Events
Collection of event entities.
Pages
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- Killing of Jim Blue by Lou Stuart
- Jim Blue died in a gunfight with Lou Stuart in which both men were shot several times, but Lou Stuart survived. The gunfight took place in the Fruita Reserve portion of Pinon Mesa in the early 1900’s. According to oral history interviewee George "Vern" Wood, Jim Blue was a moonshiner who sold booze into a sheep ranching camp run by Fred Burford. Burford requested that Stuart, his camp mover, keep Blue away, so that his ranch hands would not get drunk. Stuart asked Blue to stay away. Blue, a “wild old man,” refused to leave. Blue shot Stuart. Stuart shot back with his Luger and killed Blue. In the version of the story told by oral history interviewee James "Buzz" Brouse, the sheep herd belonged to Stuart. When Blue came up to sell to herders employed by Stewart, Stewart tried to run him off. The men began shooting at one another. Blue carried a .22 pistol and managed to hit Stuart two or three times. Stuart survived and killed Blue. According to Joe Carns, in a version of the story related to him by older rancher Ray Morris, the rivalry between Blue and Stuart had to do with Blue’s wife, who was evidently quite attractive. Blue was confronted and shot in the doorway of his cabin by Stuart. Blue returned fire. Blue died and Stuart lived.
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- Lamar Bank Robbery, 1928
- The Fleagle Gang, consisting of Jake and Ralph Fleagle, George Abshier, and Howard “Heavy” Royston, held up the First National Bank of Lamar, shot and killed the bank president and his son, and escaped with an unspecified amount of money. The robbers were eventually tracked down due to a single thumbprint they failed to wipe from the driver’s side door of the car they had used to commit the robbery.
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- Land's End Hill Climb
- An automobile race that climbs up Land’s End Road on the Grand Mesa. When the race began in 1941, drivers started at the Anderson Ranch and worked their way up to the shelter house. Early participants included Louie Unser (brother of famous racers Al and Bobby Unser), who had won the Pikes Peak Race. Al Rogers, four-time winner of the Pike Peak Hill Climb, was also a frequent racer at Land's End. The race was organized by the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce. In 1953, the event was broadcast on the radio by KEXO and announced by Bob Collins.
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- Leadville Boom Days (Leadville, Colo.)
- Leadville Boom Days is a Colorado Mountain Festival and historical celebration of the Old West, with gunslingers, burro races, contests of mining skill, and a street fair with over 100 food and craft booths.
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- Loma Community Club Annual Fish Fry
- An annual event held in Horsethief Canon, near Loma, Colorado, during the early Twentieth century. Fish were taken with nets spread across the Colorado River and fried for the attendees. Speeches were made. According to oral history interviewee and Loma resident Gertrude Rader, the Fish Fry became a place for “electioneering” in later years, with politicians coming to the event. This discouraged her and others from attending, and the event was eventually cancelled.
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- Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Grand Junction
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in Grand Junction: An annual celebration, held at the Handy Chapel, which began as an hour-long event around 1982. The event was founded and is still run by the Black Citizens and Friends organization (BCF). The founders of BCF, young African-Americans like David Combs, wanted an event that would teach their children and community members about Black History. The event disappeared for a few years, but resumed and has been going strong for several years. The celebration now lasts for six days, with events in Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade. During the event, a local African-American person of importance is awarded the Harry Butler Community Service Award. Organizers also hold a commemorative march from the Handy Chapel to the county courthouse. The Grand Junction City Council, the Fruita trustees and the town of Palisade also proclaim recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Black Citizens and Friends participates in the Neighbors Read program at Mesa County Libraries in honor of Black History during the holiday, does a poetry reading at Lithic Bookstore, a poetry slam at Charlie Dwellington’s, and shows two movies at the Avalon Theater. They hold a non-denominational service on Sundays at the Handy Chapel, followed by a brunch at the Clifton Community Hall. On Monday, they hold the commemoration at city hall after the march. They also march from downtown to CMU, where a commemoration takes place on Monday.
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- Meeker Massacre
- The Meeker Massacre occurred when conflict arose between the Utes and Indian agency employees on September 29, 1879. The Utes killed the Indian agent, Nathan Meeker and 10 male employees. There were hostages taken by the Utes for 23 days, including Meeker's wife and daughter. Finally, troops from Wyoming were called to intervene.
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- Mesa County Fair
- Upon its founding and into the early Twentieth century, the Mesa County Fair was held first at the old Mesa County Fairgrounds north of Bookcliff Avenue and between 7th Street and Bookcliff Drive, and then in the area now known as Lincoln Park. According to Howard Shults, his father, auctioneer James Shults, was the last person to organize the Mesa County Fair in this location. The Fair now takes place at the present Mesa County Fairgrounds on Orchard Mesa. In its early days, most of the fair’s exhibits were built around the fruit industry. The fair also included a carnival. The carnival had mid-way attractions, a shooting gallery, ring toss, merry go round, ferris wheel, and tent shows (with numbers like the two-headed calf, acrobats and contortionists, and shows like the Girl in Red, with a woman in a “daring costume” performing for men). Refreshments included the forerunner of the Coney Island Redhot hotdog, cotton candy and soda pop.
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- Mesa County Spelling Bee
- According to Basil T. Knight, one-time superintendent of schools in Mesa County, the spelling bee has existed at least since 1921. The spelling bee disappeared for some years, but was reintroduced by Knight in 1962. He brought in various service organizations in the valley to help with funding for the bee. Knight also served as a judge for many years.