The property's boarding house was built in 1920. It's a two story log building that's 98.5' long and 18' wide. Along with a compressor house, this complex is located at the head of the alpine basin. The compressor house still contains hard rock mining machinery. The underground workings were reported to produce gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. This is the largest log structure on the east side of the Alpine Loop.[1][2][3]
A 1921 report from the Mining Journal reports: "Golconda Mines Consolidated their long crosscut in Basin and have begun the vein with a good showing ore Operations will the end of the year and be until next spring the of the company during recent having shown it to be to continue operations the winter at so high an far from the base of supplies Lake City ."
There is other interesting history as well, such as this account, published in the Aspen Weekly Times, September 29th, 1894: "True Account of _Captnln Jackson s Deed Of Self Defense, Mancos , Colo., Sept . 26 . —The particulars of the killing of Jack Sparks by Captain G . A . Jackson at the Golconda camp of the J . N . & E . Placer Mining company are about as follows : A misunderstanding had occurred between the two men as regards certain payments that Sparks claimed were due from the company , but which Captain Jackson did not feel at liberty to allow . This exasperated Sparks , who was heard on the streets of Mancos on Saturday to say that he intended to kill Jackson .
William Hush , who carries the mail between Mancos and Golconda was in town on Saturday and on leaving for camp in the afternoon Sparks persisted in accompanying him , saying that he intended to kill Jackson on sight . He was armed with a revolver and a shotgun . Hush tried to prevail upon him to go back , but he-refused to do so and growing more excited told Hush that if he attempted to do or say anything to prevent him he would kill him , too , and emphasized his assertion by firing bis revolver so close to Hush's head that the letter carriers face was powder burned . Hush, seeing that Sparks was bent upon trouble, stopped at a ranch some distance below the camp, ostensibly to get a drink of water, but sent a boy ahead to warn Jackson of his danger . As they drew near Golconda camp Owens and another man met them and tried to prevail on Sparks to go back, but the latter again refused , saying he intended to kill Jackson . When they entered camp Captain Jackson was in his tent . He had armed himself with a double barreled shot gun loaded with buckshot . Hearing the footsteps he walked out with the gun on his arm . Sparks was coming up the trail and Jackson called to him: Hello, Jack ! Sparks on seeing him threw his hand back on his revolver. Jackson covered him with his gun, saying: Dont do that , Jack ! Hold up your hands !
Sparks drew his revolver and aimed it at which moment Jackson fired , the shot taking effect in the chest . Apparently untouched, Sparks aimed and fired . At the same moment Jackson fired a second shot which entered Sparks head, and he fell dead. Captain Jackson is well known in mining circles throughout the state, especially Pueblo, the headquarters of the company which he manages . Public sympathy is entirely on his side. Captain Jackson came into Mancos on Saturday night and gave himself up to the deputy sheriff ."
An 1898 Report from the Colorado Mining Index states: "Clear Creek Co.-- Golconda Mining and Tunneling Co. uses air drills in both tunnels, the Golconda and the one opposite the Mahala. The Golconda is making good headway and will reach several of the lodes soon, but the big lode will not be reached for almost 1,000 ft. Shafter Mining Co. is now sinking below the 600-ft. level, where 6 ft. of good ore is being hauled to Mixsell Mill for treatment."
