Telluride Oral Histories

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Prostitution in Frontier Mining Towns
An oral history recording, written by Doris Gregory and narrated by Darwin Gregory, about prostitution in frontier mining towns (Telluride, Ouray, etc).
Rebecca J. Stowers & Jane Stowers Raddin's Genealogy Survey
The genealogy survey for Rebecca J. Stowers and Jane Stowers Raddin, taken at the time of their oral history interviews (10/06/2004).
Rebecca J. Stowers and Jane Stowers Raddin's Oral History Interview Transcript
Rebecca J. Stowers and Jane Stowers Raddin's oral history interview transcript.
Retta Vela's Genealogy Survey
Retta Vela's genealogy survey, taken at the time of her oral history interview (01/19/1990).
Reyno Sand's Genealogy Survey
The genealogy survey, taken by Reyno Sand, the day of his oral history interview (06/29/1990).
Reyno Sand's Oral History Interview
Reyno Sand was interviewed by Davine Pera on 6/29/1990, about his life in Telluride, Colorado.
Reyno Sand's Oral History Interview Transcription
The transcription that accompanies Reyno Sand's oral history interview.
Robert (Bob) & Oda Alexanders' Oral Histories
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.
Robert (Bucky) Schuler's Genealogy
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.
Rocket Reave's Article
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.
Rodney & Elliott Brown's Genealogy
The genealogy of Rodney A. Brown and Elliott Brown.
Rodney & Elliott Brown's Oral Histories
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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