Special to the HT MEEKER | The mystery photo shows metal stagecoach cutouts mounted on three parking lot light poles at Smoking River Brewery. Despite years of exposure, the cutouts remain intact — notably without bullet holes. A closer look reveals a marking, “S/S,” etched into the metal. The slash[Read More…]
Author: Ed Peck
HISTORY LESSONS: Morgan Horses
When Ron Hilkey owned the Adams Lodge, he would guide his guests to Marvine Lake, where he had row boats available. Ron had to haul in those row boats on pack animals. He devised a system using two Morgan horses, one leading the other. They were connected by a frame[Read More…]
HISTORY HUMOR: Who’s hunting whom?
The Meeker Herald Sept. 17, 1887, told this story: It is not generally known, but it is a fact nevertheless, that Morgan Edgar and Frank Barton roosted in a tree in the Lime Kiln mountains a few days ago. How they came to select such a singular place to pass[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: We could have been ‘Sherman County’?
“WELCOME TO SHERMAN COUNTY, COLORADO.” That is what a sign along Highway 13 from Rifle to Meeker could have read. When the Colorado legislature was considering dividing Garfield County in January of 1889, that was the first name proposed for our county. A committee was formed to oppose the division[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: E.P. Wilber, Founder & Pioneer
Pioneer and Founder, E. P. Wilber was a member of the Meeker Townsite Company. This is an abbreviated version of his obituary published April 23, 1958: Rio Blanco County lost its oldest and one of its most loved and respected Pioneer, when Mr. Edwin P. Wilber passed away last Friday[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Fish Duck
I am still waiting for history to repeat itself from this article published in February of 1890. “The News of Meeker is responsible for this: Frank Barton of Meeker, Rio Blanco county, while out hunting the other day shot a fish duck. Nothing strange in this, but we doubt whether[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Mrs. S.C. Wright
There were 26 signatures on the original 1883 Meeker Townsite incorporation papers. None of them were women. That didn’t stop Mrs. S.C. Wright from buying some shares. I am going to use her story to introduce two men in her life who were also shareholders. Charles Dunbar and William H.[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: G.D. Thayer… not a founder, but a stockholder
George Dana Thayer, AKA G.D. Thayer, or Dana Thayer, was not an original 1883 Meeker Townsite Company member, however, he did become a stockholder by June 1886, where he was listed as secretary of the Townsite Co. and Meeker Town Recorder. Dana Thayer was a retail grocer at Fort Fred[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: F.E. Sheridan, Founder
Francis E. Sheridan, known here as Frank or F.E. Sheridan was a member of the Meeker Townsite Company. I am sure in French Canada, where Francis Xavior Sheridan was born, the name rolled off the tongue rather smoothly. Frank believed that his birth name might be a hinderance doing business[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Season of light
As the nights in Northwest Colorado get longer and darker, we all seem to long for a bit of light. I know of some of our residents take advantage of the balmy November days to start setting up their Christmas light displays. Santa ladders are brought out of storage, towns[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Not that kind of AI
Special to the HT Recently on a road trip, we stopped at the Arriba, Colorado rest stop. It is one of our favorite stops along I-70. As a matter of fact, it is about the only state-sponsored stop between Denver and the Kansas border. Colorado has gotten way too cheap[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: James L. McHatton
James L. McHatton was a member of the Meeker Townsite Company. He was president of the Townsite in July 1885 when he, Mayor Clark and Thayer went to Glenwood Springs to apply for a patent on the land. James was a well-known rancher in early White River valley. The outfit[Read More…]