This town was named, in 1860, for Joe Higganbotham, alos known as "Buckskin Joe." In 1861, a gold deposit was found and yielded $500,000 in two years. In 1865, Buckskin Joe received its post office. The ore ran out, and the town was deserted and the post office closed by 1867.
Today, no buildings stand here, but there are a few things worth a look. One mile past the townsite, at a wagon wheel sign marked #3, is a perfect arrastra in a creek (for definition see Dos Cabezas, Arizona). And .2 miles past the arrastra, stands the Paris Mill. Also, the cemetary is a neat site to see. The turnoff for it is before the townsite. As you approach the town, there will be a chain link fenceon the south side. The first dirt road north of the fence, goes to the cemetary (.4 miles).
In 1871, coal was discovered here by Italian miners here. The named the site Como, after their native town in Italy. By 1879, the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad was building tracks to Como. Como would serve s a railroad depot and terminal. In 1881, a six bay roundhouse was built to house the engines. Tracks were extended to Gunnison through the Alpine Tunnel. When the Alpine Tunnel closed in 1910, Como declined.
Today, Como's roundhouse still stands. Also, there are still a two story hotel, a 1910 saloon, an 1880's schoolhouse, an 1882 church, a cemetary and the old railroad depot.
To get to these sites, start in Fairplay. Take Highway 9 north for 6 miles to Alma (also worth a look). Turn left (west) on FR 416. Go a few miles to Buckskin Joe.
To get to Como you also will need to start in Fairplay. Take Highway 285 northwest toward Denver. Go about 9 miles to the Como turnoff. Como is .6 miles north on this road.
