A Ghost Town Populated By Freemasons - Nevadaville Colorado

Most people are familiar with Nevadaville Colorado as a road-sign they pass on their way to the glittery casinos of Black Hawk or Central City. However; if you make one wrong turn on your way up I-70, you may find yourself in one of the many ghost towns that are crowded into the landscape of Gregory Gulch. One of the most stunning and well-preserved examples is Nevadaville Colorado.
In the 1800s Nevadaville was bustling with businesses, families, and of course; gold miners. It was founded in 1859 when John H. Gregory discovered the first lode-gold (or underground gold) in what would later become the state of Colorado. However, when Mr. Gregory was prospecting in Nevadaville; it was not yet a state and still a part of the western Kansas Territory. The town was primarily Irish and the miners worked two large gold lodes; the Burrough lode and the Kansas lode.​
Today the community is largely abandoned, but it is not completely deserted; a few very determined residents call Nevadaville home to this day. Only a few buildings stand on the main street. Acting as tributes and relics of the Old West version of Colorado. The Masonic Lodge continues to hold regular meetings. A tradition stemming back to the start of the temple in 1861.
The lodge was a planned part of the post-fire reconstruction and has remained active ever since, though it was not completed until the 1870s. Despite not having a lodge, the masons were already active and well established in the area. For the miners of the late 1800s becoming a Freemason was something to aspire to. The dues to be a member were $4 a year and the average miner made $1 a week. Meaning the cost of membership was an entire month's wages and not easily obtained.
Being a member of the Nevadaville Lodge gave men high status and wealth. It was an assurance that the brethren would help pay for medical needs or after-death expenses. A tradition stemming back to the gilded and medieval ages. It served as an early form of health insurance, life insurance, and general welfare services. It was the social-safety-net of its time. Larger modern institutions have adapted and incorporated elements of this system into theirs; such as labor-unions, international trade packs, and democratized medicine systems. Even to this day, the brethren of Masons help each other with their monetary needs.
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[@liameyers7041]

I've missed your videos. I'm glad to see you're back!

[@DerelictDoug]

I am happy to be back and thank you for joining the premiere. Stay safe!

[@susanstark8214]

You've outdone yourself again. Thank you for another informative video.

[@DerelictDoug]

Gee thanks! I am really glad you enjoyed. Stay safe

[@dwightandersen8053]

Thank you for your excellent and respectful coverage of this great Colorado Masonic Lodge and Freemasonry in general. I have sat in this Lodge as a Brother and it is indeed a unique experience. Worshipful Brother Patrick Dey is an upright man and Mason, a well respected Brother in the fraternity and personal friend.

[@Misawa8]

This is awesom...as a Freemason it is on my bucket list to one day visit this lodge.

[@DerelictDoug]

I wish I could have the opportunity to properly tour the building. I hope you get to! Thanks so much for watching, and all the best!

[@markmorris5880]

I have toured the lodge and done paranormal investigations up at Nevadaville and have the privilege if knowing Wes, the miner who lives in the 2 story at the east end of town and still mines there!

[@DerelictDoug]

I am familiar with Wes by name. A gentlemen recommended that I seek him out when in town, but the only person I saw slunk back in to their home when I approached. That said, he is becoming something of a legend himself. I hope he enjoys Nevadaville and safely mines for many years to come.

[@annaduong8743]

Did you find anything in your paranormal investigation?

[@netsil01]

Was there in June 1986. Found the town by accident.....Not much has changed except the weather. The pass had just opened up on June 23rd....Snowpack everywhere.....

[@elnabjelland-hughes8172]

Looking forward to your live stream 😁👍

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you, I look forward to talking then!

[@Urbanlad-Yorkshire]

Cool video buddy great info well edited thanks for taking us along stay safe out there buddy 👍

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you so much! I am a fan of your videos as well. I just finished having a look at the "Old Tool Makers" video. Amazing. Stay safe as well and all the best!

[@thesearcher118]

We went there about 20 years ago. Very cool town.

[@jimholmes2555]

I hear someone removed a landmark on the old "Oh My God" road between Idaho Springs and Central City. The old white school bus shot full of holes and someone had spray painted, "El Salvador Express" on the bus. And the Oh My God road has been graded and is no longer a challenging Jeep trail.

[@burningsandsexploration3711]

Very interesting! I hadnt heard of this town before. Good video!

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you stopping by and am a fan of your videos. Stay safe!

[@oldenweery7510]

I'm a model railroader interested in the many colorful railroads of the Old West and saw "Nevada City" mentioned in one of my books devoted to the Colorado narrow gauge railroads. I don't know if it was this one because Doug said it was a popular name for mountain towns. (Thanks, Doug; I now know the meaning of "Sierra Nevada," the perfect name for that mountain range, which the Central Pacific, part of the original Transcontinental Railroad, had to conquer. Its successor, the Southern Pacific, covered their trackage in high snow depth territory with "snowsheds," referred to by some as "railroading in a barn.") Stay safe.

[@reddog-ex4dx]

I loved that intro music! It's interesting how the buildings look so well taken care of. Good roofers.

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you so much! The buildings are privately owned and maintained. that’s why they’re so well-kept. Thanks again and stay safe!

[@wolfguywerewolfchannel2099]

@@DerelictDoug Hello, I'm a new subscriber and was wondering if you could make a video on cryptids of Colorado, since the majority of reports are just Bigfoot or Slide Rock Bolter

[@mariez0r]

This is such a cool place. Gives off some creepy vibes that the ghost town is used for initiation and they made a point of saying that ur phone won’t work there.

[@UrbanKiwiana]

Hi Doug woohoo a new exciting upload, what a really interesting old piece of history, its incredible that two people still live here and keep it safe from trouble makers etc, definitely wouldn't want to fall into the glory hole or any sink hole there's no coming back from that height of a drop, loved the Mason temple and town hall, thats super cool that the temple is still used to this day, The Masons definitely have had many conspiracy theorys about them haven't they, but they sound a very honorable and tight brotherhood, thanks for another amazing adventure I hope your well mate and things are going well for you over there, much love my friend from here in new Zealand, btw loved the intro music and drive in

[@DerelictDoug]

Howdy, I am so glad that you enjoyed it! I have wanted to do a video on this town for years and am glad I was able to finally share it. Agreed, the masons get a bad wrap, but they are just a mens-club. We are doing ok here, should be on a better path in a few months. I'll catch you later, on your channel. Give our best wishes to the family from Colorado. And stay safe!

[@UrbanKiwiana]

@@DerelictDoug +Hi Doug totally glad you did film it and shared light on the Masons I to had my ideas so love been put straight and learning,. Thats so good to hear mate, things are pretty normal in new zealand now but still been careful, no worries at all never any pressure 🙂, will do

[@specialk1014]

Diggin your videos. We got married on the steps of city hall in Nevadaville! Then hit the casino in Blackhawk! And toured the cemeteries in the area. Love Colorado!

[@DerelictDoug]

That is such a unique and cool way to get married. Thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your memories of Nevadaville. Stay safe and all the best!

[@stevenbusch9336]

What a great video. Thanks 🤘🏼

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you kindly. I am glad you enjoyed the video. All the best!

[@REACTIONGAMING100]

I live in Denver and visited this old town with some friends last weekend after some good ol tresspassin on his land we eventually met with this old prospector and miner named Wes who owns a few of the buildings specifically the first building on the right with the stairs in the video and the crumbling saloon to the far left of it and a lot of the land surrounding it! We hung out with this guy for maybe 2-3 hours? This Saturday we’re going out there again to meet up with wes and do some prospecting and go to all the old tailings piles in the area and hopefully find some gold!!! It was a good time and he told us so many stories of all the paranormal things he’s experienced since moving there and he had never been a believer before! When me and my buddy go I’ll make sure to update this post we’re going to work with him every Saturday now

[@DerelictDoug]

That’s a fascinating story and Wes sounds like a very interesting guy. Thanks for sharing your experiences and all the best!

[@REACTIONGAMING100]

@Mike as soon as the season is really clear especially after this annoying snow storm we just got! You should go! It’s awesome!

[@teresa3070]

Did you happen to meet or hear about a man up there who was or is an astrologer? He came down the mtn in an antique pickup (possibly with a winch) We had slid off the road late at night following a snow storm. It was pitch black, cold and quite isolated. This was in the early 80's. I still wonder about him. He may have been a caretaker up there. He came to our rescue.

[@DerelictDoug]

This may have been the same individual as “ the mayor”. He would’ve been 50 to 60 years old during the mid-80s.

[@teresa3070]

@@DerelictDoug Was he still alive when you were up there?

[@oldenweery7510]

Wow, the Masonic Hall isn't the only good-looking structure in this town that's well preserved! It's so nice to see others that are looking beautiful, too. (I'm a sucker for nice looking architecture, particularly in brick.) Stay safe, everyone.

[@DerelictDoug]

Hello ol' pal! I am a big sucker for brick too, especially 1700-1900s brick-work. Thank you for stopping by and stay safe as well!

[@markbrown309]

Love the History WSFFWS

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you

[@cherihill2003]

Interesting information. Guess I've been missing your notifications, or maybe you've not done many because of covid.

[@DerelictDoug]

Great to hear from you! I have been slow to post for the last two months, but am getting back into the swing of things. Covid and work slowed me a little.

[@cherihill2003]

@@DerelictDoug Your Nevadaville video was great! What a fascinating place. I never knew this existed. Thanks again!

[@DerelictDoug]

@@cherihill2003 You are are very welcome!

[@ronniecardy]

Thanks for the Warning ⚠️

[@DerelictDoug]

If there is one to give, I try to give it. Thank you for joining us. It's always a pleasure.

[@orange70383]

The town is proud to be a member and supporter of the LGBTQ initiative.

[@DerelictDoug]

Right on. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for joining us. All the best!

[@mikeanderson6522]

Nice job 👌👍.

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you kindly :0)

[@shakacat3180]

Very interesting

[@DerelictDoug]

Thank you so much! Always a pleasure to have you join us and please stay safe!

[@shakacat3180]

@@DerelictDoug yvw and stay safe too. 💜

[@steamgent4592]

Nice lodgeroom. If only more lodges were kept to that standard. Some are better even but others are very plain especially the newer ones.

[@DerelictDoug]

Agreed. And in general this seems to be the case. Architects lean toward affordable materials and lower quality. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and all the best!

[@brandon1661]

Hippie Kenny is a cool guy

[@DerelictDoug]

Right on. I really like the well you found in your video. Stay safe and all the best!

[@brandon1661]

@@DerelictDoug that's awesome I gotta work on my truck and wait for snow to melt next summer I'm gonna start offroading videos

[@DerelictDoug]

@@brandon1661 I look forward to checking them out!

[@brandon1661]

I really enjoy your videos I love history and moved to Colorado 3 years ago thanks for the history lessons

[@unrulyjulie4382]

That whole area looks like one big waste rock pile.

[@DerelictDoug]

I suppose that's a way of looking at it, lol.

[@keithng9853]

“Do not wonder! ”... Sounds forbiddenly unfriendly... However, i think it works in this case; if not... By now, all that it's left will be mostly the stone foundation.

[@DerelictDoug]

Haha, I suppose it is a bit unfriendly, but it was intended to be stern. For the reason you mentioned as well as peoples safety. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and all the best!

[@keithng9853]

@@DerelictDoug what need to be is need to be. Totally agree. Most welcome.