Central City - 19th Century Colorado Photographers

I thought this news story was appropriate to post on Halloween.

The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 4, Number 96, December 16, 1863, page 2, column 1

Wm. S. Van Horn attempted, yesterday afternoon, to commit suicide by opening a vein with a fragment of glass. After his conviction and sentence, whilst still remaining in the jail at Central City, he was given, at his solicitation, Daguerreotypes of some of his friends—his Father, Mother and Sister we believe—which he retained until his removal to Denver. After finding the knife concealed upon his person, and hearing his reiterated threats to commit suicide, Marshall Hunt very judiciously took everything from him, that could in any event be used as a means to destroy life. Since then he has not been allowed to have even a pin. Yesterday afternoon he requested to again see the miniatures of his relatives, and they were given him. Some hours later, the jailor entered his cell and found him drenched with blood. An Examination revealed a horrible gash in his left arm, from which the blood was flowing. Further search was rewarded by finding the instrument with which the wound had been made—a triangular fragment of very thick glass, broken from the front of one of the miniatures. A physician was called and the wound bound up. Still greater care has since been taken to prevent his suicide.

William Van Horn had killed Josiah Copeland in Central City, Colorado. He was to be hanged on December 18, 1863, but had been taken to Denver for his safety. The suicide attempt occurred while he was in the Denver jail. Photographer Henry Faul documented the hanging and offered the images for sale, but they seem to be lost to history.

Charles C. Wright was born in East Livermore, Maine. He married Sarah Ann Judkins on November 28,1860, in Lawrence, MA. Marriage records cite his occupation as a teamster.

By 1870, Wright, known professionally as C. C. Wright, operated a photography studio in Lafayette, Indiana where he worked for more than a decade. In 1882 he arrived in Colorado, setting up a temporary gallery in Central City, before opening a studio in Denver that December over Reithmann’s Drug Store, at the corner of Fifteenth and Larimer streets.

Stereo of Larimer Street — Alexander Martin, photographer. Larimer St. from 15th St., showing C. C. Wright’s photography gallery on the right, between 1882 and 1886, albumen silver stereo view. History Colorado. Accession # 84.192.405.

In 1884, for the July 4th holiday, Wright and his wife accompanied a small group to Silver Plume on the Colorado Central via the recently completed Georgetown Loop, an engineering feat of horseshoe curves and four bridges that were used to link Georgetown with Silver Plume, only two miles apart.

That same year, Wright employed a young Adolph F. Muhr, later known for his portraits of Native Americans. In 1885, Wright’s brother-in-law, David Roby Judkins, briefly worked at the Denver studio. In December 1885, Wright opened a branch gallery in Central City, employing Morton E. Chase.

CO Senate — C. C. Wright, photographer. Colorado Senate, 1885, albumen silver print. Denver Public Library Special Collections.

Wright photographed the Colorado legislature on more than one occasion, making a composite portrait of the 1885 Colorado Senate. He also made a group portrait of the pages that assisted the state legislature. Nine boys wearing hats bearing the words “House Page,” stand in front of a hand painted backdrop. The backdrop is signed on the lower left corner by Davis and a partner’s name that is illegible.

Wright was one of six photographers who submitted work to the Colorado Manufacturers Exposition held in Denver in 1886.

C. C. Wright, photographer. House Pages, between 1882-1887, albumen silver print. Denver Public Library Special Collections.

On January 20, 1887, Wright was traveling through the city in his carriage when he made a sharp turn. The carriage tipped over, and Wright landed in the street. He died less than a week later from injuries sustained during the accident at the age of forty-six. A large funeral was held with participation of fraternal organizations and many local photographers. The procession led by the Opera House band, walked to Wright’s studio where services were conducted. The crowd then proceeded to Riverside Cemetery.

Shortly before his death, Wright had opened a new studio at 910 Sixteenth street. His wife is listed as a photographer in the 1887 Denver City Directory. Henry Rothberger took over the studio by October 1887.

Thank you to Beverly W. Brannan, former curator of photography, Library of Congress, for proof-reading this post.