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Those were the days

Compiled by Pam Boyd
Joy Marfitano of Red Cliff stands at the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun in Colorado Springs on Senior Sneak Day, 1938.
Courtesy Eagle County Historical Society and Eagle Valley Library District |

5 years ago

Week of July 17, 2008

The Mother Earth Exhibit was unveiled in downtown Eagle. The exhibit featured 20 super-sized globes that were embellished by local artists with themes and names ranging from “The Meteor Shower” to “Graffiti Gone Green” to “Native Wisdom.”



The Gypsum Days lineup included Jo Dee Messina, James Otto and Spring Creek.

Western Slope Laundry began demolition of its Eagle operation following a devastating June fire. The company planned to rebuild the commercial laundry facility at the same site once the gutted building was torn down.

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Fifteen Norwegian Lundehunds from across the United States including dogs from California, Washington State and Minnesota congregated in Eagle for a national confirmation speciality show. The unique breed was seeking inclusion in the American Kennel Club.

Lisa Kosak and her sons, R.J. and Paul, were preparing a move to Florida. Kosak, an active member of the Eagle community for 12 years, was forced to leave the valley due to health issues. “We are so intertwined in the community. That’s what makes it hard to leave,” she said. Her boys promised to make many return trips and the family issued an open invitation for friends to visit them in Vero Beach.

10 years ago

Week of July 17, 2003

A fire burned 1,232 acres north of Dotsero. The blaze started near the Dotsero crater on July 11 and was finally contained four days later.

It was shaping up to be a good year for mosquitoes and thus a bad year for people. A wet spring resulted in a big mosquito hatch and the threat of West Nile virus convinced the town of Gypsum to spend $16,456 for a control program.

The Eagle County Jail debuted new uniforms for work-release inmates. The new uniforms featured horizontal black and white stripped shirts. Jail administrator Bill Kaufman said higher visibility was the goal for the new uniforms.

The Eagle Valley Junior All-Stars, featuring local 13- to 15-year-olds, stunned Steamboat Springs in a come-from-behind victory to take the District Three Junior Level Championship and advance to the Colorado Little League State Tournament in Fraser.

Michelle Poeckes, daughter of Mike and Barbara Poeckes, married Alen Van’t Land at the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs. Both the bride and the groom were 2002 graduates of the Air Force Academy.

20 years ago

Week of July 15, 1993

A bike helmet was credited with saving the life of 5-year-old Benjamin Morris, who suffered only minor injuries after his bike collided with a dump truck.

The Eagle County Commissioners approved a “Victorian Town Center” project for Edwards.

Gypsum filmmaker Roger Brown’s “Western Ranching: Culture in Crisis” documentary featuring local ranchers with narration by actor Lee Horsely was slated to begin airing on public television stations nationwide.

The Gypsum Town Council voted to once again pay for animal control services from Eagle County. Council members had debated the service for some time, expressing concerns about “double taxation.”

American Eagle Tire and Automotive was granted a permit to move its operation to the Eagle Commercial Park.

30 years ago

Week of July 21, 1983

Veteran Colorado newspaperman Roy G. Robinson was named publisher of the Eagle Valley Enterprise. Additionally, Enterprise owner Wilbur Flachman announced that the newspaper planned to construct a new building at the Eagle Commercial Park.

A group of local senior citizens made regular trips to Glenwood for a water exercise class. Participants included Zella Lindersmith, Jean Price, Margaret Mahan and Joann Clark.

Eagle Ranch hosted a visit by a delegation from Inner Mongolia. The delegates were studying new techniques in grassland management, range reclamation and high country cattle breeding.

Runs by Tanya Widick, July Norton, Molly Silva and Karon Hall propelled Miguel’s women’s softball team to victory over Beasley’s Super Foods.

The Enterprise featured a story about rancher Mike Luark’s honey business.

40 years ago

Week of July 19, 1973

Eagle’s sole police officer — Bernie Doyle, resigned.

With a total of $6,000 in the Eagle swimming pool fund, members of the Eagle Town Board started looking at options to move the project forward. The money had been raised by a variety of community organizations.

The Eagle Town Board members agreed to hire an independent contractor to act as dog catcher. The town intended to pay that person $5 for each animal captured and impounded.

Chuck Griffin proposed development of a 150-space mobile home park along U.S. Highway 6 near Brush Creek.

50 years ago

Week of July 18, 1963

State patrol officers Frank Tomsic and Russell Confer nabbed three burglary suspects out of Clear Creek County. The suspects attempted to evade capture by leaving Highway 6 and driving through Eagle.

Ten-year-old Roger Eichler, who was raising a small herd of Herefords along Brush Creek, earned a junior membership in the American Hereford Association.

Pat and Mike Day of Edwards won blue ribbons for their 4-H Sheep demonstration. Kathy Schmidt and Carol Davenport were awarded blue ribbons for their “Pretty Party Sandwiches” demonstration.

Attendees of Eagle’s upcoming Little Britches Rodeo were advised that they could witness a partial solar eclipse during the event. “However, warnings are issued that ordinary sunglasses or smoked glass do not provide sufficient protection against permanent damage to the eye cause by infrared rays of the sun, burning the retina of the eyes … Parents should warn children that the best way to see the eclipse will be on TV.”

60 years ago

Week of July 16, 1953

Enterprise editor Marilla McCain was an ardent supporter of a congressional bill that would change post office regulations so that weekly newspapers would only be required to publish 50 times per year, versus 52. McCain noted that at a two-man operation such as the Enterprise, it was virtually impossible to get a vacation.

J. Perry Olsen, the largest land owner in Eagle County, was ordered to serve 18 months in a federal prison for income tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Federal Judge Lee Knause turned down Olsen’s request that he be allowed to serve his time after his fall shipment of sheep.

Pfc Roland Gerard of Gypsum was serving in the 24th Infantry Division in Japan.

“Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation” was the featured movie at the Eagle Theater.

Local 4-H leaders were hosting a dance at the Legion Hall in Gypsum to raise money for 4-H delegates to attend Camp Tobin in Pueblo. Admission was 60 cents.

70 years ago

Week of July 16, 1943

Joe T. Carter, a sailor with the U.S. Navy, sent the Enterprise a poem he had penned, titled “Courage.”

A former Red Cliff resident, Mose Derbin Jr. was credited with inventing a time-saving device that was speeding up production at a California shipyard by more than 800 percent.

The Eagle Town Board approved operating expenses for the third quarter totalling $260.22. The largest single item was the town marshal’s June salary of $126.10.

The Home Demonstration Club of Brush Creek planned a special all-day canning presentation. A potluck lunch was planned at noon.

The ladies of the American Legion Post No. 150 were honored for their philanthropic efforts that varied from collecting children’s clothing for the Welfare Department to saving waste fat and silk hose for the war effort.

The Climax Molybdenum Mine was seeking experienced workers. “Molybdenum needed by the United Nations for their war effort comes from the Climax Mine. This is more than just a ‘men wanted’ advertisement. Your services are needed!” Miner base pay was $8 per day.

“My Friend Flicka” was the serialized story appearing in the Enterprise.

80 years ago

Week of July 21, 1933

Eagle District Court was the battlefield for a dispute between local sheep and cattle ranchers. Sheep rancher Elmer Bair was accused of trailing his herd across public domain land at Dotsero that was allotted for local cattlemen. Bair was accused of allowing the sheep to linger in the area and damaging the property. Mabel Ethel was the judge that heard the case and the jury acquitted Bair.

O.W. Randall reported that a movie crew planned to film the annual pilgrimage to the Mount of the Holy Cross. A Civilian Conservation Crew was studying blueprints for a small rock shelter planned on Notch Mountain that would provide a resting spot for the pilgrimage hikers.

Extremely hot and dry conditions were threatening crops throughout the state.

The Garfield Hospital Association was seeking the support of Eagle, Pitkin and Garfield County residents for a 35-bed hospital planned in Glenwood Springs.

The Battle Mountain Saddle Club was planning a trail ride to view the Mount of the Holy Cross.


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