Gold Mining Magnate. Stratton studied carpentry, became a draftsman, and also studied metallurgy at the Colorado School of Mines and mineralogy at Colorado College. Before discovering the lode, he followed the gold and silver rushes in Colorado for 17 years. After he discovered the Independence Lode in Colorado on July 4, 1891 it took some time to develop the mine. In 1894, he became Cripple Creek district’s first millionaire. Stratton was a generous man with a deep compassion for the working poor and their families. After thousands were left homeless by the Cripple Creek fire of 1896, he paid for their food and shelter. He wrote checks to several men down on their luck and/or broke, but eventually became tired of people bothering him for money and he became reclusive. He almost never had guests or when out socially and spent his time drinking and reading. In 1900, the Venture Corporation of London purchased Stratton’s Independence Mine for $10 million. Upon his death, in 1902, the majority of his estate was to be used to establish the Myron Stratton Home, named for his father, for “the aged poor and dependent children.” His last wishes were not popular with many, including his son and thirteen women who claimed to have been secretly married to Stratton. After lengthy litigation, the Myron Stratton Home was successfully established in 1913. Stratton’s other notable accomplishments include a trolley system connecting Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs called the Colorado Springs & Interurban Railway. Stratton was a leader in the planning and building of Colorado Springs. There are many landmarks in the community that came into existence through his efforts: The Winfield Scott Stratton Post Office, the old City Hall, the former Court House, which is home of the Pioneer Museum, and the Mining Exchange Building. His legacy lives on in other ways as well, a bronze statue of Stratton by Nellie Walker located on the grounds of his estate, an additional casting is also located downtown Colorado Springs. Nellie Walker ended up living the last years of her life at the Myron Stratton Home. Stratton was inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame. Places named after him include: the town of Stratton, Colorado; Stratton Park in Colorado Springs; Stratton Springs, a mineral spring; Stratton Elementary School; three connected streets “Winfield,” “Scott,” and “Stratton” all in Colorado Springs and the Stratton Hall at Colorado School of Mines, as he made the first philanthropic gift of $25,000 to the school, of which he had been appointed as a CSM trustee in 1899 and later in 1901 was elected president of the board.