Henson History
Henson is located several miles west of Lake City, adjacent to Henson Creek. The settlement grew up around the workings of the Ute and Ulay mine. This mine was first worked in the 1870s, but how many people lived here during the 1870s and 1880s is not known.
Henson evolved from mining camp to town in the 1890s as the Ute and Ulay and the nearby Hidden Treasure mine peaked during this decade. The Ute and Ulay employed 400-500 miners at its peak, most of which lived in boarding houses and cabins at Henson. A post office was established in 1892.
In March of 1899, around 100 members of the Henson Miners' Union, primarily Italians, began a strike at the Hidden Treasure and Ute and Ulay mines. The strike concluded with an intervention by the State Militia and the expulsion of all Italian miners from Hinsdale County.
The fortunes of the town were tied closely to the mine which began to decline after 1903. The Henson post office closed in 1913. Today, numerous mine buildings still occupy the site, many of which have been stabilized and are being preserved for their historic significance.
For Members: The Ute and Ulay Mine
The Ute and Ulay mine is located a few miles west of Lake City, Colorado. The mine, part of the Galena (aka Henson Creek) district, was a producer of gold, silver, lead and zinc. Located in 1871, this was the first major mineral discovery in the Lake City area. Continue reading... (members only content)
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