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.

Pages

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.
Interview with Leta Lucile (Davidson) Atchison
Leta Atchison describes life as an employee in the advertising department of the Daily Sentinel newspaper in the 1940’s and 1950’s. She recalls her boss Al Look, additional work typing his book manuscripts, and their friendship. She remembers the election of Harry S. Truman and the Sentinel’s efforts to track and broadcast the vote in the days before television in Grand Junction. The recording is provided by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Levi Allison Clark
Levi Clark discusses the history and agriculture of Palisade, 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 1909 Palisade High School yearbook.
Interview with Levi Parminter Morse and Elizabeth "June" (Eaton) Morse
Levi Morse discusses the history of Mesa County, Colorado, including fruit growing, drinking water from the Gunnison River and its link to typhoid fever, the YMCA, and the creamery business. He also talks extensively about social events such as the Mesa County Fair, and gives a firsthand account of the first motion picture showing in Grand Junction. June Morse talks about teaching at Fruitvale High School, community organizations and social gatherings. 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 Lilly (Eachus) Lawson
Lilly Lawson recalls her life in the Glade Park area of Mesa County, Colorado. She talks about her father, who was a Methodist minister and homesteader. She describes people and places in the Glade Park area. 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 Lilly (Eachus) Lawson and Anna Mae "Amy" (Eachus) Roehm
Lily Lawson and Anna “Amy” Roehm discuss the history of their pioneering family in Glade Park, 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 Lina Mae (Smith) Biggs
Lina Mae (Smith) Biggs discusses the history of her pioneer family in Grand Junction, including their role in cultivating apples in First Fruitridge, and her father Silmon Smith’s life as a prominent water law attorney who helped draw up the Colorado River Compact. 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 from 1934 Colorado College yearbook
Interview with Lindth Pinnell Jr.
Lindth Pinnell Jr. recounts his boyhood in Ukiah, California and in Oregon. He talks about his entry into the US Army Engineers after high school in 1969, about joining up during the Vietnam War in order to prevent his younger brother from having to do so, and gives his memories and impressions of basic training. He describes building compounds and roads with a US Army Engineer regiment in Vietnam. He discusses his disenchantment with the Vietnam War, his belief in shared humanity across cultures, gives his critique of military training and its effect on young people, and the role of such training in broader society. He describes having to confront children that were used by North Vietnamese forces to attack his vehicle, and facing other aspects of combat and strife in Vietnam. He talks about racial strife among US troops, but also about the bond that existed in his barracks regardless of ethnic background, and about positive change in his racial attitudes that came out of the war. He speaks about drugs, drug abuse, and escapism among US troops. He recalls coming home to Oregon after his tour of duty, his difficult transition to civilian life, and his study of humanity. 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 Lois (Hollinger) Saunders
Lois Saunders talks about early life in Fruita, Loma, and Mack, Colorado, about life on a farm with her husband Roe Saunders, and about Colorado Mesa University’s Saunders Field House, which was named for her husband. 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.

Pages