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 William Bowie "Bill" May
William May talks about his upbringing on a ranch in Steamboat Springs and his life as a rancher, hunting guide, and outfitter. He plays guitar and sings songs that his father and others handed down to him, and songs that he made up. He tells stories from his life, and stories that his father and others related to him. Songs that he sings during the interview include: Mickey Mouse, Little Duck, Cuatro, Little Joe the Wrangler, Home on the Range, Oh There Was an Old Woman Who Lived on the Moon, Old Uncle Ned, Nicodemus, Twenty Froggies Went to School, and Red Wing. He speaks about the local practice of “chariot racing” and about a Coors beer commercial in which he and other chariot racers were filmed. He relates stories about his ancestors and genealogy. He discusses the Meeker Massacre, the story of Frank Draw, and the settlement of Egeria Park. He remembers a bottle of wine that his father made, the bottle’s theft, and his father confronting the thief in a humorous way. He talks about techniques for branding cattle. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Note: The transcripts for this interview have been machine-created and do contain inaccuracies. In time, each transcript will be audited by a human being to ensure greater accuracy.
Interview with William Chapman and Maybl Laverne (Righdenour) Chapman
William and Maybl Chapman talk about their early lives in Grand Junction and Fruita, 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 William Frank "Bill" Jessup
Bill Jessup talks about cowboys and ranching in Garfield County, Colorado in the early Twentieth century. 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 William Fredrick "Bill" Hartman Jr. and Lucille "Lucy" (Carlson) Hartman
William Hartman talks about his early life in South Dakota and Nebraska, and about his higher education. He speaks about his career in journalism, working at the Sterling Advocate in Sterling, Colorado, and about teaching journalism at Mesa College. He remembers working with students on the Criterion, the student newspaper. He recalls the staff and faculty members of early Mesa College, and the college’s first building, which was located downtown. He talks about the people that made the college’s move to North Avenue possible, doing publicity work on the Western Slope to drum up admissions, and the large number of CCC members who became college students. Lucy Hartman chimes in with memories of the college. 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 1930 University of Colorado yearbook.
Interview with William H. "Bill" Nelson: Walter Walker Series
William “Bill” Nelson explains his time spent working for the Daily Sentinel under Walter Walker and Preston Walker. He discusses the Typographical Union Strike, the quality of The Daily Sentinel compared to other newspapers, the Ku Klux Klan in Grand Junction, and Walter Walker’s many community involvements. 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 William H. Lorenzen
William Lorenzen, the owner and editor of the Palisade Tribune newspaper from 1953 to 1979, talks about the history of the newspaper, beginning with the publishers that came before him. He speaks about the difference between linotype or “hot printing,” offset printing, and handset printing. He describes the newspaper’s relationship with the townspeople of Palisade over time, and the paper’s role in preserving and contributing to Palisade’s history. He discusses serving as an elected official in various capacities in Palisade, and battling the Palisade Irrigation District while in office. 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 William J. "W.J." Pray
W.J. Pray discusses the history of Collbran and Plateau Valley, Colorado, including ranching and roads. He also talks about box lunches and how they worked as a social and dating vehicle for men and women. 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 William Lawrence "Bill" Reeves
William Reeves talks about his service in the US Army’s 10th Division during World War I, about his brief career as an undertaker, and about working as an undertaker for both the Army and as a civilian during the Spanish Flu epidemic. 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 William McHarg "Bill" Ela
William Ela talks about his family’s arrival in the Little Dolores River area of Mesa County in 1881 and their establishment of the 2-V Ranch. He tells stories about his grandfather, the pioneer rancher and Grand Junction town mayor William Phillips Ela. He remembers his grandfather’s horse Looney and his escapades. He speaks about the dangers of travel to and from Glade Park in the early days. He recalls stories passed down about his ancestors’ encounters with Ute Indians on Pinon Mesa. He and interviewer Al Look talk about the many Ute and Native American artifacts and sites on Pinon Mesa. He remembers his mother Lucy (Ferril) Ela and her longtime involvement on the Grand Junction School Board. He speaks about growing up at 1006 Main Street in Grand Junction and about playing baseball and other games in the many vacant lots. He remembers school life and spending time in the YMCA building. He recalls youth camping trips and excursions he took to the Four Corners area with a man named Rudy Albrecht, who ran the YMCA camp on the Grand Mesa. He recounts the escape of Betty the monkey from the Lincoln Park Zoo, and her capture by Ela and his two close friends. 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 William R. Hill
William Hill talks about joining the US Air Force in 1967, his training as an Airborne Radio Repairman, his assignment with the Strategic Air Command, and his training in cryptography with a top secret clearance. He remembers being stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War, where he repaired radios and went on frag runs at night with the 2nd Detachment of the 834th Air Division, dropping flares to aid US troops, and flying classified missions. He describes off-duty life in Thailand. He speaks about his realization of the war’s horrors and his growing disillusionment with the war, but his ultimate pride in having served. 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 Willis "W.L." Blevins and Lotus (Hocker) Blevins
Willis Blevins and his wife Lotus discuss their life as farmers in the Redlands, the history of the Redlands Community Center and the Redlands Women’s Club, and Willis’s career as a lumberyard worker and owner. 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 Winifred Maud (Upton) McCaig
Winifred McCaig talks about her nurse’s training in San Antonio prior to 1917, and about her service in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War I, working in a British hospital in Rouen, France. 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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