Time Machine: 50 years ago, John Denver throws a rock in Glenwood Canyon to demonstrate its narrowness

30 years ago

Dec. 6, 1994

The Vail Town Council voted in favor of upholding an ordinance to prohibit the sale, possession, storage, or manufacture of 51 models of assault weapons within Vail.

The ordinance was originally passed in September of 1994, but a petition requesting it be overturned was signed by more than 300 citizens in town.

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The council’s decision to uphold the ban meant that the ordinance would head to a public vote in the form of a special election to be held no sooner than 30 and no later than 90 days from Dec. 7, 1994.

40 years ago

Nov. 30, 1984

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The Back Bowls on Vail Mountain opened, with the mountain reporting a 30-inch mid-mountain base and a 47-inch base at the summit.

The Vail Trail reported that snow fell Sunday through Thursday ahead of Thanksgiving, with nine inches of fresh snow reported on Thanksgiving Day at Mid-Vail.

“Some 65 percent of Vail Mountain was open by Thursday as VA gradually brought more trails on the eastern portion of the mountain on line during the week,” the Vail Trail reported.

50 years ago

Dec. 2, 1974

Eagle County commissioners adopted a resolution urging the immediate construction of a four-lane interstate through Glenwood Canyon.

The resolution said the new interstate “will boost the local economy of both Eagle and Garfield counties and will eliminate the death hazard the existing two-lane road has become,” the Eagle Eye newspaper reported. “The commissioners agreed the Glenwood Canyon route is the best since it poses no serious interference to game migration routes as would the alternate Cottonwood Pass route.”

One of the people opposed to the interstate was John Denver, who attempted to demonstrate the canyon’s narrowness by throwing a rock across the Colorado River in the canyon.

“The commissioners said two deaths have occurred in the canyon since singer/composer John Denver recently threw a rock there to publicize a petition drive requesting the canyon be designated a scenic corridor,” the Eagle Eye reported.

The commissioners said the Glenwood Canyon route is shorter than the alternate route and also represents less need for relocation of existing highways along the Roaring Fork River.

60 years ago

Dec. 3, 1964

When the westbound California Zephyr passenger train pulled into Bond in Eagle County, the crew reported a car upside down in the Colorado River below Inspiration Point on Trough road, and passengers on the trail reported seeing bodies scattered on the hillside above the river, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“The mystery was solved when Paul Cruz, section laborer from Craig boarded the Yampa Valley Mail at Radium and heard discussion of the accident,” the Enterprise reported. “Billy Thompson of Denver, hunting in that area, attempted to turn his car and trailer around on Inspiration Point. When he felt the car slipping backward, he jumped before the car rolled down the long, steep cliff to the Colorado River. Cruz was in a car that picked Mr. Thompson up after the accident.”

Meanwhile, “two more Denver hunters were lucky when their car went out of control on Burns Hill Wednesday night and landed below in a cedar tree. They called a friend in Denver to come after them — the three went about their hunting and returned to Denver.”

70 years ago

Dec. 2, 1954

J. W. Lewis and John P. Kellogg of the Voltron Corporation of Grand Junction filed papers in the county clerk’s office on 66 uranium mining claims in the Wolcott area, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“These recent filings bring the number of claims filed in excess of 700 during the past six months in Eagle County,” the Enterprise reported.

80 years ago

Dec. 8, 1944

Pfc. Delbert Miller of Eagle County was one of the members of the 157th Infantry of the 45th Division, Company I, who was awarded a presidential citation for outstanding performance of duty in action, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

Miller was recognized for “repulsing five enemy counter attacks with only machine gun and rifle fire on the Anzio beachhead in February, despite heavy enemy artillery, tank and automatic fire,” the Enterprise reported. “By doing so, the Yank warriors of Company I eliminated a threat to the solidarity of the beachhead.”