Time Machine: 50 years ago, governor calls for delay in creation of Beaver Creek ski area

30 years ago

May 26, 1995

The Eagle River in Minturn was set to host the sixth annual Champion International Whitewater Series, and the river was running at 30% above average flows due to a large snow year.

“Based on early entries, 1995 will be the best season yet for the series,” said U.S. Canoe and Kayak Team spokesman Craig Bohnert told the Vail Trail. “The list of entrants is impressive, with Olympic medalists and World Champions from across the globe converging on the United States for the three CIWS races.”

The races contained four categories of competition: Single Kayak (K-1), Women’s Single Kayak (K-1W), Single Canoe (C-l), and Double Canoe (C-2).

The Eagle River event was the first in the series, followed by an event on the Animas River in Durango and concluding with races on the St. Louis River in Carlton, Minnesota.

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40 years ago

May 31, 1985

Vail was expected to win its bid for the 1989 World Alpine Skiing Championships.

Vail was up against three Eastern European ski areas — Borovetz, Bulgaria; Jasna, Czechoslovakia; and Kranjska Gora, Yugoslavia.

Vail is considered a virtual lock to win designation as the site of the 1989 World Championships. Jasna is expected to finish second in the voting, which will be one of the final acts of the 1985 International Skiing Federation (FIS) Congress.

Borovetz had withdrawn from the competition ahead of the vote.

50 years ago

May 30, 1975

Gov. Richard Lamm called for a one-year moratorium on the designation of Beaver Creek as a winter sports site, the Vail Trail reported.

The designation had been made by Regional Forester W.J. Lucas, a decision which Lamm called premature.

“The designation is needed by Vail Associates before they can proceed with the process of obtaining a ski area permit,” the Trail reported.

Wildlife protection, air quality and water quality were cited as the three most crucial questions that remained to be worked out, according to Lamm.

“The governor’s assistant also charged that the regional forester’s action was in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,” the Trail reported. “Dr. Tom Nelson, deputy chief for the national forest system, reported that no decision has yet been made in Washington on the governor’s request.

60 years ago

May 27, 1965

The state coordinator of mental health clinics spoke on the need for a mental health clinic for the region at a meeting of the Tri-County Mental Health group in Glenwood Springs.

Attending from Eagle County were Margie Gates, Eagle County Public Health Nurse; Mr. and Mrs. Vince Eichler, and Clara Brown.

75 years ago

June 1, 1950

Robert Deviney, formerly of Red Cliff, died of a heart condition brought on by a deep wound in his throat, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“Deviney told confiding stories concerning the wound, which had required thirty stitches to close,” the Enterprise reported. “One was that the wound was self-inflicted; another, that someone else had done it.”

Deviney died after being admitted to the Gilman hospital the week prior.

100 years ago

May 29, 1925

The Gypsum neighborhood was shocked to learn that well-known local W. A. “Banty” Skiff had drowned in an apparent suicide after his son found the man in an irrigation ditch not far from his ranch house.

“‘Banty’ Skiff was one of Gypsum’s most familiar persons, known to everyone who had ever visited Gypsum, and despite his crippled condition and poor health, was a very cheery man, rarely complaining of his afflictions, and his decision to end his life was a most surprise to friends and relatives,” the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

Skiff had left a letter which was discovered by his son, noting that he had been unable to work for the past 10 years and wanted to spare his wife from further care.

“Wilson Alfred Skiff was born in Crawford County, Pa., July 15, 1850, and was married to Elizabeth Adelle Alexander June 13, 1873, in Pennsylvania,” the Enterprise reported. “The couple came west and located in Gypsum, Colo., in 1884, where for many years he and his wife were leading citizens, and where they have continuously lived for nearly forty-one years. Mr. Skiff built the Gypsum hotel in 1890, and later built several other houses in Gypsum. Besides the widow he is survived by two sons, Guy and Harve Skiff of Gypsum; a sister and brother living in Pennsylvania; a twin brother, living in Denver; and a nephew, Ward Skiff of Riland.”