Time Machine: 70 years ago, Earl Eaton on an epic adventure

30 years ago

June 10, 1994

The Vail Town Council approved an ordinance enacting gun restrictions in town, the Vail Trail reported.

The new ordinance provided tighter controls over discharging firearms of all types in the city limits, the carrying of concealed weapons or the brandishing of guns or knives in establishments licensed to sell liquor.

“It also does not provide for the selling of confiscated weapons by police after council members raised fears these weapons ‘would just end up on the street again,'” the Trail reported.

The creation of the ordinance had been in the works for several months and was “not a reaction ‘to current actions in our fair town,'” the Vail Trail reported, quoting a comment from a council member.

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“The comment was an apparent reference to town employee Robert Mach, who was charged with first-degree murder June 2 in the shooting death of his wife, Mimi Marlene Mach,” the Trail reported.

40 years ago

June 15, 1984

The U.S. Department of Labor launched an inquiry into a townhomes project in East Vail while, at the same time, the FBI was investigating another project on Potato Patch Road in Vail from the same developer, the Vail Trail reported.

In the East Vail case, the Trail interviewed an employee who said his supervisor was requesting workers did not cash their overtime checks.

“‘We endorsed our checks and handed them right back,’ said one worker,” the Trail reported. “According to another worker, that was the accepted standard.”

In the Potato Patch case, “The FBI is questioning subcontractors about kickbacks and false statements allegedly made in an $8 million construction loan.”

50 years ago

June 8, 1974

A snowstorm hit Vail, leaving 3-4 inches of fresh snow on the valley floor and canceling events in town.

Battle Mountain High School’s class of ’64 reunion had to move events inside, and the men’s golf season was postponed due to the weather.

When golfing returned a week later, there was a record turnout, the Vail Trail reported.

“Low net winners consisted of that dangerous team of Dick Bailey and George Ward who posted a net score of 28,” the Trail reported.

60 years ago

June 11, 1964

Charles W. Bishop, Jr., the son of Charles Bishop of the Brush Creek area of Eagle, was killed in a plane crash near Fairplay, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

Bishop, 36, was on a business trip with Miles B. Woods; the two men were from Lakewood and were flying to Albuquerque.

“The four-passenger plane, owned and piloted by Woods, smashed into a rocky slope of mountain 200 feet from the summit, and burst into flames,” the Enterprise reported. “The fire spread to underbrush and trees, and was extinguished by Pike National Forest rangers.”

70 years ago

June 10, 1954

Earl Eaton was attempting to raft from the Roaring Fork River to Lake Mead, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“Young Eaton and a companion, Charles Bolte, left Aspen May 30, launching their large rubber raft on the Roaring Fork river, on the first lap of the long trip,” the Enterprise reported. “The run to Glenwood Springs was made in seven hours. Near New Castle, the raft snagged on an obstruction in the Colorado, and were forced to lay over there for repairs until Wednesday afternoon. They layed over in Grand Junction, planning to take off from there Sunday morning.”

Eaton was described as being formerly of Wolcott and Edwards, the son of Mr. and Mrs Carl Eaton, formerly of Edwards and living in Rifle.

“Eaton has been in charge of the ski patrol in Aspen for the past several seasons,” the Enterprise reported.