Time Machine: 40 years ago, Vail shocked by deaths of Town Council members

30 years ago

Nov. 25, 1994

A major train derailment near Tennessee Pass resulted in a 1,500-gallon diesel leak into the wetlands surrounding Eagle River tributary Mitchell Creek, but the spill did not reach the river, the Vail Trail reported.

“The derailment occurred at 3:30 a.m. at Pando, which is 14 miles south of Minturn and about three miles below Tennessee Pass,” the Trail reported. “The train originated in Minnesota and was carrying 54 carloads of taconite, an iron ore pellet used in steel manufacturing, to Vineyard, Utah. Three locomotives and 51 cars derailed in the accident.”

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One of the two crew members on board, conductor Michael R. Perkins, 48, of Pueblo, was taken to Vail Valley Medical Center with multiple injuries and was in stable condition following the incident. The other crew member was not hurt. No cause for the derailment was given.

40 years ago

Nov. 30, 1984

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As Vail was reeling from the death of John Dobson, a former Town Council member who died suddenly, a current council member died suddenly, as well.

Dobson, 69, died of a heart attack on Nov. 23, 1984, while vacationing in Hawaii. A memorial service was held for him four days later in Vail. A day after that memorial service, on Nov. 28, 1984, Vail Town Council member Chuck Anderson, 42, died of an unknown condition after being admitted to the hospital a few days earlier with shoulder pain.

Dobson was Vail’s second mayor and helped create the Vail Symposium, the Vail Interfaith Chapel and the Ford Amphitheater in Ford Park. Anderson also worked on the Vail Symposium and was a developer of the 156-unit Pitkin Creek Park employee housing project.

The town was shocked by both of the deaths, the Vail Trail reported.

50 years ago

Nov. 29, 1974

Pepi and Sheika Gramshammer attended an event at the White House, the Vail Trail reported.

The Gramshammers were invited to attend a state dinner in honor of Austrian chancellor, Bruno Kreisky.

“President Ford felt it would be a perfect time to invite his old friends, the Gramshammers, out to Washington, since they’re both originally from Austria,” the Trail reported.

The day after the dinner, the Gramshammers toured the White House and chatted with President Ford in the Oval Office. Sheika reported that Pepi didn’t pass up the opportunity to promote Vail, handing out brochures to everyone and inviting Kreisky to visit.

60 years ago

Nov. 26, 1964

The Rio Grande railroad announced it was going to discontinue the last remaining passenger trains through the Eagle River Valley, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“The company’s slogan ‘Main Line Thru The Rockies’ should now be changed — for it will be cutting out some of its most scenic territory by cutting out the area west of Salida to Dotsero,” the Enterprise reported.

70 years ago

Nov. 28, 1954

Prominent Eagle County businessman Perfecto Cruz was murdered by Besalirez Martinez as Cruz stood in his tavern in Red Cliff.

The Eagle Valley Enterprise reported that Martinez entered the building around 8 o’clock carrying a 30-30 rifle, searched the bar for Cruz and said “I’ll get you this time” before firing three shots, one of which hit Cruz in the left side of his back.

“When Sheriff W. M. Wilson and his deputies arrived, Red Cliff’s town marshal, Frank McDonald, had Martinez in custody,” the Enterprise reported. “The fatal shooting climaxed trouble that started in January, 1953, when Martinez attacked Mr Cruz, slashing his arm with a sharp weapon on the tavern premises. Martinez was charged at that time with assault with a deadly weapon and served a sentence in the county jail. Mr. Cruz, who was about 40 years old, was one of Red Cliff’s leading citizens and had operated his place of business there for several years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.”