Telluride Oral Histories
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Prostitution in Frontier Mining Towns
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An oral history recording, written by Doris Gregory and narrated by Darwin Gregory, about prostitution in frontier mining towns (Telluride, Ouray, etc).
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Robert (Bob) & Oda Alexanders' Oral Histories
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Davine Pera interviews Bob & Oda Alexander on April 17, 1990. At first, the family history is discussed (please see Bob Alexander's genealogy). Here is the transcript of this recording:
History and birthdates of Alexanders and their parents. Oda started school in Crawford, Co., then moved to San Miguel in 1906 where she attended school, finishing the 8th grade. She attended high school in Telluride where she graduated in 1913.
Bob left Virginia as a young man. He rode the train to Telluride, stayed 1 week, then moved to Montrose for 3 years, then back to Telluride. He worked on a ranch on Turkey Creek mesa for Mr. Lawson for a while, then moved to San Miguel and worked for Mrs. Collins on her dairy ranch. Mrs. Alexander's father died in 1916 but her mother kept the dairy ranch and ran it. Oda related the story of delivering milk as a young girl, her horses ran away and spilled all the milk. She describes how milk was sold to stores and cafes. Talks about how father built the dairy farm at San Miguel. Bob bought John Daniels ranch after he returned from the service. They moved to Deep Creek and ran the dairy there tor 2 years and then moved to Keystone and lived there until 1927. Talks about all the big dairy farms in the area.
They speak of delivering milk to the Tomboy mine on tram buckets. Oda describes her trip by train to Telluride from Virginia in 1902 at the age of 8. Recalls crossing the Mississippi River. Her uncle met them at the train in Delta with a team of horses and wagon. It took 2 days to get to Crawford. She lived at Crawford for 1 year, then moved to San Miguel where her father worked for Mc Knights dairy.
Oda speaks about her school years and walking from San Miguel to town every day. Her graduating class consisted of 9 girls and 1 boy. Speaks of the courses that were taught including German and Latin. She mentions different classmates. Sometimes her friend's father took them to school on sleigh pulled by horses if weather was bad. The school stopped teaching German when World War l began. Sports consisted of basketball. The teams rode on the train to Ridgeway and Norwood to play their out of town games. Speaks of the train schedule. She rode the train to Montrose to meet Bob when he returned from the service.
Bob and Oda were married at San Miguel at her mother's house. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brown were witnesses. They rode the train to Salt Lake City for their wedding trip.
Bob speaks of milking 25 to 30 cows every day by hand, Bob milked 19 cows in 1 hour. They shipped cream to creamery in Montrose on the train in 5 gal. cans and were paid $5 or $6 for one 5 gallon can of cream, and $1 for 10 quarts of milk. Describes the dairy process and how the cooler worked and the procedure for bottling milk in different size bottles. Had to wash bottles every night to be ready for the next day. Memories of running the dairy. They speak of long hours and hard work.
In 1927 they went into the sheep business and moved to Norwood in 1939. They speak of different ranches they used for grazing. The Campbell Bros. sheared sheep for them. They received a permit to run sheep on public domain. They went into sheep business after pasteurization of milk became necessary. Speaks of the changes in Telluride now.
Bob and Oda talk about traveling to different places after their retirement. They spent their winters in New Mexico for several years. When their daughter graduated from high school, they took the Senior class to Mexico City. They went to Europe in 1956 when their son was stationed in Paris.
Bob speaks of the time he spent in the service in World War I. He was ready to go to the front line when the Armistice was signed.
Names & Places mentioned:
Jacob Alexander, Collins, W. Sampson, Jake Lawson, Frank Brown, John Daniels, Ed Spor, Dr. Brown, Goldsworthy, Oscar Mine, Hoag, Breckenridge, Kelly McKnight, Sam Harman, Emmet Hookman, John McKnight, Claude Jacob, Florence Miser, Mrs. Atterholt, Frank Brown, Campbell Bros., Yates Nardine, J. Porterfield, Finnegan, and Whiteley.
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Robert (Bucky) Schuler's Genealogy
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Robert (Bucky) Schuler's Genealogy, dated January 10, 2000. This is probably related to the oral history interview that Bucky did back in the 1980's for the Wilkinson Public Library, in Telluride, Colorado.
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Rocket Reave's Article
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An article about Rocket Reaves, written by Jamie Meiselman, photo by Colin Meagher, published by Mammoth Chronicle. Shows Rocket on his snowboard in the mountains of Telluride, Colorado. The date is unknown.
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Rodney & Elliott Brown's Oral Histories
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An oral history recording, which took place on September 9, 1990, in which Davine Pera interviews Rodney and Elliott Brown. Here is a transcript of the recording:
Track1
Intro
Track2
History of grandparents arrival in Telluride. Uncle Frank P. Brown was with the Hayden Survey party in 1870. Henryetta Cloud.
Track3
James L. Brown was their grandfather.
Track4
Named his store San Miguel Grandfather James L. Brown was on first census in 1885, but arrived to stay in 1876. Met his wife in Telluride.
Track5
Father was born in 1898 and attended school in Telluride. A.C. Brown.
Track6
Speaks of Geronimo and his friendship with Frank Brown, an early Hayden party member.
Track7
Stories of mining. Speaks of the wealth of early day residents.
Track8
Concerts at the Opera House. People were well cultured.
Track9
They paid for shows not to make money but to just see the show. Grandfather, James L. Brown, was stockholder in 3 of the richest mines in the area which led him to being president of one of the first banks in Telluride. Describes solid gold pass presented to grandfather by Otto Mears.
Track10
Charles DeLoss Waggoner was cousin to Browns.
Track11
History of the bank crash of 1893, and grandfather's involvement.
Track12
The courtship of Mary Reade by both grandfather and C.D. Waggoner. Frank Moore was a family friend, and talks about C. DeLoss Waggoner.
Track13
DeLoss was the Robin Hood of Telluride.
Track14
Tells story of gold jewelry made from gold collected by grandfather as a child.
Track15
History of grandparents living at the Alta Mine.
Track16
Depression, and grandmother selling her jewelry. Describes grandmother's beauty and grace.
Track17
Talks about differences between their grandmother and their grandfather.
Track18
History of the Reade side of family. One of her relatives signed the Constitution.
Track19
History of many relatives and their early lives.
Track20
Grandfather comes from a long line, and how long they lived.
Track21
The Brown women were well educated.
Track22
Describes fathers fascination with railroads and automobiles.
Track23
Many stories of fathers years in Telluride growing up and spending a lot of time at Uncles ranch in San Miguel.
Track24
Story about going to see an engine.
Track25
Dads familiarity with the people and engines of the area.
Track26
Teddy the St. Bernard.
Track27
Their father lived with his uncle for many years, and the dairy farm.
Track28
History of fathers life after he moved to Boulder.
Track29
Relatives at the cemetery and buried elsewhere.
Track30
Many stories of grandfather.
1Track31
Grandmother typesetting.
Track32 Talking about the two Altas.
Track33
Grandfather and his sister Alta during their childhood.
Track34
Father returned to area in 1939 and picked out pieces of wire gold from old claim, which he made into jewelry for his children.
Track35
Everyone in some way took part in the gold fever.
Track36
Speaks of grandmother using gun to protect herself during the strike. Describes the many guns they had.
Track37
Gun manufacturers brought their wares to test in Telluride.
Track38
Automobile manufacturers tested their equipment here.
Track39
Grandfather had 5 Cadillac’s in storage at one time. Describes the watch fob his grandfather had made from his wife's auburn hair.
Track40
Wigmakers wanted her hair.
Track41
Tells many stories of people making their fortunes in mining.
Track42
Speaks of ladies in the Red Light District.
Track43
Memories of their grandfather, his friends, and their cars.
Track44
End
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