Photo Credit: Anita Riggle
WELCOME TO THE TELLER HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION
THE Coalition is committed to preserving the historic, cultural, environmental, recreational and scenic resources in and around Teller County, and to broadening public understanding regarding the significance of those resources.
Working with member organizations, THE Coalition Board has achieved much in the organization's 10-year history.
THE Coalition has ---
- Helped member organizations identify funding sources to obtain grants, including funding for 'The Locals', a public art project of the Two Mile High Club that honors the role played by donkeys in Cripple Creek gold mining days.
- Managed the 5-year collaborative effort among the Rural Land Preservation Group (RLPG), Palmer Land Trust and Teller County Parks to preserve 1,300 acres of scenic landscape and wildlife habitat, completing the 5,000 acre Pikes Peak Conservation Corridor along Hwy 24 between Woodland Park and Divide.
- Served as fiscal agent for the Victor Penguins, the Two Mile High Club, RLPG, Woodland Park Hockey Association and others.
- Co-sponsored workshops and The Nonprofit Resource Center at the Woodland Park Public Library in collaboration with the Rampart Library District.
- Working with the Teller County Historic Preservation Advisory Board to preserve the old Weaver house at 357 Weaverville Road in Divide. Probably built as a section house for the Colorado Midland around 1886/87, it continued in that role presumably until the Midland Terminal ceased operation in 1949.
- Works to preserve the Midland Depot, part of the Colorado Midland system. It is only one of four surviving depots of the system and the only one that will be open to the public when completely refurbished.
T.H.E. 2025 ANNUAL MEETING
Our 2025 Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, January 26th from 2-4pm at the Woodland Professional Building.
Here is a document showing a few plans for the proposed Historic Depot at Divide Visitors and Interpretive Center.
All Teller County (and surrounding areas) community members are welcome to attend T.H.E. meetings and we look forward to guests joining us! We are also looking for a secretary and a treasurer. If you are interested, please call 719.650.4089 and leave a message. Minutes from the Annual Meeting can be found here.
THANKS FOR JOINING US AT THE 2024 BREIT AWARDS BANQUET
The 7th Annual Breit Awards Banquet was held on Sunday, October 20, at the Ute Pass Cultural Center, in Woodland Park, to honor Doris "Dee" Breitenfeld, Teller County's longtime community member and supporter of the arts, environmental conservation, historic preservation, T.H.E. Board Director Emeritus, and much more!
For the past seven years (excluding 2020), T.H.E. Coalition has been honoring one of their beloved founding members, Ms. Dee Breitenfeld, by also honoring individuals and organizations who work to preserve our local history, an effort that Dee was involved in throughout her life.
The Breit Awards Banquet is a fundraiser and an opportunity to recognize these special honorees.
The 2024 award winners were:
--- the Southern Teller County Focus Group (https://stcfg.com) - partnering with organizations and land owners for over 25 years to promote Southern Teller County, preserve and educate the public about Gold Rush history near Cripple Creek & Victor, Colorado. The STCFG works with Newmont Cripple Creek & Victor mining and other private land owners to develop positive solutions to historic preservation, recreation, education and post-mining land use.
--- Steven Wade Veatch - Steven is an accomplished author, historian, educator, and researcher (paleontology and climate change).
--- Marion Richey Vance - Marion is an accomplished author, historian, educator and so much more! She has served on the THE steering committee in all capacities (at one time or another) since 2010 and played a crucial part in the development of The Heritage Tourism App. She has also participated in various other Teller County historic and environmental initiatives. We are indebted to her knowledge of the Teller County area and nearby communities.
Thank you to the Gold Camp Victorian Society for bringing the Harvey Girls to assist at the banquet. And thank you to Roy's Crew BBQ for providing a delicious dinner! Kudos to all of our community partners and sponsors. We look forward to seeing you at next year's event in October!
Interested in Becoming A Member? Find Out More by Clicking on the Links Below....
| t.h.e._2025_membership_letter.pdf |
| t.h.e._2025_membership_form.pdf |
Many years ago (the exact date is lost to recent antiquity) when the stars were aligned and the constellations were fixed in the heavens so that Orion’s Belt pointed directly to the summit of Ute Pass, a wise man declared that Divide was not just in the center of Colorado, it was the “Center of the Known Universe.”
Years have come and gone since then, and about the only time one sees that phrase in these days is when it is used by the Divide Chamber of Commerce (it’s their official, copyrighted logo). But things are about to change.
For nearly a decade the Divide Chamber has nursed a project to place an appropriate welcome sign along U.S. Highway 24 to alert both travelers and locals alike that they are approaching what many consider a cosmic spot on the face of the earth, unlike any other. Before the highway was widened to four lanes, there used to be a smaller welcome-to-Divide sign in the field near the entrance to Meadow Park. But that sign disappeared with the road work.
A couple of years ago, at the Chamber’s prompting, the state did post one of their green road signs marking the westbound approach to Divide. But according to many, that sign is not enough. Until the last few years, the Chamber’s sign project has lingered. But time, effort, and good people have been able keep the project alive, doing things that others thought impractical; now the sign project is about to become a reality. More....
Written by David Martinek
Editor's Note: The Welcome to Divide sign was erected in July 2015. The Divide Chamber of Commerce paid for the cost of the sign in full.
Years have come and gone since then, and about the only time one sees that phrase in these days is when it is used by the Divide Chamber of Commerce (it’s their official, copyrighted logo). But things are about to change.
For nearly a decade the Divide Chamber has nursed a project to place an appropriate welcome sign along U.S. Highway 24 to alert both travelers and locals alike that they are approaching what many consider a cosmic spot on the face of the earth, unlike any other. Before the highway was widened to four lanes, there used to be a smaller welcome-to-Divide sign in the field near the entrance to Meadow Park. But that sign disappeared with the road work.
A couple of years ago, at the Chamber’s prompting, the state did post one of their green road signs marking the westbound approach to Divide. But according to many, that sign is not enough. Until the last few years, the Chamber’s sign project has lingered. But time, effort, and good people have been able keep the project alive, doing things that others thought impractical; now the sign project is about to become a reality. More....
Written by David Martinek
Editor's Note: The Welcome to Divide sign was erected in July 2015. The Divide Chamber of Commerce paid for the cost of the sign in full.
Check out the cool boxcar that has a new home with us!
The Colorado Midland/Midland Terminal railroad boxcar is a gift from the former Shoemaker Ranch in Divide (now the Elsworth Ranch) and was recently moved onto the Midland Depot at Divide property.
They boxcar will be initially preserved and eventually restored.
Once again, we have Dick Lass and Jay Baker to thank. They recently moved two pallets of railroad ties (40 in total) and four, 30-foot, 45 pound rails to the depot property (stacked just east of the boxcar). These were materials sitting at the Woodland Park rest stop (near Woodland Hardware) and were left over from when the red Cog Railway car was brought up from Manitou Springs and installed as a permanent exhibit at the rest stop.
Nice new coat of paint! February, 2022
Thanks to the help of Carl Andersen, we moved the donated shipping cart from Virginia Shippey's yard to the depot grounds. The cart looks very similar to the photo shown here. August, 2022
Photos from the sign dedication at the Midland Depot in Divide. Photographer was David Johnson from the Gold Camp Victorian Society. This was held to honor the donation given by the GCVS to finance the signs. August 2022.
The Heritage Tourism App!
First of its kind mobile app about Teller County now available on your iPhone and your Android device!
The Tour Teller mobile app brings Teller County's history alive! The tour consists of seven routes that recreate the sights and sounds of Colorado's history - from the voices of the Utes and homesteaders to the sounds of steam trains and the gold rush.... highlighting the historical legacy of Teller County which can be taken singly or in sequence -- physically or virtually. Each includes a narrative enlivened by current and historical photos highlighting suggested stops, points of interest that can be viewed from the road, and optional excursions off route. Audio and video clips convey the flavor the past through oral histories and re-enactments of historic characters.
To download the the iPhone app, go to Apple App store and search for “Pikes Peak Historic Driving Tour”. To download the Android app, go to the Google Play store and search for the same. (Or scan the QR codes below.) Once the app is downloaded, users can follow any of seven distinct routes even where cell service is not available. “Tour Teller” is sponsored by
the Teller Historic and Environmental Coalition.
Click on the photos below from our launch party!
The Tour Teller mobile app brings Teller County's history alive! The tour consists of seven routes that recreate the sights and sounds of Colorado's history - from the voices of the Utes and homesteaders to the sounds of steam trains and the gold rush.... highlighting the historical legacy of Teller County which can be taken singly or in sequence -- physically or virtually. Each includes a narrative enlivened by current and historical photos highlighting suggested stops, points of interest that can be viewed from the road, and optional excursions off route. Audio and video clips convey the flavor the past through oral histories and re-enactments of historic characters.
To download the the iPhone app, go to Apple App store and search for “Pikes Peak Historic Driving Tour”. To download the Android app, go to the Google Play store and search for the same. (Or scan the QR codes below.) Once the app is downloaded, users can follow any of seven distinct routes even where cell service is not available. “Tour Teller” is sponsored by
the Teller Historic and Environmental Coalition.
Click on the photos below from our launch party!
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Tour Teller App QR Code
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THE Coalition Board of Directors
Albert (David) Martinek - Chair
Sherri L. Albertson - Vice Chair
OPEN - Secretary
OPEN - Treasurer
Honorary Director – Marion Vance
Director Emeritus - Doris (Dee) Breitenfeld (1935-2014)
Members at Large
Jane Lass
Jean Rodeck
Erik Stone
Zack Walker
**We are also looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to join THE Coalition as Board members. If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about this opportunity, please reach out to us at [email protected]**
Albert (David) Martinek - Chair
Sherri L. Albertson - Vice Chair
OPEN - Secretary
OPEN - Treasurer
Honorary Director – Marion Vance
Director Emeritus - Doris (Dee) Breitenfeld (1935-2014)
Members at Large
Jane Lass
Jean Rodeck
Erik Stone
Zack Walker
**We are also looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to join THE Coalition as Board members. If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about this opportunity, please reach out to us at [email protected]**