12/22/2025
Good Morning Everyone! ... We thought we would share a very important piece of Colorado Mining History! .... We hope you enjoy this true story ......
The 1906 Elmore
More to the story of the 1906 Elmore of Central City:
In 1906, A man named “Peter Mcfarlane” brought in the very first horseless carriage into Central City by narrow gauge train. People from all over Gilpin County gathered around to witness the historic event, because at that time it was the very first automobile to arrive into Gilpin County!
Most everyone familiar with his history of Central City and Black Hawk knew Peter as the one who helped restore the Opera house. He was a mining entrepreneur and he was credited for saving Central City. He also had businesses in Black Hawk as well.
Now more about Luella Thomas and her connection with the Elmore:
Luella’s family was very much involved in the mining of Russell Gulch, and her father had several hard rock mines in the territory. One was called War Dance and another was called the Hurricane.
When Luella, or Lue as we called her, was growing up she said that she would spend lots of time with her dad and the old miners. She did say one thing that broke her heart was after the mines had all closed, someone went and stole the mine whistle that they used to call the miner to and from work. Later on Lue had met her husband Joe Thomas, who was also a miner. Joe and Luella together had some mines around the Black Hawk area as well. Lue would spend lots of time telling Ed and I about her past and of what it was like growing up in the mining towns and the friends that she grew up with. Lue had so much knowledge of history and love of her past.
It was said that she would get to go on many rides in the Elmore. From Central City to Idaho Springs and towards Denver. She said that going down “Oh My God Road” with a few miners piled in the Elmore was a very long trip. Because you could only get the top speed up to 30mph, downhill, if you were lucky.
We heard quite a lot of stories told by Luella. At one time she told us that during part of the 1960’s she had worked at the School of Mines as secretary and office help... At one time I think she said that her and her husband, along with a brother-in- law, some how aquired the famous 1906 Elmore!
How we met her:
Ed was doing some work for her, in the late 1980’s, and at the time We had a shop called Custom Fabrication. Located in Golden, close to the Jefferson county fair grounds.
Ed was doing some Iron hand railing for her, Just like he had done for another neighbor who was a musician for the Denver Symphony. While Ed was out putting together her project Luella had invited me in to her home for a chit chat. I was telling Luella about some of the many projects and jobs that Ed and I had worked together on. One that sparked her on was that Ed was building and helping with was The City Of Golden’s Ford Mustang, Race Car, that was used for the D.A.R.E program… Ed had built the high performance Engine, and I had helped! ... So Luella said to me with a grin: “Lets go find Eddie”, as she called him, and I has asked why..She said I have something to show you both... She walked us over to her garage and lifted up the door and to our surprise was that 1906 Elmore... She said that the car had sat for nearly 30 years, stored away in a carefully protected garage.
Luella told us that one wish had before she’d die, was to see the car run, and to take a nice ride in it! Even a short trip around the block would be wonderful!... It would make her so happy!...So Ed and I looked at each other with some smiles and Ed said: “I can get it fired up and we would be honored to take you for a ride”!... It made her day... Luella was telling me that she wanted to clean and polish (All) the brass and I could help her.
I went to Checker’s auto parts in Golden and bought some brass polish... Took it over to Lue’s house, and she said “Oh NO! Honey”...”We're going to polish all the brass the way we did it when I was growing up”. Salt and vinegar with a touch of flour as a paste mixed with elbow grease, as she called it. The next day we pushed the Elmore out onto the drive way so Ed could start to check everything.
Ed was the first one to get this car running in about a 30 year period of dormancy. He carefully lubricated the cylinders with marvel mystery oil, and he mixed up some special fuel with necessary lead additive, then he aired up the tires and proceeded to check the old wooden magneto for correct timing, then the Hand Cranking was done to fire up the amazing vehicle!...Ed was very familiar with old tractor magneto’s and he knew exactly what to do!...Ed had worked on dozens of old Harley’s, and other motorcycles than had similar ignition systems!
Several strong cranks, and a little sweat, … The old engine fired up and started running steadily! Many neighbors began coming over to witness the spectacular event! and in no time, it turned into a block party… Ed and I took Luella around the block with great pride and respect for her and her wish!
About a week or so later, Luella wanted to meet us at the Denver Marriott West, ... It was not too far from her home, for a Sunday brunch... She said that she had a Surprise for us... Oh We were surprised alright!.. Luella told Ed and I that we would be driving the Elmore to brunch…We were nervous but honored to actually drive this magnificent “horseless carriage”, down the modern roadways, and shock hundreds of people as we arrived at the Marriott!
A few weeks later, Luella was having some thoughts about having the Elmore’s motor and body restored. Luella has asked Ed if it could be done... “Absolutely”, Ed replied ... and he took the motor and transmission and parts up to our shop in Pine Co, so that he could begin a full restoration for Luella.
Ed and I beefed up our shop insurance to over two million dollars...Then we proceeded to dismantle the very special engine! We were working with the very best machine shops in Colorado at the time and we had B&D automotive, (owner: Billy Housel),balance the massive 80 lb flywheel… Then we sent the cast iron, two stage pistons out to Las Vegas Nevada to have them balanced and have sterling silver inserted into the connecting rods, (in replacement of the original lead Babbitt bearings)…
During the time of us waiting to get parts back Lue had came up to Pine for a visit and to see her Sweet baby Russy, (Cat), and to look at what Ed had started on. We went to lunch to the Old Bucksnort Saloon. Lue was saying “I love that you and Eddie enjoy working together”, “and also have the love of Gold mining and prospecting for gold”. Lue said “wouldn’t it have been fun if we grew up together”. And that we reminded her of how her and her husband worked together back in the days... She said “I have something for you both”... Well to our amazement!... It was the last mining hat of her father’s,… In great condition, and with the original carbide lamp on the front!... What a very special gift!... At the time Lue gave some gold she had from the mines to Ed. He did not tell me about it at the time... Until
my 30th birthday, He had melted the gold and made me some earrings as a gift from him and Luella.
For Ed and I the very best gift of all was our friendship with Luella.
Soon Ed had the motor and transmission all hooked up in the body of the car. Ed was finally finished with his part... Another fellow that Luella knew was working on the body restoration for her, and he eventually worked some kind of a deal with her, and he obtained ownership of the car in about 2005 ...for many years the fellow that got the Elmore, has been working with another guy to keep up with all the maintenance…. The 1906 Elmore is still in Colorado, and It is an amazing piece of Colorado History!
Written By: Sharon Eckley 12/19/2025
