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Time Machine: 40 years ago, alleged ‘megaliths’ discovered near Minturn

A photo of one of the giant rocks that was suspected of being a megalith. The photo ran in the Vail Trial with the caption "Neanderthal coffee table?" underneath it.
Vail Trail/Vail Daily archive

30 years ago

Jan. 27, 1995

Two Battle Mountain High School freshmen were facing an expulsion hearing after one student allegedly tried to give a pistol to another student on school grounds.

Several athletes were also suspended from competitions for behavior at a party out of which the gun incident grew, the Vail Trail reported, quoting Battle Mountain High School principal Dr. Erik Fredell.



“According to Fredell, the boy said he brought his father’s unloaded hand gun to the party in hopes of warding off older youths who were rumored to be crashing the party,” the Trail reported. “The boy apparently left the gun at the host’s house and asked him to return it to him at school.”

Fredell said that interviews and statements from students who attended the party determined that marijuana and alcohol were consumed at the party.

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“Five other Battle Mountain High School student-athletes were suspended from athletic competitions for 30 days for violating school district rules that ban athletes from competing if they are caught drinking, or using tobacco or other drugs,” the Trail reported.

40 years ago

Feb. 1, 1985

The U.S. Forest Service was set to investigate a claim of megaliths — large boulders used to construct prehistoric structures — in Eagle County following a claim that such stones had been found in the Holy Cross Wilderness.

“Photographic ‘proof’ of an ancient civilization that once thrived in the rugged alpine valleys below the 14,000-foot peak has been turned over to the U.S. Forest Service for examination,” the Vail Trail reported, quoting Minturn ranger Dave Stark.

The discovery was made by Minturn resident Jim Lamont, who said he was convinced he found evidence of a prehistoric community that may have numbered several thousand people.

“The rocks and nearby fire pits were discovered two summers ago when (Lamont) noticed a large boulder resting precariously on a smaller cobblestone, apparently taken out of a stream,” the Trail reported. “Other similar rock formations were subsequently found nearby, apparently focal points for a permanent settlement, Lamont says. The grouping of stone monuments is also similar in appearance to those found in ‘stone age’ societies in the northeastern United States, northern Scandinavia, Ireland, and Spain, Lamont says.”

50 years ago

Jan. 31, 1975

The U.S. Forest Service’s Meadow Mountain Planning Unit, otherwise known as Beaver Creek, was designated as a winter sports site, clearing a hurdle en route to the development of a ski area there.

But while the move brought the area one step closer to development, much action still needed to take place before Vail Associates’ plans to develop a new ski area there could be realized, the Vail Trail reported, quoting Regional Forester W.J. Lucas.

“Designation is not tantamount to issuance of a ski area permit or the approval of a development plan,” Lucas said. “These processes will require another four or five months, during which the Governor’s office will have ample opportunity to offer mitigating measures and other constructive responses to any further concern expressed by State agencies or the general public.”

The Trail reported that recently elected Gov. Richard Lamm was upset that outgoing Gov. John Vanderhoof pushed the last-minute decision through.

“It is our feeling, however, that this whole matter, having come up during Vanderhoof’s administration, was something that he should have resolved before going out of office,” Vail Trail publisher George Knox wrote.

70 years ago

January 20, 1955

Red Cliff resident Besilares Martinez was set to stand trial for the fatal shooting of Perfecto Cruz, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“Cruz was shot while he stood in the tavern he owned in Red Cliff, the Sunday evening after Thanksgiving, while horrified customers looked on,” the Enterprise reported. “Martinez will be defended by Miarcellino Gutierrez, Sante Fe, New Mexico attorney, when the trial opens in District Court Monday morning.”


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