Fort Mary B (Room 309)

Julia Anna Moore
Jan 1
4 min read

How to get to Fort Mary B

The reason I chose this run for this condo is because every time I ski down Pioneer, I always see Fort Mary B, and it’s groomed really weird with large rolling bumps, no one is ever there, and it makes me curious. It’s a weird side run, but fun to attempt if you want strange variable terrain. You can get there by riding the Independence SuperChair on Peak 7. The name Fort Mary B has a muddled history, but was the name of one of the first lot of buildings that came up in the 1800’s for prospectors in the Blue River Valley. Apparently even at the time, not many people could agree on the name when looking into corespondance and documents. Breck history has settled on the building being named after one the first women to ever step foot into Breckenridge, Mary Bigelow, thus naming the run. You can read more about the mystery here.

Ski resort trail map showing various ski runs in blue, black, and red lines through mountainous terrain with tree symbols, names, and symbols. — *Map of Breckenridge’s Peak 7*

Women in Breck

Settlers in Breckenridge were not in for a glamorous lifestyle when they first arrived; we’ve come really far since then. Women were greatly outnumbered by men for the most part and took on great challenges living in the wilderness of Colorado. They prevailed even through hardship, opening schools, churches, libraries, hospitals and social clubs to try and balance out the gambling, drinking, and sexual activities by the mining men. It was not an easy life, especially with the harsh winters and disconnect from the outside world. Read more about the history of women in Breck here.

Two women in long dresses and hats ski across a snowy field with a train passing in the background, creating a serene, vintage scene. — **Winter sport on snowshoes:** Left side of photograph print shows two women on long wooden skis, each holding a pole for balance and braking. The women are wearing hats, ankle length dresses with ruffled edges, and overcoats buttoned up to the collar. In the distance is a railroad locomotive and railroad cars. On the right side of the print is a duplicate image, cropped. *Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

Sepia-toned image of a log cabin with a wooden shed. A child stands near the door, surrounded by scattered debris, suggesting a rustic setting. — **Telegraph station on Boreas Pass, east of Breckenridge:** A young girl stands in the doorway of a rough hewn log structure. Handwritten on the reverse: “This may be the telegraph station on Boreas Pass” and photographer’s stamp: “O. Westerman, Photographer, Breckenridge, — Colorado.” *Original creator: Circa 1890s (Creation); Westerman, Otto. Agnes Miner Collection; Gift, Colorado Springs Ghost Town Club. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

Vintage car with six people parked on a dirt road in front of two early 20th-century houses. The mood is relaxed and joyful. — **Alice, Ida and June Kaiser with friends in a 1914 Dodge sedan in Breckenridge:** Alice Kaiser drives her sisters, Ida and June, and friends in a 1914 Dodge sedan down Ridge Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten caption on the reverse: “Sophisticates and Myrtle Bridge — 1936”, “Carl Kaiser house on left — Chris Kaiser house on right” and “Alice Sandefer driving ‘her’ car”. Alice, Ida and June were the daughters of Carl and Esther Kaiser, and granddaughters of Chris and Ida Kaiser. Note: Carl an Esther Kaiser’s house is often referred to as the “Ladybug House”. *Original creator: 1936 (Creation); Unidentified. Breckenridge History Photograph Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

Two people in vintage attire stand and sit in a mountainous landscape with scattered trees. One holds a hat. The scene is calm and serene. — **No title:** No description. *Original creator: Mary Marks. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

Victorian women pose together in a forest, wearing dark dresses and hats on the ground. The mood is serene with a wooded background. — **Group portrait of women posed outdoors, in Summit County, Colorado:** Group portrait of women posed outdoors, circa late 1800s. Handwritten on the reverse: “May Phillips, Alice Spencer, Marie Williams, Susie Sadler, Lucy Campbell, Minty Williams, Esther Franklin, Fannie Remine, Lucinda Albee, Jennie Marshall, Olive Fryer, Lottie Porter.” *Original creator: 1880–1910 (Creation); Unidentified. Agnes Miner Collection; Gift, Colorado Springs Ghost Town Club. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

Person skiing down a rocky mountain slope, wearing white jacket and yellow gloves. Background shows cliffs and sparse trees, under blue sky. — **ROCK SKIING PHOTOGRAPH:** BRECKENRIDGE LOCALS HAVE ALWAYS HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR. *Original creator: Unknown date. Unknown creator. LEE LUCAS. DR. SANDRA F. MATHER ARCHIVES BRECKENRIDGE HISTORY.*

A modern touch

At Wedgewood Lodge, we want to give you a distinctive look into the past history of Breckenridge. Each photo in your historical gallery is unique to your stay and took countless hours to curate. There are stories to tell about Breckenridge and Summit County today as well, and the following photos have been shot by Julia Anna Moore.

Summer 2022

Storms in Summit County roll in like clock work during the summertime, so you better do all your fun outdoor activities before lunch. Sometimes the rain blows over quickly, sometimes it lasts until sunset, creating a beautiful pattern in the sky.

Mountain peak bathed in orange sunset light under dramatic clouds. Dark foreground contrasts with vibrant sky, creating a serene mood. — The sun sets in July after a thunderstorm kissing Bald Mountain with alpenglow.

Orange and gray clouds fill the sky during sunset, creating a dramatic and serene atmosphere. No text visible. — The sun sets in July after a thunderstorm kissing Bald Mountain with alpenglow.

Moon in a twilight sky with dark clouds and hints of pink and blue, creating a calm and serene atmosphere. — The sun sets in July after a thunderstorm kissing Bald Mountain with alpenglow.

Autumn 2022

A small snowstorm turned the peaks white in September, and I ran out of my front door to get the clouds leaving the mountains as the sky cleared. The excitement of ski season set in.

Snow-capped mountain under a cloudy sky, surrounded by dense green forests. Yellow foliage in the foreground adds a touch of autumn. — The first snowfall in September, the aspens on Peak 8 already ready to drop their leaves for wintertime.

Want to take a piece of Summit County home with you? We will ship any of the prints from Julia’s gallery straight to your house. We offer different sizes and framing options. Reach out here.