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…]
Tag: History Lessons
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…]
Guest Column – Pat’s Christmas Letters, Part 3
My mother-in-law, Pat Hendrickson lived in Meeker about a year before passing at the age of 94. She didn’t get to meet most of you, so I would like to share some of her humor with you now. Her Christmas letters from Bartlett, Kansas, population 69, were hilarious stories of[Read More…]
History Lessons – Hot off the presses! Three-quarters of SF destroyed by fire
(OK, I could not resist the “hot off the presses” pun, do not blame Niki.) In the Meeker Herald April 28, 1906, issue, there is a story about the victims of the recent earthquake (April 18) and fire that devastated San Francisco. Several of the survivors had family ties in[Read More…]
History Lessons – Pat’s Letters, Part 2
My mother-in-law Pat Hendrickson lived in Meeker for about a year before passing at the age of 94. She didn’t get to meet most of you, so I would like to share some of her humor with you now. Her Christmas letters from Bartlett, Kansas were hilarious stories of life[Read More…]
History Lessons – Clyde Dillon, Part 2: the search intensifies
On Oct. 16, 1941, Sheriff Mead traveled to the Stake Springs and Yellow Creek area to renew the search efforts for Clyde Dillon of Hutchinson, Kansas. The reward was now up to $500. Note that a brand new 1941 Chevy Coupe could be purchased for $800. One of the Dillon[Read More…]
History Lessons – Clyde Dillon, Part 1
On the western side of Rio Blanco County, there is a roadside monument. It is little hard to miss. It’s made of cobblestone, concrete and a 12-foot cedar cross. It stands as a sad reminder to hunters that life is fragile. Clyde Dillon died of exposure not far from the[Read More…]
History Lessons – The School Street Pool
Ships sink, baseballs sink, submarines sink. What do you mean the POOL sank? Before our current recreation center opened and after the Water Street town pool closed, the Town of Meeker built a pool on School Street where the solar panel farm is now. The School Street pool operated during[Read More…]
