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 Lacy Tribby
Lacy Tribby describes his experiences as a pilot for the 148th Aero Squadron of the United States Army, fighting on the Western Front during World War I. 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 Lawrence "Fuzzy" Aubert
Lawrence Aubert talks about his father’s immigration from France and his arrival on Pinon Mesa in 1926, where he homesteaded and ran sheep. He remembers changes in sheep ranching after the passage of the Taylor Grazing Act, sheep rustling, and friction between sheep and cattle ranchers. He discusses the effect of predatory animals on sheep herd size on Pinon Mesa. He talks about Basque and Mexican immigrants who came to herd sheep in Colorado and Utah. He speaks about aspects of sheep ranching, such as shearing, disease control, and lambing. He names early sheep ranchers on Pinon Mesa. He remembers his service on the board of the Colorado Association of Counties in regard to land use issues. He recalls his election as a Mesa County commissioner and the commission’s role in decisions regarding the building of a new Mesa County Library and the Veterans Memorial Park. 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 Lawrence Jitsuo "Larry" Azuma
Lawrence Azuma talks about being drafted into the US Army prior to World War II and working in the combat engineering corps in Hawaii prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He recalls being removed from his unit along with other Japanese soldiers after World War II began, and then sent for infantry training and military intelligence training in the United States. He speaks about his experiences as an interpreter in the code breaking unit at Vint Hills Farm Station in Virginia. He remembers the morning of the Pearl Harbor bombing, when he was stationed at Schofield, fifteen miles away. He recalls the USS Arizona and other ships that went down during the attack. He talks about the factors that led to the United States’ lack of preparedness for the attack on Pearl Harbor. 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 Lawrence Ryan
Lawrence Ryan talks about the history of livery service in Plateau Valley, with an emphasis on the dairy and mail delivery services conducted by his father using horse-drawn carriages. The interview was conducted by the Collbran Historical Society in conjunction with the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Lebrado "Lee" Serna
Lebrado Serna discusses his family life and his multiple jobs working as a Master plumber in Durango, Colorado and elsewhere. He also touches on the social scene in the old red light district of Silverton, and on the Plumber’s Union. 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 Lee, an Alcoholic
Lee (who remains anonymous) talks about leaving his abusive grandmother at 14, being on the lam with his father, a criminal, and then running away after being adopted by a nice Mormon family. He describes his years of alcoholism, petty crime and jail time, both in and out of the armed forces. He then describes the people and organizations that helped him get clean and sober, including Alcoholics Anonymous of Grand Junction and the Ft. Logan Mental Health Center. He discusses his many subsequent years of sobriety, his work as an artist for sign shops and as a counselor at Ft. Logan, his foundation of an AA for young people in Grand Junction, Colorado, and his advice for young people dealing with addiction. 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 Leola W. (McGarvey) Wiswell
Leola Wiswell talks about moving with her husband to Loma, Colorado in 1941, about joining the Jolly 16 Club, and about the people and community of Loma. She reminisces about life in the United Presbyterian Church in Loma. She recalls serving as the PTA board president, the origin of Mesa County School District 51’s hot lunch program at the Loma School, and her career in food services. She remembers the Loma Community Hall and programs held there. 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 Leon Reed
Leon Reed talks about the Grand Mesa, its reservoirs, the history of water development on the Mesa and in Delta County, Colorado, and his father's role in that development. 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 Leonard "Len" Landon Haseman
Len and Violet Haseman talk about newspaper research they undertook concerning the history of Cross Orchards farm in Mesa County, Colorado. 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 1932 David Henry Hickman High School yearbook.
Interview with Leonard Chad Lewis
Leonard Lewis recalls his upbringing in Gateway, Colorado. He remembers being drafted into the US Army, being stationed for nearly one and a half years at Fort Carson, and his eventual transfer to Vietnam in 1968 with replacement troops for the 9th Infantry Division in Ben Hoa. He describes patrolling the countryside with his reconnaissance unit and working as the radio operator to the forward observer. He talks about working with a mortar unit and his first experience with death in a combat situation. He speaks about his experiences with the Vietnamese people and the North Vietnamese army. He describes life in the Army during down time between patrols. He talks about becoming a squad leader and how African American soldiers were sent to join his unit because he was deemed more tolerant than other squad leaders. He recalls his relief and the adjustment period after coming home from the war. 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 Leroy A. "Lee" Toothaker
Lee Toothaker discusses growing alfalfa and peaches and cattle ranching in Palisade, Colorado. He also talks about raising mules on farms in Iowa and Missouri as a child, and about his education and career as a teacher. 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 Lester Starr
Lester Starr talks about going to swim in the Colorado River without adult supervision at five years old, about frequent fist fights with a fellow student on the way to school, and about other aspects of his early childhood near Fruita, Colorado. He also discusses raising apples for cider, about the role the Interurban played as transportation for both produce and people in the Grand Valley, and about the warming of winters over the course of his life. 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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