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 Clemont G. "Clem" Goettelman: Walter Walker Series
Clem Goettelman explains his time as an employee for The Daily Sentinel under Preston Walker as the publisher. He discusses his position as a union leader before the Typographical Union Strike, conflicts within the work environment, Walter Walker’s involvement with and subsequent opposition to the Ku Klux Klan, and The Daily Sentinel being one of the only papers in the country to quickly cover President Theodore Roosevelt’s death with a full obituary. 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. *The above photo of Walter Walker is a public domain image from the U.S. Senate Historical Office.
Interview with Clifford A. "Cliff" Knesel Jr.
Cliff Knesel talks about his upbringing in Staten Island, New York. He recounts his experiences in the Vietnam War with the US Army 5th Special Forces Group and the 173rd Airborne Brigade from 1968 to 1970. 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 Clifford Granville Houston
Clifford Houston discusses his employment at Grand Junction Junior College starting in 1929 (now Colorado Mesa University), including his efforts to increase student enrollment, create student housing, and secure funding for scholarships. Houston served as the third dean of the school, from 1932-1937. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Photograph from the 1949 University of Colorado annual, The Coloradan.
Interview with Cora Elizabeth (Brumbaugh) Henry
Cora Henry talks about her birth in Loma, Colorado, the death of her mother shortly after her birth, and about her adoption by the Brumbaugh family. She remembers the Loma grocery store, hotel and post office run by her parents, David and Elizabeth Brumbaugh. She speaks about the hotel’s residents, and recalls Chipeta and other Ute people staying at the hotel. 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 Cora Elizabeth (Brumbaugh) Henry and Paul Elden Henry
Cora Henry talks about her childhood in Loma, Colorado, her adoption by David and Elizabeth Brumbaugh, the hotel and grocery store the Brumbaughs ran in Loma in the 1910’s, and the grocery store they ran in Fruita from 1919 to 1940. She speaks about two large agricultural enterprises near Loma: The Golden Hills Ranch, owned by Verner Z. Reed, and Garmesa, owned by Quaker Oats. She and Paul Henry recall a fire that destroyed the original Brumbaugh Brothers grocery store in Fruita, and a fire that burnt down the first Fruita Union High School. Paul Henry remembers his career as a delivery and sales person for Brumbaugh Brothers. He and Cora reminisce about running a grocery store and about selling to customers on credit. He speaks about his subsequent jobs delivering baked goods for the Fruita Bakery, running the Uintah Stage Line between Mack and Grand Junction, and working for other grocery enterprises. He describes a dairy farm that he ran for a few years, his missionary work for the Church of the Brethren, and traveling on the Colorado National Monument. 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 Cordelia Evelyn (Hamilton) Files
Cordelia Files talks about the history of her family as early homesteaders in Mesa County, Colorado. She remembers life in Fruita in the early Twentieth century. She recalls working on a ranch near De Beque for her first job at the age of fifteen. She speaks about her life as a teacher instructing all eight grades in a one-room school house, about different episodes from her career in education (including the time a cat came to school), and about recreation for the students. She talks about problems local people faced during the Great Depression and the role of the WPA and CCC in addressing those problems. She remembers Dust Bowl conditions that affected Glade Park and the many people who moved away as a consequence, including she and her husband, who moved to Grand Junction’s North Avenue where they operated a salvage yard. She recalls shortages and rationing during World War II. She talks about purchasing and developing the land between North Avenue and Grand Avenue, and 23rd Street and 28 ½ Road between 1945 and 1956. 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 Daisy J. (Hurlburt) Green
Daisy Green talks about pioneer life in Parachute, Colorado, touching on sheep and cattle wars, early churches and schools, and oil shale mining. 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 Dale T. Luke
Dale T. Luke talks about his work as a builder and contractor in Grand Junction, Colorado, and about his involvement in the Orchard Mesa Lions Club and other community organizations. Dale also discusses the change in population of Grand Junction over the years as related to the uranium boom. 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 Darwin Burford
Darwin Burford discusses growing up in Whitewater, Colorado in the early Twentieth century, and going to school in Mesa County, Colorado. Darwin talks about the early narrow gauge railroad that serviced Mesa County, about the Barnum and Bailey Circus, daily childhood chores, playing cribbage as a family, and his argument with John Otto. 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 David Miles "Dave" Davis, creator of Grand Junction's Art on the Corner
Local artist and former director of the Art Center of Western Colorado Dave Davis talks about his beginnings as an artist and his move to Grand Junction, Colorado from Boulder. He speaks about his role in creating Art on the Corner, Grand Junction’s outdoor sculpture exhibit, in 1984. He discusses his directorship of the Art Center, which began in 1986, and his role in helping the organization gain financial solvency and regain regional relevance following the oil shale bust. He talks about the many artistic programs in town, several of which he had a hand in creating or in running. He names local artists and employees of the Art Center. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Photograph courtesy of Keesha Davis
Interview with David Stonewall "Dave" Hinkle
Dave Hinkle talks about coming to Western Colorado in the 1920’s, riding the rails in search of work, dealing with the railyard “bulls,” working the peach harvests in Palisade, and working for the railroad in ice cars packed with peaches. He recalls other jobs he held, including the Star mail route from Dragon Mountain to Somerset, ranch work for the D.R.C. Brown Ranch on Muddy Creek, and herding sheep on the Uncompahgre. He speaks about the “imaginary line” that separated sheep and cattle ranchers in Delta County after the sheep and cattle wars. He remembers working in a produce house in Delta, loading cheese, working in a cold storage plant, and selling door to door. He recalls working for Holly Sugar and becoming the sugar plant foreman. He talks about the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, and enlisting in the Navy for two years during World War II. 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 Della Margaret (Moore) Crider
Della Crider talks about her life on a farm in the Fruita, Colorado area, and teaching at the Rhone School. 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.

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