In an effort to preserve historical structures from the Idarado Mine, Ouray County commissioners agreed Tuesday to accept a donation from Newmont Mining Corp. of two of the four Idarado houses located in a switchback on U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass.

Originally built in the early 1900s, the four houses are what remains of the original 10 moved from a site near Silverton in the 1940s. They are in poor repair, but attract much attention from travelers on the scenic byway.

Once the building...