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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First Interview with Dudley W. Mitchell
Dudley Mitchell discusses his childhood in Leadville during the early Twentieth century, and historic mines and railroads in the Leadville area. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with Earl Keen Laycock
Earl Laycock talks about running the Laycock Motor Company with his brother Austin Laycock in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He speaks about the role the Post Office played in financing car buyers when local banks closed during the Depression, and about giving driving lessons to new car owners. He describes working as a mechanic for Consolidated Steel in Long Beach during World War II, after rationing made the sale of new cars difficult. He discusses his return to Grand Junction, where he worked again for Laycock Motor Company, a job he held until he was 75 years old. He details the success of Laycock Motor Company and his personal successes. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with Eda May (Baker) Musser
Eda Musser talks about settling in Delta, Colorado in the early 1900’s, about her father’s race horses, and horse races in which he competed in Grand Junction’s Lincoln Park and elsewhere. She discusses her courtship with husband Kel Musser, and his family’s pioneering history in Escalante Canyon. 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.
First Interview with Edwin "Ted" Winterburn
Ted Winterburn talks about early rail transportation in the Grand Valley, including the Interurban line that connected Grand Junction and Fruita and the separate Grand Junction streetcar line that ran within the city. He also discusses the early history of the Grand Junction Lion's Club and people and places in Grand Junction’s history. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with Ella (Foster) O'Brien and Earl Eugene Foster
Siblings Ella O'Brien and Earl Foster talk about the history of their pioneer family in the Paradox Valley area of Montrose County, Colorado, about living near and working in the mines, about their father John "Peg-leg" Foster and his involvement with labor issues in Telluride's mines, and the murder of Henry "Indian Henry" Huff by their stepfather John Keski. They also discuss the discrimination that Utes and other Native Americans faced from whites in Montrose County, and mention Chipeta, Buckskin Charlie, Colorow, and other Utes that were often in the area. The two of them touch on the ill-fated Alferd Packer party. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with Emma (Berg) Nagel
Emma (Berg) Nagel discusses life in early Fruita as a student turned school teacher, and talks about the farm life of her family (her parents were immigrants from Sweden who settled in Western Colorado), with an extended description of her mother’s homemaking tasks. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with Esther (Silliman) Knowles and George Knowles
George Knowles talks about the history of his father’s carpentry and construction business in Fruita, about fighting as a soldier in World War I, and aspects of early Mesa County life. Esther Knowles discusses her family and early Twentieth century life in Plateau Valley. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with Forrest Carhartt
Colonel Forrest Carhartt talks about his experiences as one of the US National Guard troops sent to the Mexican border, and into Mexico itself, in response to Pancho Villa’s raid on Columbus, New Mexico. He compares his military experiences on the Mexican border with his experiences during World War I. 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 1922 University of Denver yearbook.
First Interview with Frank Benjamin Wright
Frank Wright talks about his career working for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in Gunnison and Grand Junction, 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.
First Interview with Frieda (Miller) Weaver
Frieda Miller talks about her pioneer ranching family’s arrival in Palisade, Colorado, and about the exploits of her colorful father, Eben “Mac” Miller. She speaks about her school days in Palisade and Grand Junction, and about childhood games she played (such as Duck on a Rock). She discusses her later life and marriage with farmer and carpenter George Weaver, and her long period as a vegetarian. 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 1928 Grand Junction High School yearbook.
First Interview with Fritz Becker
Fritz Becker, a former officer in the Grand Junction Police Department, discusses crime in Grand Junction, including: murders, the clean-up of prostitution and vice on Colorado Avenue, gambling houses and bootlegging. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with George "Vern" Wood and Bernice (Daniels) Wood
George “Vern” Wood discusses homesteading on Glade Park, and early Glade Park schools. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of the Mesa County Public Library and the Museum of Western Colorado.

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