credit card; cash only payments will be accepted at the museum the day of the event. Tickets will also be on sale the museum (cash only) May 16 and 17.