Allan George Bird

Allan G. Bird was born August 8, 1929 in Cook County Chicago, Illinois. Growing up he enjoyed playing guitar in a Dixieland Band to raise money for his schooling. He never learned to read music and played primarily by ear. Allan’s father was a sign painter and his mother was a conservative Dutch lineage artist and it might explain his love for art, music, and flowers. He attended college for two years at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. It was there that he met Dorothy Ryner whom he eventually married on August 10th, 1951. He graduated from University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. He eventually earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Colorado in 1958.

Allan worked as a mining geologist at several different mines and also worked for the Atomic Energy Commission for a period of time. He worked as a stock broker for a short period and a lot of his later financial success came as a result of wise stock investments. He was a member of the National Guard but was never called to active duty in the military during the Korean War due to his value to the country as an expert in uranium geology and exploration. In 1970, his career shifted to mine management. He managed the Antler Mine in Yucca, AZ, The Sunnyside Mine in Silverton, CO, and the Cash Mine at Gold Hill, CO. Under his management, the Sunnyside Mine became the largest gold mine in the state of Colorado.

He retired from mine management in his 54th year and began the next chapter in his life, that of a successful author. In the spring of 1986, he published his first book, Silverton Gold, the story of the Sunnyside Mine, Colorado’s largest underground gold mine, followed by several other books, including, Bordellos of Blair Street, Silverton – Then & Now , and The Grand Imperial Hotel Story. His books have been continuously available at gift shops and stores in Silverton and Durango since then. He read every issue ever published of the Silverton Standard newspaper and did exhaustive research to ensure his books accurately portrayed their subjects.

Allan was a man of many talents. He built additions onto several of his homes during his life and completely renovated a house in Silverton, CO. He was an amazingly accomplished gardener and loved to have his homes surrounded by beautiful lawns and glorious flower beds. He played guitar most of his life and learned banjo and piano during his later years.

He loved Dixieland jazz and Ragtime piano and spent many an evening listening to ragtime piano players at the Diamond Belle in Durango. He attended many Dixieland jazz festivals throughout his life and seemed happiest when immersed in the music.

Allan and Dorothy were together over thirty years and had three children, Leslie, Tom, and Jeremy. They loved to travel to Hawaii and Europe and were active in their communities. Allan and Dorothy divorced in 1980. After their divorce Allan fell in love with Norma Jeanne Mattson. Norma and Allan married soon after and both continued to follow Allan’s mining career in such exotic places as Platoro, CO and Congress, AZ. Allan became the step father of Patty and Charles. Norma and Allan also loved travelling and spent their honeymoon in Spain. He often described his relationship with Norma as the best thing that ever happened to him. They lived in Colorado and Arizona and were married for 39 years. Allan has 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas, mother, Andrea, and brother Paul.

A Memorial Service will be held on January 11, 2020 at 9:30 am at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, 7777 W. 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 at the Pavilion of Reflection. A reception will follow at Olinger Crown Hill Heritage Hall.

Donations may be made to the San Juan Historical Society in Silverton CO in Allan’s name.