Program highlighted area pioneers

MEEKER I The Rio Blanco Historical Society’s “Pioneer Women of Rio Blanco County” program drew more than 70 persons Sunday to enjoy the telling of tales dating back at least decades in county history.
The event, which was the historical society’s quarterly meeting, featured a smattering of business, a potluck luncheon and the history presentation at Kilowatt Korner.
The program featured 10 Meeker women representing pioneer women and sharing their stories. Mary Kay Krueger depicted her great-grandmother Betsie Wear; Sandy Bradfield’s character was her great-aunt Delaney; Lucy Jane Howey was her grandmother Mary Alsebrook Smith; Gale Crawford Rogers, portraying Lucy Jane Crawford, talked about the Crawford women of two generations past; Diane Rudy played Mary Jane Bodkin; Stephanie Kobald played Mary Jane’s descendant, Doris Walters; Vanessa Trout played Kittie Fairfield; Molly Theos dressed as her great-great-grandmother Nellie Sheridan; Ellene Meece was Nellie’s sister, Addie Walbridge; Mary Ann Wilbur portrayed her grandmother; and perhaps the most touching of all presentations was Nettie Fay Burke Modlin’s portrayal of her mother, Annie Burke.
Each of the women did a great job and the information was very interesting. The pioneer women were a variety of unbelievably tough characters, each helping to shape Meeker into the town it is today.
The historical society thanked all the volunteers who made the presentation possible as well as the people who attended the meeting.
On the business agenda, the lighting/exhibit project is seeking grant money to enter the next phase. The rural school project is now installing the new signage provided by the county, working on a second brochure for the tour loop and pursuing historical registration for Coal Creek School.
The Milk Creek Battlefield Park committee is researching kiosk signage and looking for youth to help maintain the park during the summer.
A strategic planning meeting is being set to scope the ideas and plans in a written document that can be used for funding requests.
As for upcoming events, the RBCHS is partnering with the ERBM to offer history camps in June for kids at the museum. This will be a great opportunity to spark interest in history while providing education for area youth.