Local History Photo Archive

The Eagle Valley Library District and the Eagle County Historical Society work together to bring you thousands of photographs, artifacts, and many other items from historical Eagle County and the surrounding areas on the Western Slope.

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: Doll Children

: Doll Family

: Doll Family

: Doll Family; Frank Doll seated at the "Gypsum Valley Home." Behind him stand Hiram F. Doll, Ruth (a worker at the Home), and Frank A. Doll.

: Doll Family Grain Mill; A photograph of the flour mill built by the Doll brothers' in Gypsum. Most of the Eagle Valley would get flour from the Dolls, who also had one of the largest horse barns in the county. A man is standing on the small bridge with a cast in the water, while another sits atop a horse on the other side. The photograph is severely bleached and has begun peeling at the sides from its attachment to a heavy cardstock. "Typical of the times, the Doll brothers had business interests beyond the ranch. … One of the Doll brothers’ notable business ventures in Gypsum was the construction of a huge flour mill in 1890. Located on lower Gypsum Creek just above its confluence with the Eagle River, the imposing three-story structure was considered a 'most modern' facility. The milling machinery was run by waterpower and could grind 80 barrels of wheat (raised locally) in a day. ... On Saturday night, April 13, 1901, the flour mill mysteriously burned to the ground. The origin of the fire was a mystery. The employees had thoroughly cleaned and swept the mill before shutting it down for the day, so spontaneous combustion from dust particles was unlikely. Some theorized that the gears from the hydroelectric power operation had perhaps become heated and ignited the fire. Rumors persisted that arson may have been the cause; but that was never proven. Three months later, however, following the death of Charlie Johnson, a violent man with a reputation for theft, cattle rustling and murder, the accusations of arson at the flour mill were made more boldly. Historical accounts indicate that Johnson had been riding for a large cattle company (presumably the Doll ranch) that had refused to pay him at the end of the summer, claiming he was dishonest. The disgruntled Johnson did a lot of talking around town about his intent to exact payment one way or another. Early in the evening of the mill fire, Johnson’s temper flared after a young girl working in the dining room who had been teasing some of the guests tickled him in the ribs as she walked by. ... Apparently, late that evening a man named Jack Strous was passing by the mill when he observed Johnson leaving the building. A few minutes later, the structure was engulfed in flames. Fearing Johnson’s evil temper, Strous said nothing until Johnson’s body was found in the Colorado River in July 1901, with a bullet wound in the back of his head." -- Kathy Heicher, Eagle County Characters, p.36-37