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Early settler Gladys Carnahan describes her life growing up in Grand Junction, Colorado, including horse and buggy excursions with her father, school and social activities with friends, and attending the Mesa County Fair. She talks about her early involvement in the First United Methodist Church. She also discusses becoming ill during the Spanish Flu pandemic, furnishings in her family’s home, and being forced to support her family on a teacher’s...
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To mark the centennial celebration of the town of Grand Junction, Colorado in 1981, the Mesa County Oral History Project wrote and recorded several radio plays about local history. Beginning on September 26, 1981, local radio stations KSTR, KREX-AM, KREX-FM, and KMSA broadcast the plays. Authors of the plays used interviews recorded by the Mesa County Oral History Project as inspiration. This archival recording contains the play When the Armistice...
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Lucy Ela talks about the history of the Reviewers Club, founded in 1904, one of the first women’s clubs in Grand Junction, Colorado. She speaks about Harriette Ottman, a “woman of the times” who had broad knowledge of many topics and organized the group’s presentations. She describes the varied presentations that members gave. She discusses the role of the Women’s Club in the creation of the Grand Junction Public Library, and the support...
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During the 1983 meeting of the Last Squad Club, a group of World War I veterans that began meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado in the 1930’s, member Al Look reads a eulogy for those veterans who have passed. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
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Eileen Butler, Josephine Dickey and John Dickey discuss the Handy Chapel and the history of the African-American community in Grand Junction, Colorado. The Interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
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David Sundal discusses in great detail the life of famous author Dalton Trumbo of Grand Junction, Colorado, based in large part on Sundal’s conversations with the author. Sundal describes the local community’s relationships with Trumbo, reactions to Trumbo’s book Eclipse, portrayals of prominent businessman William Moyer and Daily Sentinel editor Walter Walker in the book, and Trumbo’s life and career after leaving Mesa County. He talks about...
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Dr. Everett Munro discusses his service in the U.S. Army’s medical reserves during World War I, early vaccination campaigns in Grand Junction, life as a rural doctor doing house calls, and other aspects of early Mesa County history. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
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The thirty-one surviving members of The Last Squad Club, a group of World War I veterans established in 1937, meets in 1981. Different members, including Al Look and Glenn Berry, are recorded speaking. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History...
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During 1980’s annual meeting of the Last Squad Club, an organization of World War I veterans, Al Look reads the memorial service and former U.S. Representative Wayne Aspinall gives the keynote address. The club remembers deceased members and friends of the club. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
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Marie Young talks about discrimination that her German American family faced during World Wars I and II. She also talks about her many tasks as a homemaker on a ranch, about helping with the cattle, and doing other ranch work. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
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Forrest M. Carhartt describes his deployment to the Mexican border with the Utah National Guard after Pancho Villa’s raids, his military training, and service during World War I. He discusses his education at the University of Denver. He also talks about his membership in the Last Squad, an American Legion-affiliated group of World War I veterans. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County...
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In an interview from May 14, 1981 (audio only, no transcript), Basil T. Knight talks about his youth in Michigan, meeting his wife’s family in Palisade, Colorado and ultimately moving there, operating a fruit farm, and becoming a lifelong teacher and school administrator. He explains the mechanisms that originally funded the many smaller school districts on the Western Slope, including taxes on railroads, and the reasons for the consolidation that...
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Josephine Biggs describes the experiences of her husband, Clyde Biggs, as an officer in the 353rd Infantry Regiment of the 89th Division during World War I. She speaks of their travels in France after World War I. She also talks about the Grand Junction train depot munitions fire that nearly burned down the nearby Biggs-Kurtz lumber warehouse. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries...
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Helen Penny discusses her work in aid of World War I soldiers with Mesa County’s branch of the American Red Cross, the military service of her two brothers during the Great War, and her membership in the American Legion Auxiliary. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
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Lucille Mahannah talks about her service as the first female caseworker in the U.S. Army. She also touches on her husband’s military service during World War I, on managing the Hunter Coal Mine for her father, and her time as the Public Welfare Director for the Civilian Conservation Corps. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County...
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Wayne N. Aspinall describes his enlistment in the Air Service of the United States Army at the start of US involvement in World War I and his enlistment for World War II at the age of 48. He speaks about the necessity of discipline in upbringing and in the military, changes in basic training from World War I to World War II, the necessity of military training, the obligation of military service, and his philosophy on war and the duties of citizenship....
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Joe Fox talks about his early life as a cowboy after running away from home at the age of twelve, and about serving in the US Army's Second Division during World War I. He then discusses ranching in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
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Mesa County resident Vernon McCoy discusses moving to the Fruita, Colorado area from Iowa in 1911, working for the Uintah Railroad and the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, his stint overseas in the Army during World War I, and his three children. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
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Lieutenant Colonel John Bonforte talks about his enlistment in the US Army medical corps during World War I, and about his service in France, Germany, and Poland. His interview with David Sundal took place directly after the annual meeting of the Last Squad Club, which was an organization of World War I veterans in Mesa County. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums...
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Ed Bratton, on the right, with an unidentified friend, standing in front of barracks, 1917-1919. "They went into the Army from Eagle County. The Bratton Family lived at Taponas in Routt County, but Ed and Frank Bratton were working in Eagle County when they enlisted. As a result, they were not listed in the published book of Routt County WWI veterans." [According to Gertrude Bratton Wilson]