Special to the HT RBC | Redneck No. 1: “You gotta plant radishes. Radishes keep out the wolverines!” Redneck No. 2: “What wolverines? We don’t have any wolverines.” Redneck No. 1: “See … the radishes really work!” My wife, Tracy, has the green thumb. Mine is brown. Still, I’ve picked[Read More…]
History Lessons
HISTORY LESSONS: LeCompte, Frontier Doctor — Part 2
RBC | Lydia Wells was born in Salt Lake City, Utah 1856. She planned to marry Edward P. LeCompte in May of 1880. The ceremony was postponed when the Army transferred Edward to the Camp on the White River. E.P. LeCompte was posted at the Camp on the White River[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: LeCompte, Part 1
RBC | Doctors could be adventurers too. The 1883 incorporation papers of the Meeker Townsite company include “E. P. Lecompte” as a member. I was able to track him down as Dr. Edward Palmer LeCompte. He lived in the White River Valley several years but didn’t stick around to become[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: U.M. Curtis, Pt. 2
RBC | In the aftermath of the 1879 Ute uprising, U. M. Curtis was involved with the 1880 Congressional investigation and the 1880 Ute treaty which created two Ute Agencies to distribute goods and educate the bands. Curtis was once again listed on the document as interpreter and signed as[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: U.M. Curtis, Pt 1
RBC | Uriah Martin Curtis was appointed government interpreter to the Utes by Agent Simeon Whiteley in 1863. Whiteley opened his agency for the Northern Utes at Hot Sulphur Springs, now in Grand County. The Utes had been camping there in the winter for many years. I am not sure[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: The Stagecoach
RBC | The Union Pacific Railroad established a depot in Rawlins, Wyoming, in 1868, the same year as the Ute treaty that pushed the tribe into western Colorado Territory. The first White River Agency was established in the area where the river leaves the canyon. Nathan Meeker relocated the agency[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: The Powell Expedition
RBC | There were several reasons that many military men and former military men became western frontier explorers, miners, cowboys, lawmen and outlaws. Veteran campaigners were familiar with traveling long distances, often without regular meals or water. Veterans of the Indian Wars had a healthy respect for the Native American[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: The grain scale and bushel basket
RBC | No, it’s not a fancy wash tub like Ma Kettle washed the clothes and kids in. Terry Mobley tells me that his tub was used to measure a bushel of grain by volume. The traditional wash tub had crimped seam and a flat bottom. Terry says his tub[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS: Earthquake!
RBC | Robert Haag, in his book about the early years of Rangely, Colorado, references an earthquake in 1882. In Haag’s account, Charles Porter Hill and Joseph Studer had arrived at the White River and had camped for the night just upstream of Douglas Creek. Today it is known as[Read More…]
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Stagecoach picture
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…]
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…]
