Mesa County Oral History Project

The Mesa County Oral History Project began as a joint project of the Museums of Western Colorado and Mesa County Libraries (MCL) in 1975. The Oral History Project collected tape-recorded interviews with pioneers of Mesa County and surrounding areas, and interviews with the children of pioneers. The Central Library housed the duplicate audio cassettes and provided patron access to the histories. The Museum stored the master tapes and kept files and transcripts related to the oral history collection. The Mesa County Historical Society also contributed significantly to the Oral History Project by collaborating with the library and museum to select interviewees, and by providing interviewers and other volunteers. Mesa County Libraries no longer partner with the Museum in housing duplicate copies of tapes. But the library now works with the Museum to digitize interviews from the Mesa County Oral History Project and to provide online access to the interviews through Pika, the library catalog. The Museum continues to house the original audio cassettes, interview transcripts, and other source material for the project. The Library and the Museums of Western Colorado still record oral histories with residents who have important knowledge of the area’s history. Please note that some interviews contain language that listeners or readers may consider offensive. Mesa County Libraries does not condone such language, but has included interviews in their entirety in the interest of preserving history.

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Interview with B.A. "Billy" Weil
Billy Weil talks about his service in the U.S. Army before and during World War II. This interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
Interview with Beatrice "Bea" (Bailey) Underwood
Bea Underwood talks about moving to Battlement Mesa with her parents in 1917. She recalls her parents’ farm and ranch, and the various ranches that her parents purchased. She speaks about her father’s general store in Parachute (then Grand Valley). She remembers her long career as a school teacher in the Grand Valley, teaching first grade (Bea Underwood Elementary School in Parachute is named for her), and her husband’s career as a section foreman on the railroad before switching to the life of a farmer. She discusses her childhood on Battlement Mesa, games she played with other children, life in the Battlement Mesa School, and early families of Battlement Mesa. She gives her memories of Parachute, riding to high school on horseback, her college education, and her first teaching job. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Bernice Carney
Bernice Carney tells the story of her German immigrant parents and their homesteading life in Kansas and Collbran, Colorado. She also discusses her life growing up on a ranch, teaching in Glade Park, and her nurse’s training. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
Interview with Bertha I. Schlegel
Bertha Schlegel discusses growing up in Loma, Colorado and helping her family raise beets for Holly Sugar, and making sauerkraut, pickled apples, pickled watermelon and other ethnic food with her mother, who was a German immigrant from Russia. She also remembers her education and school activities throughout her childhood, including field days at the Fruita Central School and Grand Junction High School. She talks about obtaining a teaching degree, and about her various teaching jobs in rural schools around Garfield and Mesa Counties. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Bessie Jane (Jenkins) Milholland
Bessie Jane Milholland talks about her childhood growing up on a ranch in Molina, Colorado and how her family earned a living selling butter and other dairy goods. She describes trips to Grand Junction in horse and buggy, trading and selling handmade goods, and her education at the rural Molina School. She talks about her eventual move to Grand Junction after marrying her husband, Danford Wheeler, their life there, and the tasks of a homemaker. She discusses the poor condition of Grand Junction roads after rain and the difficulty of travel. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Burton Robinson "Bert" Kearl
Bert Kearl talks about patrolling the US—Mexico border as part of the US Cavalry after Pancho Villa staged his daring raid into New Mexico. He then discusses his retraining as a gunner, fighting in Europe during World War I as part of the 155th Artillery, and time spent in France. Finally, he elaborates on the many jobs he held over the years, including his ownership of the Western Real Estate company in Delta, Colorado. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Carl Alonzo Dewey
Carl Dewey talks about his years working for the C.D. Smith Drug Company, the most prominent drugstore and wholesale druggist in Grand Junction, Colorado and throughout Mesa County for much of the Twentieth century. He speaks about the drug business and the company’s role in liquor sales both before and after Prohibition. He discusses the company’s shift from a retail organization to a retail/wholesale organization, and their laboratory work on agricultural chemicals, fertilizers and other products. He talks about the history of the Dewey family. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Carl Forsman
Carl Forsman, the son of Swedish immigrants, talks about early life in the town of Mesa, Colorado. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
Interview with Carl Johan August Swanson
Carl Swanson talks about his early life and school days near Loma, Colorado, where his family settled and farmed. He recalls working for the Mesa County Road Department for 36 years, beginning in 1941, and becoming a foreman in 1953. He remembers road damage caused by mudslides on Douglas Pass that took two weeks to repair. He recalls the gilsonite mining boom and local coal mining. He speaks about clearing irrigation ditches and serving on the board of the Kiefer Extension Ditch. He talks about the resettlement of many refugees from the Dust Bowl to the Loma area in the late 1930’s. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Carl Smith
An interview with Carl Smith, who grew up just south of Delta and moved to Grand Junction later in life. He learned to play several instruments at an early age, and later played music in circus bands and in a military band during World War I. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Cassie (Young) Seals
Cassie Seals, an African-American resident of Grand Junction who came to the area around 1924, discusses her experiences in Mesa County, her membership in the Handy Chapel congregation, and her family and culture growing up in Thornton, Arkansas. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Charles A. Smelzer
Charles Smelzer talks about his work in a variety of jobs during his teens and twenties. He also discusses his arrival in Gunnison, Colorado and his work as a cowboy for a cattle ranch, including an incident in which he confronted members of the Ku Klux Klan who were trying to disrupt cattle operations and intimidate cowboys and ranchers. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.

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