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…]
Tag: Meeker History
Museum Musings – Letters from history, No. 26
White River Agency, Colorado. March 3, 1879. Sir: The first part of the last month was stormy and cold, and with deep snow covering the whole country. During the latter part warmer weather prevailed; snow disappeared from most of the valleys, and the roads settled; upon which our wheat was[Read More…]
DAYS GONE BY – December 7th, 2023
Meeker Herald ~ 125 years ago While branding stock at the Sheridan ranch, A.Y. Cook had a leg broken. Dr. French set the injured member. If the blizzards turned out so far in the East a fair sample of what is to come, the predictions of a hard winter will[Read More…]
Museum Musings – Letters from history, No. 25
White River Agency, Colorado. February 17, 1879 Sir: Yours of the 3d instant, (Colorado, “M. 132, T. 237, ‘79”,) giving me authority to purchase three span of mules, and a ton of grain for “seed”, is received. I wish you would correct by dropping “for seed” as I asked simply[Read More…]
Museum Musings – Letters from history, No. 24
Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs, Washington, February 10, 1879. Sir: By office letter of January 24 last (R) you were advised of the remittance of certain funds for the current expenses of your agency during the present quarter, and your attention was invited to another letter of[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…]
Words that hurt, words that heal: reframing the narrative
Local history buffs met over the weekend to discuss the story of the Nuche (Ute people) who as of 1860 had lived in the the area for more than 400 years according to official records, with some archeologists highlighting evidence that the Utes’ ancestors had resided in the area for[Read More…]
Museum Musings – Letters from History, No. 23
White River Agency, Colorado. February 3, 1879. Sir: I have yours January 20, 1879 “A” Colorado, “M” 2413 1878, in reply to mine of December 2, 1878, in regard to furnishing wagons to Indians in exchange for horses, and I agree with you that difficulties might arise. My suggestion arose[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…]
Museum Musings – Letters from History, No. 22
White River Agency, Colorado February 3, 1879 Sir: The last month has been snowy, and most work was performed with difficulty. Only two male employees are at the agency; the rest, eight, are in Powell Valley. Something is done, when the weather permits, eight, towards increasing dwelling accommodations. The principal[Read More…]
Days Gone By – November 9th, 2023
Meeker Herald ~ 125 years ago A good deal of “celebratin’” was indulged in Wednesday and Thursday, as a goodly number of our citizens felt very jubilant over election results. A light snow fell Monday night, and it looked a little squally election morning, but the day turned out all[Read More…]



