Emma Nardin Oberto's Oral History

Description

Recorded April 14, 1991 in Grand Junction, Colorado. Interviewer was Davine Pera. Interviewee was Emma Nardin Oberto. Transcription included. Topics: San Juan Hotel, Nellie Mine, Campbells Garden, Lizard Head: Emma reads a brief history of her life, written by her when she was 86. She describes her life as a school girl. She mentions hiking across the pass to visit a friend in Ouray, when she was 16. She talks about playing basketball in the Recreation Hall, and describes the dances and plays that were held there. She rode the trams to various mines to visit her friends. Memories of the Christmas tree on Main St. and the Mule Skinners Ball which was held at the Stubbs and Jakeways Opera House. She mentions various events, such as the fires at the Smuggler Mine and Mill, the Redman's Hall , the Mine Strike in 1901-1904 and the Cornet Creek Flood in 1914 . Paul Nardin & Dominica Dalpaz: History of parents and their families. Father, Paul Nardin, immigrated to the US in 1898. He was counted in the 1900 U.S. census in the Sneffel No. 1O District. He was working at the Smuggler Mine at the time of the big fire in 1902., He purchased the San Juan Hotel in 1902, where he met his wife, Domique Dalpez. Emma describes her mothers trip to the US when she was 18 years old.. Her parents were married in 1903. Joe Oberto, Cleona Parker, H.Crozier, Haywood: Emma was born in 1904. She speaks of Joe Oberto. Describes the house on North Willow her parents bought in 1904. They sold the San Juan in 1924. Names classmates she graduated with. She played on the girls basketball team from the 7th grade on. Spent a lot of time hiking in the mountains. Memories of dances and banquets in the Sheridan Opera House. She traveled to dances at the Ophir school and various mine in horse drawn school buses. Macaroni Jim, Baisch: Speaks of mothers hard work in the hotel. Memories of the Red Light · District. Story of the murder of Macaroni Jim and Mr. Baisch, the druggist. Speaks of the militia searching the rooms of their hotel during the miners strike. Describes the Cornett Creek Flood in 1914. McKnight: Names several dairies in San Miguel. Father gathered and dried mushrooms to ship to store in Denver. Describes the segregation of the nationalities in town, and describes the Italian picnic that was held at Cushman Lake every summer. Classes she took in high school. Finnish town. Describes various snow slides. Speaks of her father working the night shift at the time of the Smuggler Mine Fire. Ed Ress, Dr. Parker, Buckley Wells, Mr. Wheeler, Dad Painter, Waggoner: Bootlegging stories. Father's half brother owned a still. July 4th celebrations. Mentions the Pekkarine family and names other businesses. Mentions Dad Painter, Buckley Wells and Mr. Wheller. Speaks of the Waggoner family and the bank swindle. Joe Oberto, Mr. Wooster, Dr. Hadley, Dr. Peterson, Dr. Taylor, Mr. Adams: Emma's father-in-law was Joe Oberto. Emma speaks of riding the train on various occasions. Names different doctors, the 2 hospitals in town, the dentist, and the undertaker. Buckley Wells, Millers, Balliger: Memories of operas from Denver playing at the Sheridan Opera House. Buckley Wells held fancy balls at the Opera House. Mentions Harry Miller and the Balligers. Talks about her parents. Sweeneys, Bill Nardin: Memorial Day Celebrations. Talks of her first child that is buried in Telluride. Her brother played with a dance band. Chartes Telk: Describes coasting from the Tomboy road to the river. Memories of riding sleighs to dance at the Tomboy Mine, where she stayed over night with friends. Black Bear, Bridal Veil Power Plant. Emma rode the trams to visit friends at the Tomboy and Liberty Bell.