SILVERTON, Colo. — At 9,318 feet above sea level, the rustic, historic town of Silverton is one of the highest year-round residences in the nation. It's lofty enough to qualify as an angel's landing.
Perhaps that's why a holy monument rests on the hillside above the town.
"Christ of the Mines Shrine," a 12-ton, 16-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ, sits some 500 feet up the slope of Anvil Mountain north of town. The shrine has been attributed to some miracles in this southwestern Colorado town over the years.
Given the wild mining background of the town in the 19th century, when gambling, 40 saloons, boozing and prostitution were rampant — even causing a split in Silverton to create temporary "evil" and "good" halves of the city — the shrine is a sharp contrast.
According to Gerald Swanson, who wrote a story for Silverton Magazine, the shrine is a reminder of the importance the mining industry was to the area's history. The mines are closed now, but the legacy remains. The statue also provides a religious slant to today's tourist-oriented town.
In fact, Silverton today has at least four regular churches in town. There is St. Patrick's Catholic Church, which has been around since 1882, since 1903 in its current building. There's also the First Congregational Church, which came into town in 1876. The Silverton Baptist Church and a branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also reside in the city of about 500 year-round residents.
In January 1958, the idea of a shrine that would be dedicated to miners was first discussed at a meeting of the Catholic men's club in Silverton. It was hoped that such a shrine could boost the depressed economy; mining was at its lowest ebb since the town started in 1874.
Catholic parish priest Father Joseph Halloran and others decided Anvil Mountain was the best location. Community donations poured in to help the project.
The statue was sculpted from Italian marble, from Carrera, Italy — same as the composition of Michelangelo's David.
It arrived in town in the summer of 1959 and an alcove of native stone was ready. A cutout of the statue had been sitting there for months, as residents eagerly awaited the real thing.
Only a few months after the shrine's dedication, mining saw a resurgence and new tunnels were started. Mining did fade out by the late 20th century, but on June 4,1978, a near-disaster was avoided, and some wonder if the miracle of the shrine didn't have something to do with it. A lake above the Sunnyside mine broke loose and flooded one of the lower portals. However, this happened on Sunday, when the mines were closed. There were no deaths or injuries.
Father Joseph McGuiness, successor of Father Halloran, later suggested that trees should be added behind the shrine to bolster up the bare hillside appearance. St. Patrick's Parish bought 1,000 Scotch pine seedlings and planted them. Despite only a 14-day growing season for regular garden plants in Silverton and many doubts the trees would survive, a solid grove of pine trees did blossom. Some consider that a miracle.
Two different bronze plaques adorn the statue. The original states: "This shrine erected in honor of Christ of the Mines by the people of Silverton to ask God's blessing of the mining industry of the San Juans."
Despite the absence of mining now, the town is tourist-based today and thrives in summer, when the Silverton train arrives daily from Durango.
The second plaque, added in 1982, commemorates the lives saved when the mines flooded in 1978.
Reaching the shrine, located above 10th and Bluff streets, is fairly easy. A smooth and gradual climbing dirt road — suitable for cars in late spring, summer and early fall on dry days — leads to the shrine. Take Highway 550 north out of town toward Ouray and look for the first dirt road, the "Shrine Road" on the right side, only a few hundred yards along. Park your car some 600 yards later. A slight hike uphill may be required in the spring through snow to the shrine itself. It is also readily visible from the town below.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com