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 Frank J. Chiaro
Frank Chiaro describes his life as the child of Italian immigrants, farm life in the Pomona area of Mesa County, Colorado, and his various jobs, including his work as a boilermaker for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. He also talks about the second incarnation of his railroading career as a clerk, about mail cars and mail clerks, about the Durham Stockyards and the many livestock trains departing Grand Junction, and about water towers for steam engines. He discusses the Grand Junction train depot fire in 1943, when a train carrying Army munitions exploded and scattered shells in the surrounding neighborhood. Lorene (Tatlow) Roice and Mary (Chiaro) Colosimo, whose husbands both worked for the Denver and Rio Grande, also chime in occasionally. 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 Frank Jonick
Frank Jonick describes his experiences as a railroad detective and special agent for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. He also details the Grand Junction train depot fire (involving munitions) that occurred during World War II. 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 Frank Michael Simonetti Jr.
Frank Simonetti Jr. talks about the arrival of his Italian immigrant parents in Grand Junction, Colorado, about his school days at the Whitman and St. Joseph’s School, and about the history of the downtown area. He speaks about working for the Citizens Finance Company for many years and about Melvin “Pappy” Due, a founding member and longtime president of the company. He describes what it was like to work for a financing and insurance company in the mid-Twentieth century. He talks about Monarch Airlines, the Arctic Ice Cream company, and other Grand Junction people and institutions. 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 1938 Grand Junction High School yearbook.
Interview with Frank Simonetti Sr. and Angelina "Angela" (Audino) Simonetti
Frank Simonetti Sr. talks about his arrival in the United States from southern Italy in 1914 and his eventual arrival in Grand Junction, Colorado in 1918, where he began a long career with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. He remembers a fire that burnt down the D&RG icehouse, the railroad shop strike in 1922, and working a seven-day work week for thirty years. He recalls different kinds of locomotives. Angela Simonetti recalls growing up in the Italian neighborhood near Whitman Park, attending the Emerson and Lowell Schools, and learning English from a patient teacher at school. She remembers marrying fellow Italian immigrant Frank Simonetti at the age of 18. She talks about doing laundry by hand, butchering hogs, making soap, gathering ice from near the ice house, and other aspects of life as a homemaker from a young age. She recalls her immigrant journey on the train that brought her across the country to Grand Junction as a girl. Angela and Frank speak about the different Italian families that lived in their neighborhood near Whitman Park, including the Arcieri, Rasso, Sazio, Salzo, Stranger, and Valdino families. 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 Fred Bowman and Helen (Bowman) Lane
Fred Bowman and Helen (Bowman) Lane discuss their father’s opening of the first slaughterhouse in Grand Junction, the history of downtown buildings, and the lives of young people in early Twentieth century Mesa County. 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 Fred Joseph Simpson
Fred Simpson, one of the founders of the conservancy that became Ute Water, talks about his early life in the Pomona area of Mesa County, Colorado. He recounts his father’s career as a locomotive engineer and fruit farmer. He remembers people and agricultural history of Pomona, Patterson Road, and the Fruitridge area. He recalls his service in the US Marines during World War I. He speaks about the Grand Valley Canal and other early irrigation efforts in the Grand Valley. He talks about watching his parents haul drinking water by horse in the late 1910’s, which was his inspiration for the creation of a water district that would bring drinking water to rural residents of the Grand Valley. He recounts the history of this water district, which became the Ute Water Conservancy District, and speaks about the Collbran-Vega water project that brought fresh water to the Grand Valley. He discusses his father’s work for the Santa Fe Railroad and the history of streetlights as they shifted from gas to electric in the Grand Valley. 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 Fred Powell
Fred Powell talks about his life as a fruit farmer in Delta County, Colorado, and about overseeing fruit production as the manager of the Paonia Fruit Growers Association and the United Fruit Growers Association. 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. *Photograph courtesy of the Palisade Historical Society.
Interview with Fred Saxton Hulburt
Early Mesa County resident Fred Hulburt discusses his job as a postman, the difficulties of starting a fruit farming business, his views on the treatment of the Utes in the area, building tunnels for the Highline Canal above Cameo, methods used to prevent the codling moth from ruining fruit orchards, and how to properly break wild horses and mules. 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 Fruita Union High School Class of 1927
Members of Fruita Union High School’s graduating class of 1927 reminisce about their school days, lives and careers upon the occasion of their fiftieth class reunion. 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 Gary Innis Lake
Gary Lake talks about his upbringing in Grand Junction, Colorado, his initial enlistment in the US Marine Corps, and his ultimate service in the US Army after he was drafted. He recalls his arrival in Vietnam in 1967 with the 1st Infantry Division, attached to the 3rd Marines. He expresses discontent with his role in the Vietnam War, and with the role of his country. He gives him impressions of the country of Vietnam, the people, and of enemy forces. He speaks about his exposure to Agent Orange. He talks about going to college on the G.I. Bill and transitioning to civilian life after the war. He remembers the Tet Offensive, which ocurred while he was in Vietnam. 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 1961 Grand Junction High School yearbook.
Interview with George Cecil Harper
Cecil Harper talks about his memories from early childhood in Loma, Colorado. He speaks about his father’s position as a surveyor on the Highline Canal, history of the dam’s construction, and about the celebration that was held upon the canal’s completion. He remembers the schools that he attended, including the Loma and Valley View Schools. He recalls his early jobs working for ranching outfits and working as a coal miner before he began life as a farmer. He discusses the honor that he received in 1978 for his work in agriculture and for his service on several community organization boards, including the Grand Valley Water Users Board. He talks about his parents and their homestead near Loma in the 1910’s, and the agricultural history of Loma. He remembers living in Horsethief Canyon on a ranch for three years as a child and speaks about the history of the canyon. 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 George Watts
In a three part interview with Mesa County Oral History Project folklorist Elain Thatcher, George Watts talks about his life and shares poetry, songs and stories. In part one, he talks about his childhood in Hayden, Colorado, the early death of his father, and growing up on a 200 acre farm. He shares several poems and stories, including some tall tales. He remembers the people of Hayden. In part two, he speaks about the importance of song during his childhood, and how hymns were sung by his family and in church. He sings songs with his wife and daughter. He reminisces about his many past careers, tells jokes, and talks about his wife Enid Elaine’s background. He tells several stories about local happenings, including hunting trips, a mine explosion, and an attempted robbery. In part three, he reminisces about encounters with Ute people, celebration at the end of the Spanish-American War, a diphtheria epidemic so severe that it required the city of Hayden to create a new cemetery, battles between sheep and cattle ranchers, and outlaws. 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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