Lafayette Archival Oral History Collection 1968-2001

: Oral History with Jacob Weiler; Jacob “Jake” Weiler’s oral history interview conducted on April 25th, 1975 discussed his career in coal mining in northern Colorado. Jake was born in Germany but came to Lafayette in 1911. Weiler talked about his first job in Standard Mine driving mules, where he witnessed mine accidents but was never injured himself. He subsequently served as the foreman for several years. Jacob also reflected on the many changes in how local mines were run throughout his 54-year career.

: Oral History with Jim Webber; In this interview, Jim Webber describes his family's Studebaker garage and the fire that closed it in 1922. He recalls many of the old families of Lafayette and his adolescence in town. Bill Moon joins in on the interview and helped to recall some more residents and their histories.

: Oral History with Joe & Betty Beraneck -A; Mr. & Mrs. Beraneck Listed names of several families; Talked about some of the businesses owned by people on the W side of Lafayette. Per Mary Miller, all taverns were on W side; not allowed on E side. Talked about businesses on Public Road and on Baseline going West. Would have been in late 30’s and the 40’s and 50’s. Talked about large grocery store that had a charge system. Sometimes miners did not receive paychecks on time. Clothing store also had charge system. Talked about Graham family. Talked about neighborhood gatherings/events. Several families had boys; got along well; played baseball on empty lots. Talked about the first Catholic Church. Got married there 1/14/1950. 1954 built new Catholic Church. Had fundraisers in basement. Money hard to come by during strikes. Raised their own vegetables; many had chickens and raised rabbits for food. Some rivalry between E and W Lafayette. Seemed like everyone knew everyone. Didn’t lock houses. Helped each other when fires or someone ill. Black Diamond mine was on the curve of Hwy 287 and Baseline. Talked about various mines. Had a HUGE sinking/cave in on Longmont Ave and Kimbark St. Came close to front steps of a home – late 1950’s. Filled with old pieces of concrete and junk cars, etc. People came from all over to see the big hole!

: Oral History with Joe & Betty Beraneck -B; Talked about coal camps, houses, etc. When a mine shut down people could buy the houses. Some of the houses in W Lafayette came from coal camps. Some of the houses people bought were moved to W Lafayette. Talked about various builders of the houses in W Lafayette. Also carpenters. Houses were small. As families grew they added on to the houses. Talked about landscaping and features of the neighborhood. Beautiful view of the mountains. Talked about sidewalks and gutters installation. On Arbor Day school children would plant trees. Had a botanical society. Some also joined the Colorado Botanical Society. Many had their own vegetable and flower gardens. Talked about the history of a large three-story house. Talked about the taverns during prohibition. Think they stayed open – in late 1930’s. Betty doesn’t remember her father talking about prohibition. Talked about septic tanks – no sewers. Joe’s family was very large – 11 boys and 6 girls. Raised chickens and rabbits and geese. Ate very well.

: Oral History with Joe & Lois Distel; Joe and Lois Distel recalled their experience living in Lafayette in their 1975 oral history interview. The two spoke of their time raising their family alongside the growing community in Northern Colorado. Major themes from this collection of interviews include the Distel’s business conducted in Lafayette, such as owning a farm (wheat and hay), buying the Lafayette Elevator Co. in 1967, and providing the community with auto and mechanic services, as the pair opened Distel’s Motor Services in 1945. Additionally, this interview sheds light on the rapid population growth and changing infrastructure of Lafayette in the mid-twentieth century, including paving roads and centralizing water and sewage. Joe and Lois also speak about their overall life stories, sharing stories about their childhoods spent in Lafayette and anecdotes from their marriage and parenthood. This object also contains two audio recordings of an oral history interview with only Joe Distel, but without an adjoining transcript.

: Oral History with Joe Fletcher; Joe (Cotton) Fletcher discusses his time working in the mines, the layouts of the mines, and what the working conditions were like as well as the unions at the time, the IWW and the UMW. The Columbine Mine massacre is mentioned and described in detail. Tape B begins by discussing smaller strikes that took place and the implication of the Taft-Hartley Act. The interview ends by discussing union organizers, the nationalities of those working in the mines, and more about how work was done in the mines.

: Oral History with Joe Martinez; Joe Martinez discussed his extensive mining career in his oral history interview conducted on May 18th, 1977 by his son, Rick Martinez. Joe began working in various mines near Lafayette, Colorado in 1944 and ended his career in the Clayton Coal Mine in 1975. His interview covers pay and multiple incidents that reflect the dangerous conditions of mining work. Finally, Joe meditates on how mining practices changed over the course of his three decades of work.

: Oral History with Joe Mathias; In this interview, Joe Mathias is interviewed at his home at 105 Cannon St. In Lafayette. The interview begins with Joe reading from various old articles of the Lafayette Leader and the Lafayette News in which he is mentioned. Joe worked as a miner in Lafayette and Louisville starting at age 12 or 13. He worked for the fire department from 1919 to 1957 and spent some of this time as the fire chief. Joe recalls the former businesses and entertainment in Lafayette as well as significant events, such as mine strikes and the influenza epidemic. He was also on City Council from 1969 to 1974.

: Oral History with John James; John James described many memories he has of Lafayette from the early 1900s to the 1960s in his written history from 1975. He told stories about Lafayette residents he knew personally or had heard about, some of which involve crimes committed and the fate of those convicted. Being a long-time resident of Lafayette, John recalled the changes the town has gone through, from the businesses that have come and gone to the developments in transportation. He mentioned eleven mines and eleven saloons that were once stables of the area. He also recalled mining strikes during his childhood and his adulthood. He spoke about interacting with the National Guard on both of these occasions as well. When he was a child, the soldiers were kind to him. When he took part in the strikes himself, he was shot at in an attack that claimed the lives of several miners.

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