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Increased mining activity – and some small financial successes in the late 1890's – prompted a spate of prospecting by Salida businessmen and even a few children. They swarmed up the gulches northeast of town with picks, shovels and a little dynamite seeking "color." They weren't disappointed – at first – because they found showings of gold, silver, copper and lead. For a time during the winter of 1895-96, many businesses closed early so proprietors could go "mining."
One of those efforts was the Colchester Mining and Milling Company, which dug two tunnels – No. 1 above – into the side of the mountain between Cleora and the mouth of today's Longfellow Gulch.
No. 1 tunnel is just above the level of the D&RG mainline and about 100 yards away on a "gentle slope, just right for men pushing loaded ore cars to the railroad," according to a Salida Mail article. Tunnel No. 2 is a few hundred feet above and a little east of the discovery opening. Plans were to connect the two inside the mountain, but ore ran out before then. (1)