Garwood Hall Judd came to Gothic in 1880 to seek his fortune in silver mining. Unfortunately, the silver boom declined in 1881, but Judd stayed on. He had a little saloon and, at various times, Wore the hats of mayor, trustee, and police magistrate. Later on, he acted as middle man in the buying and selling of mining claims…a realtor.
He must have loved the little town…he never left. In 1928, The Fox Film Company made a two reel documentary on the then 76 year old Judd. entitled, “The Man Who Stayed.” His cabin was a museum, filled with memorabilia and artifacts of by gone days.
He passed on in 1930. ln accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered around the town. He did leave us with a phrase. Occasionally, at gatherings as the hour is getting
late, a knowing local may say, “I gotta go, I don’t want to be Judd.”
Source: The Gunnison Country by Duanne Vandenbusch
Rob Quint