Colorado’s Olga Little Ran Burro-train Deliveries to Mountain Miners
The Denver Post provided this wonderful profile of the west’s only known woman “jack-whacker.”
For 30 years, Olga Little, the west’s only known woman “jack-whacker” ran a burro train in the La Plata mountain range in Colorado. She operated her jack train out of Durango carrying supplies to miners in high and remote regions where many veteran men packers refused to go.
Olga began her career by driving livery teams taking tourists into the mountains for fishing, and occasionally delivering groceries to the mines.
In the spring of 1909, when she was 16, floods washed out several of the roads and most of the bridges in the area. The Ruby Mine up Junction Creek needed supplies and Olga agreed to take them.
On the way back she was met by a superintendent of another mine, the Neglected. He contracted with her on the spot, launching her career.
Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE.
Olga Little’s jack train pulls out from The Denver Post building on January 26, 1939. Mrs. Little is on her horse, Nellie, heading the train up Champa Street after loading in front of The Post. Denver Post File Photo.
Ralph Edwards and Mrs. Olga Little during “This Is Your Life,” at the Denver Coliseum on October 29, 1959. Bob Beegle/Denver Post File Photo.
Olga Little’s life story was recounted on the Ralph Edwards show, “This Is Your Life,” in the Denver Coliseum on nationwide TV on October 29, 1958. Albert Moldvay/Denver Post File Photo.