This little clapboard dwelling originally stood on Harrison Avenue, Leadville, where the Opera House is now. It was moved to its present place on Fifth Street in 1879. In 1955 it was opened as a small shop-museum. It now stands alone on the block, but for many years it was huddled against a clapboard false-front assay office on one side and small residences on the other.
Business boomed. Tabor had to hire two clerks to take care of the post office alone. Soon he was forced to open a banking department since he owned an ordinary iron safe which sat outside the counter. Everyone wanted to deposit their cash in his safe. The cashier divided his time between the dry goods and grocery divisions, and the receipt of deposits and writing of exchange. Tabor hired still more clerks and expanded jovially in the balmy atmosphere of his new importance.
In January, 1878, the settlement comprised some seventy tents, shanties and log cabins. The inhabitants decided to call a meeting, effect an organization and choose a name. “Leadville” was selected, although a few people thought “Cloud City” was more poetic. A short while afterward they voted Tabor to the mayorship, and officially confirmed his year-long office with a city election in April. Tabor was now worth between $25,000 and $30,000.
As sleeping and eating facilities were at a premium, the Tabors decided to build a residence for themselves, where Augusta could serve meals, and to allow the clerks to sleep above the store. They chose a site at 310 Harrison Avenue, way off from the settlement, and began to build in the spring. Meanwhile Tabor was handing out grubstakes and still dreaming.
Then the momentous day of his Castles-in-Spain arrived. On Sunday, April 21, 1878, two German prospectors, August Rische and George Theodore Hook, asked him for a stake while Tabor was sorting mail. Postmaster Tabor told them to pick out what they needed, and the men chose about $17 worth of supplies, mostly groceries. They drew up an agreement that Tabor was entitled to a third of what they found.
A few days later they came back and asked for a second hand-out. They had staked a claim and they needed shovels, a hand-switch, drills and blasting powder to sink a shaft. This brought the total outlay to some $60.
FAST FRIENDS
Although Bush quarreled violently with both Maxcy’s father and mother, no friction ever marred their affection. They were business partners and friends for twenty years despite sixteen years’ difference in their age and outlook.
Early in May, Augusta was coming downstairs one morning when August Rische burst into the store. As she told the story to Flora Stevens, his hands were full of specimens. He rushed toward her and shouted: