Everyone knows about our historic Meeker Hotel, once visited by politicians and bank robbers. It was a resting place for weary travelers who would emerge from dusty stagecoaches run by the Harp family. What we now see is the product of decades of tearing down, remodeling, additions and hard work. [Read More…]
Tag: History Lessons
History Lessons – The Meeker Cemetery, Pt. 1
I wanted to title this series as “All You Ever Wanted to Know About Cemeteries” by Digger O’Dell. Digger O’Dell was a character in the 1945 radio program and later TV series, “The Life of Riley.” He was known as the Friendly Undertaker who quipped morbid puns. His exit line was[Read More…]
History Lessons – Mt. Streeter, Pt. 4
I have driven Highway 13 many times and have passed Mount Streeter without knowing it is there. Today, without its buildings and mine structures, it is totally unremarkable. It is fenced off and marked with formidable private property signs for a good reason, so please don’t trespass. As I drove[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS – Mt. Streeter, Pt. 3; The blind leading the blind?
If you want to see what Mount Streeter looked like, the White River Museum has a wonderful panoramic photo in its gift shop. To continue the Streeter history… In 1924, Doctor Lee H. Pattison, a blind chiropractor of South Bend, Indiana, headed up a group of Axial Basin Development Co.[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS – Mt. Streeter… the town that almost happened
In the April 9, 1920 edition of the Moffat County Bell, Streeter announced construction would soon start on the 30-mile stretch of rail from Craig to Mt. Streeter. There was some grading done by Ed O’Neill, contractor, but it didn’t last long. Money was running out. The bubble burst for[Read More…]
History Lessons – M.T. Streeter (Part 1)
The July 23, 1930, edition of the Craig Empire Courier carried the obituary of M. T. Streeter, “one of the greatest promoters of the West, who for many years had interests in Northwestern, CO, died Sunday in Oklahoma City, OK, … A sudden heart attack is given as the cause[Read More…]
History Lessons – 1984 plane crash in RBC killed FBI special agent
On the night of Dec. 8, 1984, a rented Cessna model 210, numbered N6805R piloted by Clifton Browning left Laramie, Wyoming, flying to Grand Junction at 4:30 p.m. The pilot reported to Denver control that his gyro was giving him trouble. He was flying IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) due to[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS – Knowledge of people
Jay Sullivan asked if I could write a story on how knowing history can help us with our current interactions with people. I had to think really hard on this one. My brain strains very easily. I generally steer clear of writing articles that try to improve other people. I[Read More…]
HISTORY LESSONS – Farthing
A farthing is a British coin worth a quarter of a British penny, or 1/960 of a pound. Not much value there. In 1918 a Dr. Farthing in Rio Blanco County was worth his weight in gold. Dr. Charles H. Farthing was recorded in the county clerk’s records as certified[Read More…]
History Lessons – The person who never was
Occasionally, I run across a person who simply disappears in records. This doesn’t make for a riveting newspaper article. It kind of falls into the category of a personal quest. I took it as a challenge to my research ego. If you are easily bored, skip to the last paragraph.[Read More…]
History Lessons: The Cavanaugh mystery, Part 2
Missed Part 1? Read it here. After combing the Registry of Trials by General Court Martial 1881-1882, I concluded that the culprit was not in the NARA index there. In searching the Wyoming State archives for mentions of Cavanaugh and various spellings of the names, I hit paydirt. The Cheyenne[Read More…]
History Lessons: The Cavanaugh mystery, Part 1
“Mommy, why is there a grave next to the museum? Did someone die inside?” As you are strolling along Park Ave., you may have noticed a white gravestone placed between the White River Museum’s Heritage Center and the Garrison building which was the officers’ quarters. There is no body buried[Read More…]