White River Agency, Colorado May 5, 1879 Sir: The working force at this agency has been reduced during April by four men, who, as previously reported, have gone into business on their own account or returned to their farms. Three men are on their way hither to fill their vacancies.[Read More…]
Tag: Meeker History
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…]
Museum Musings – Letters from history, No. 37
White River Agency, Colorado April 28, 1879 Sir: Yours of 15th instant, “F. Colo., M 204, ‘79” requests me “to submit a report of the condition of the buildings at the new agency location”, and I reply: First, is a blacksmith shop; second; another building occupied by myself and for[Read More…]
Leap Year! Once in 28 years we publish on Feb. 29
This week’s leap year edition lands on Feb. 29. Leap years almost always occur every fourth year on the calendar. Having the extra day in February fall on a Thursday only happens once every 28 years. According to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: “A calendar year is typically[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…]
MUSEUM MUSINGS – Letters from history, No. 35
White River Agency, Colorado April 14, 1878. Sir: On November 28, 1879, I responded to your circular No. 26 concerning issues to Indians individually instead of to families, and therein I showed that, in the weekly issues, the requirements were so difficult and impossible of performance that I would be[Read More…]
LOOKING FOR LESTER
Information wanted! The man on the left in this photo is Lester Burns, pictured with George Wilber. Mr. Burns worked as a ranch hand at several upriver ranches in the 1920s. He went missing in 1931 and his body was never found. If you have any old photos or other[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…]
DAYS GONE BY – February 8th, 2024
Meeker Herald ~ 125 years ago The Odd Fellows will celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, next Tuesday evening, February 14, by giving a dance at their hall. Vernal is considerably worked up over alleged late gold discoveries in the vicinity of the Colorado-Utah line. There ought to be no scarcity of[Read More…]
Museum Musings – Letters from history, No. 33
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, April 9, 1879. Sir: I have the honor to transmit for your information copy of a communication from Mr. N. C. Meeker, Indian Agent at White River Agency, stating that a large part of White River Utes are about to start north, probably for the scene[Read More…]
DAYS GONE BY – February 1st, 2024
Meeker Herald ~ 125 years ago Experience teaches people a lot of things they’d rather not know. Dr. French was a passenger on the outgoing stage Monday morning en route to Plymouth, Pennsylvania, to visit “the folks at home.” The doctor will be absent two months or longer. Our local[Read More…]
