Although not much is left of the former mining town (ghost town), a few of it's historic structures are yet standing.
This site in the Rocky Mountains, is about 9 miles South West of Georgetown, on the road that travels over the Argentine Pass, which branches off from the Guanella Pass road. Geographically, Waldorf is located somewhat South of Silver Plume, although separated by a mountain range.
The town of Waldorf was established by 1868. Waldorf was also a stage stop for Argentine Pass. It had a Post Office from 1906, till 1912, and during that time, a railroad line traversed from Silver Plume to Waldorf, along that range (see chronology below).
The Town of Waldorf, as seen below Mt. McClellan, sometime around the 1900s
A different view sometime in the 1940s
The Town of Waldorf, as seen below Mt. McClellan, sometime around the 1900s
A similar view in 2004
The Waldorf Mine, sometime in the 1940s
A similar view in 2004
The Santiago, or California Mine, sometime in the 1940s
A similar view in 2004
Argentine Railroad History
August 10, 1905: The Argentine Central incorporated.
February 2, 1906: First paying passenger rides the Argentine Central.
February 13, 1906: The Waldorf Mining Company shipped the first carload of ore over the Argentine Central.
August 1, 1906: Argentine Central completed to top of Mount McClellan, making it the highest railroad in the U.S.
August 12, 1906: Argentine Central began tourist operations, using a Shay locomotive pulling two C & S passenger cars to the top of Mount McClellan
June 16 or 17, 1909: Captain Edward J. Wilcox sold the Argentine Central for $44,000 to the Gray's Peak Scenic Development Company, which continued operations as the Argentine Central.
June 5, 1912: Gray's Peak Scenic Development Company reorganized as the Georgetown and Gray's Peak Railway Company.
October 24, 1918: Georgetown and Gray's Peak Railway Company applied to the Public Utilities Commission to abandon the line to Mount McClellan.
November 9, 1918: The Public Utilities Commission granted the request of the Georgetown and Gray's Peak Railway Company to abandon the line to Mount McClellan.
January 13, 1920: Last rails of the Argentine Central removed by the Buckle Brothers, as the connecting switch to the C & S at Silver Plume was removed.
The above pertinent chronologies are excerpts from this website: www.burger.com
