Summit County Citizens Voice

Newspaper clippings from yesteryear

In 1917, the Summit Journal was reporting on activity at local mines and conducting a fundraising drive to buy cigarettes for U.S. soldiers fighting in the European World War I trenches.

Editor’s note: Correspondent Jenn Brancaccio has been combing newspaper archives online and in the library to put together this interesting post showing what local and Colorado newspapers were reporting on in early June back through the years. This week’s edition goes all the way back to 1881.

Compiled by Jenn Brancaccio

Horse Thieves-Two horses stolen in the South Park near Como
The Daily Journal 6/6/1881

To Abe Larkin or S. Blair:
Please stop and arrest two men on the way from here, was last seen on road between here and top of range about 7 p.m. One man wore large white hat and red jacket, short, slim, with long black hair and unshaven, rode sorrel bald face pony. The other rode a gray mare with harness marks on her. Can meet them easily on the road before they get to town.
Chas. Lavak

The preceding telegram was sent to city marshal, Sam Blair at 9 p.m. the night two horses were stolen by a pair of thieves in South Park. Not soon after he received the telegram, the marshal saw two men fitting the description enter Scott McLarrens saloon. Jack Moore, one of the men was armed with a Henry rifle and revolver. Blair and others apprehended the two men, and read them the telegram. Moore and his accomplice, Brown, allowed themselves to be escorted to the telegraph office, one riding with an officer and the other walking up ahead with another. Just as they reached the office, however, Moore jumped on his horse and escaped. Blair tried unsuccessfully to follow him, firing his weapon.

Brown was taken into custody at the courthouse where he admitted he and his friend had been drinking heavily and that Moore had proposed the robbery. They were confident of success because they both had worked with horses at stables and planned to take them to North Park, where Moore used to stay. Before they made off with the horses, Brown stated, they bound and gagged the owner, Lavack. Brown’s horse was returned to its rightful owner, who traveled from Hamilton with a search party of six men. Moore was reported at large at the time the article was printed.

Brown said to authorities that the best man may sometimes get off his base and do that which he is ashamed of. Like with most criminals, past or present, these philosophical words mean well but won’t help the offender during their predicament.

Industrial minerals of Colorado
Summit County Journal 6/10/1949

Natural resources have been key in Colorado’s economy; the value of gold and other minerals compelled settlers to move westward, thinking mining would earn them a better life. In 1948, the Summit County Journal published an article on the findings of the Quarterly of the Colorado School of Mines. The publication, authored by mining engineer George O. Argall, depicted the booming mineral trade and how the state would be hard pressed to do without its natural resources found in the earth.

During 1948, the aggregate value of minerals produced in Colorado surpassed the value of gold produced in the state. Advancements in mining technology allowed for the production of cement, feldspar, gypsum, limestone, sand and gravel, wet ground mica and perlite. Tonnage and value of the minerals were tied to the high rate of building construction in the state as well as the high operation rate of industrials like the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation’s steel mill in Pueblo. The Ideal Cement Company also experienced expansion at their Portland plant as well, boosting revenue.

The Journal printed that the Quarterly’s publication totaled 77 pages including illustrations, charts, diagrams, and flow sheets. Minerals discussed in the publication were numerous and included asbestos, beryl, corundum, dimension stone, emery, fluorspar, garnet, kyanite, limestone, magnesite, marble and many more. For each mineral was a tedious description of the element’s properties, uses, production, mining, processing, market specifications, prices, buyers, and freight rates.

“Colorado has a bright future in the production of industrial minerals,” said Argall. “ Every year sees increased uses and the initial production of several of these materials on a commercial scale.”

The fastest growing mineral industry in Colorado during that time was the production of an industrial rock, produced by Denver Crushed Stone Company’s plant in Golden. The plant was the second largest mining operation tonnage-wise in the state. Perlite, feldspar, gypsum and pyrite played an important role in the development of mining in the state.

The article encouraged those interested in Colorado’s mineral economy to pick up a copy of the Quarterly from the department of publications of the Colorado School of Mines for $3.00.

Health officials warn of Bubonic Plague
Summit County Sentinel 6/10/1976

Over time, institutions like the CDC have tirelessly worked to cure harmful diseases. Two polio vaccines created in the 50s and 60s have virtually eradicated the disease from most countries of the world. Antiretrovirals help those with HIV to live healthier lives despite the fact that there is no cure for the disease. Science has come a long way in the curing and prevention of diseases that in the past have killed thousands. The Bubonic Plague swept Europe during the 14th century. This ‘Black Plague’ wiped out 75 million people then and still exists today. Though antibiotics have drastically cut down on the cases of this disease, an outbreak will crop up. In 1976, Colorado experienced a scare at the Comanche National Grasslands.

Bubonic Plague infections occurred in a prairie dog colony in the Grasslands. An article published in the Summit County Sentinel reported that scientists had seen an increase of the plague in animals, particularly rodents throughout the West. Prairie dogs, chipmunks, squirrels, dogs, packrats, foxes and the predators that feed on them were susceptible.

The article stressed that the animals were not the danger to humans, that the fleas they carried spread the illness. 1974 and 1975 showed a marked increase in human plague in the Western United States. Among the twenty reported cases was an elderly woman from Wetmore, Colorado who came into contact with the fleas of an infected packrat. She later died. Humans had been free of the plague since 1968, when a young girl contracted the disease from a dead squirrel. She later recovered. A 60-year-old oilfield rigger was also infected and recovered despite lasting brain damage.

The Sentinel went on to explain further the history of the disease, including many deaths during an outbreak in San Francisco in 1900 and 1907 and Los Angeles in 1924. Rats had been mostly to blame until the plague was discovered in ground squirrels in Oakland, California.

Humans exhibit tell tale symptoms when infected with Bubonic plague. Classic plague results in high fever and swelling of the lymphatic glands, in the armpit or groin areas. Without immediate treatment, the disease carries a 50 percent survival rate. Pnemonic plague, when the disease has spread to the lungs, is fatal if not treated immediately. This version of the plague can be spread through coughing and saliva. Septicemic plague occurs affects the liver, spleen and other internal organs.

Today, with immediate treatment with antibiotics, the plague has a mortality rate of only 1-15 percent. Though the disease is treatable the symptoms are painful and the announcement of an outbreak doesn’t sit well with anyone. Treating pets with flea medications greatly reduces the risk of transmission as well as employing an effective method of pest control in yards or farms.

Citywide Bank of the Summit name change becomes PR boon
The Ten Mile Times 6/11/1987

Businesses and products always risk backlash when deciding to change their name. In other cases, consumers or clients see a name change as more profitable or a way to start over. Andersen Consulting’s name change to Accenture in 2001 was fortuitous because it no longer displayed “Andersen”, a name synonymous with “accounting scandal”. Also in 2001, Phillip Morris changed the name of its holding company to Altria in order to distance itself from the negative image of cigarettes. Did you know that in 1996, when Larry Brin and Serge Page created a site to help people navigate the Internet it was initially named BackRub? Renamed in 1998, Google is one of the most used search engines on the web today.

An article in the Ten Mile Times by Miles F. Porter IV announced the PR success of Dillon’s Citywide Bank of the Summit, formerly known as Snowbank. The seven-year-old financial institution had wanted to upgrade its image. During their open house, staff was met with media coverage and protest from Summit County to Denver.

“We didn’t feel the name Snowbank reflects the resources the bank is able to draw on,” explained Fred Collins, President. He went on to say that he feels the attention the name change received was “flattering”.

Collins took on the challenge and welcomed criticism. He accepted his position in Summit after being welcomed back to the county from Evergreen. Collins hoped to help the bank re-emerge as a leader in the marketplace. Collins was formerly the vice president of The Summit County Bank in Frisco years before.

Valued employees like Sue Lowe, head cashier; Carol Reavis, assistant cashier; two-year veteran Becky Smith, bookkeeping supervisor; and Bill Coates, teller supervisor are excited at the reactions of people and look forward to becoming a well known name in the banking business.

Citywide Bank of the Summit boasted assets in the $600 million range and a local loan portfolio ability of around $3 million. At the time the bank had 13 employees and was open Monday through Saturday.

Fifty years after his death, James Dean still gives rebels a cause
Denver Westword 6/9/2005

People everywhere have hobbies whether they are collecting sports memorabilia, paintings by a certain artist, or simply participating in a certain activity religiously. Sometimes people are harassed for their hobbies, just ask Barbara Inman Beal, Ph.D.

Inman ran a site called http://www.jamesdeanadventures.com where she re-enacted famous photos  and stories of the rebel using dolls. Many wanted the site taken down. Others simply logged on to view the creativity.

“There was this one woman who used to fill my guestbook with comments like ‘I want Jimmy’s stuff; I want Jimmy’s stuff right now’! – - like I was going to just give my entire doll collection to her,” explained Beall. “I must have blocked 27 to 30 different addresses from this woman!”

Beall, 62, taught composition at Metro State, Community College of Denver, and Colorado Community College online. In her spare time, she digitally photographed vignettes starring an American Legend Timeless Treasure doll named Jim and his cohorts.

For example, on Valentine’s Day, Beall photographed a story entitled “Trouble in Paradise”, with 15 Dean dolls dressed as his various movie roles relaxing alongside Garfield and a pink Care Bear in sunglasses.

Beall ‘rescued’ Jim off of eBay in 2002 and decided to photograph funny scenarios with him after witnessing a skunk walk through her property and down her driveway while escaping a forest fire near her mountain home. One of the scenes Beall later photographed with Dean included a Beanie Baby ‘Skunk’. Upon reading more about James Dean, including smaller roles he did aside from his three big movies, Giant, Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden, she obtained as many Dean dolls as she could in order to ‘act out’ his life. The pieces were tongue-in-cheek of course.

The Legacy – A Fifty Year Tribute (1955-2005), was published by Beall. In full color photographs, the dolls turn out to a gala in Dean’s honor. Other characters like Rhett Butler and Marilyn Monroe turned out for the event as well as elaborately dressed Barbie and Portuguese  Princess dolls. Harvey, a Dean doll distinguishable only by his blonde hair, was often the trouble maker on Beall’s website and in her book. He would often display some of the real James Dean’s quirks, playing them up to the other characters.

“James Dean was kind of ornery,” explained Beall. “He had so many different sides. By having Jim and Harvey, I’m trying to get that across – the multi-dimensionality of the man. I think James Dean would get a kick out of it.”

Beall’s book and site gained worldwide appeal, from former students to graphic artists in California to fans in Britain. Most messages in her guestbook were favorable, from fans that know it’s supposed to be funny.

Beall had actually traced her genealogy back far enough to find that her fourth great grandfather on her father’s side and Dean’s third great grandfather were brothers. Her mother’s side also has Quaker connections to Dean.

Beall didn’t attend the James Dean Fest in Marion, Indiana or the fiftieth-anniversary memorial service in Fairmount that September. She was content teaching her college courses and creating more off-the wall situations for Jim, Harvey and their friends, helping to carry on the actor’s legacy.

Filed under: Colorado, journalism, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news Tagged: | Bubonic plague, Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, journalism, newspapers, South Park, Summit County News, this week in history