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A branch of a revised version of the organization that began in 1915 and grew stronger in the 1920s. The Ku Klux Klan inflamed prevailing prejudices against Catholics, Jews, Blacks and immigrants, and promised a return to "Old Time Religion" and Americanism. As Colorado was a primarily Protestant state, the Klan's influence was particularly strong here during the 1920's. The Klan had several members in positions of power, including the governor,...
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Voice Recording
Mary Price discusses what she knew about Walter Walker and his family, impressions of Walker held by Mesa County residents, social events the Walkers were involved in, the presence of the Ku Klux Klan in Grand Junction, and the Typographical Union Strike. She also talks about her German immigrant father, his ownership of the prominent LaCourt Hotel in Grand Junction, and his fear of the Klan. This recording is made available via signed release by...
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Voice Recording
Dudley Mitchell discusses politicians involved in the early days of the railroad, the development of railroad labor laws, railroad wages, and the Ku Klux Klan in Grand Junction and Colorado. 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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Compound
Glenn McFall discusses downtown businesses and business owners in Grand Junction, Colorado, as well as the shoe store he worked at for nine years, McConnell-Lowes. Glenn also talks about the involvement of the Ku Klux Klan in the Grand Valley area, the Mesa County Pest House and Smallpox outbreaks, the social scene and where people went to go dancing, the Mesa County Fair, horse racing and gambling, bailing rowdy cowboys out of the local jail, Eddie...
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Voice Recording
William “Bill” Nelson explains his time spent working for the Daily Sentinel under Walter Walker and Preston Walker. He discusses the Typographical Union Strike, the quality of The Daily Sentinel compared to other newspapers, the Ku Klux Klan in Grand Junction, and Walter Walker’s many community involvements. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries...
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Voice Recording
Merian Rosenthal talks about Jewish life in Grand Junction, Colorado during the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. Her husband Burt Rosenthal and brother Hershel Sedalnick also chime in. They reminisce about several people from Grand Junction’s Jewish community, including those with the surnames Spector, Liff, Leff, Harris, Loeffler, Sampliner, Minowitz, Rigg, Waldoffel, and Schneider. They discuss the first established religious services for Jews in...
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Voice Recording
Al Look discusses his 40-year employment with the Daily Sentinel, including his relationships with publishers Walter Walker and Preston Walker and the lives of the two men. He also discusses the Typographical Union Strike of 1946 and the hardships it caused between the union and the Sentinel. Al also talks about his and Walter Walker’s relationship with the Ku Klux Klan, Walker’s tolerance of the brothels on South Avenue, and Walker’s rivalry...
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Voice Recording
Jeanette LeBeau, an early Mesa County resident, talks about climbing Independence Monument with bare feet, Ute Indians who visited her grandparents in pioneer Fruita, summers spent at Leach’s cattle ranch in Pinon Mesa, means of transportation, law enforcement, and prejudice against Catholics in the Grand Valley. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western...
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Compound
Dr. Peter Matteroli describes his time living in multiple buildings around downtown Grand Junction, including the YMCA building. Peter tells the story of his wild journey to take the Dental Board Exam in Salt Lake City, Utah, the trials and tribulations of opening up a dentist office in Grand Junction, getting shot in the ankle while rabbit hunting, his experience serving on the board of the Eagles Ball Club, and stories from the Grand Junction Lions...
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Voice Recording
Gilbert Gordon talks about growing up in Trinidad, Colorado in the early Twentieth century and at length about the different ethnicities present in Trinidad at that time, with an emphasis on the Jewish population. He discusses some of the activities of the Ku Klux Klan around 1923, and how prejudice from the organization affected him. He also talks about operating Gordon department stores, a family owned chain. Both Gilbert and Mary go into life and...
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Compound
Rose and Morgan Goss discuss the early settlement of Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado, and agricultural life in the Appleton area. 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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Person
A state senator who was elected from the Grand Junction area. He fell in with the Ku Klux Klan, and was elected as Lieutenant Governor on the coattails of Klansman Clarence Morely in 1925. When the Klan fell out of favor, it ended Lacey’s career.
13) James McConnell
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Person
He was born in Ohio to an Irish immigrant father and German immigrant mother. Along with Mr. Lowe, he was the owner of the McConnell-Lowe shoe store in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was Glenn McFall’s boss, and a devout Catholic, which at the time caused him trouble from the Ku Klux Klan. Their discriminatory practices adversely affected his business.
14) Walter Walker
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Person
He was the publisher of The Daily Sentinel and a leading Democrat in Grand Junction, Colorado. He became the state Democratic Party chairman in the 1920's. He was behind the deal of William Moyer to build a community swimming pool in Lincoln Park, and the deal that brought in the Fruit Grower’s Association. He also backed the Goodwill and Salvation Army charities. He was an organizer of the campaign to build the Avalon Theater and brought acts...
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Person
He was born in Saguache, Colorado and came to the Grand Valley area in 1906, where he worked for two of the early-day harness shops. He eventually started a harness shop of his own, but went bankrupt during the Great Depression. Clarence then attempted to open a second business, Grand Junction Canvas and Leather, but that went bankrupt as well. He owned the Star Car agency during the 1920's.
He was an active member of the Ku Klux Klan during the...
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Person
A doctor from Grand Junction, Colorado. He was born in Pennsylvania, the son of German immigrants. He was apparently very serious about his profession. In 1916, he traveled to Mesa through heavy snow in order to treat Willard Foster, the dying three-year-old son of Anna (Barker) Foster. He was considered one of the top surgeons in Grand Junction in the 1920's. According to oral history interviewee Glenn McFall, Sickenberger, on his way to help a...
Format:
Organization
The Daily Sentinel was founded in 1893 by Isaac N. Bunting. He published the paper until 1911, when he sold it to Walter Walker. Under Walker's leadership, the paper became a staunch supporter of Democratic Party causes. The Sentinel's main rival in its early years was the Grand Junction News, a mouthpiece for the Republican Party. The News's publisher, Charles Adams, was friends with Walker, and the News was eventually purchased by the Sentinel sometime...
18) Glenn W. McFall
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Person
Glen McFall was born in Nebraska to Elmer McFall, a rancher, and Clara (Jordan) McFall, a school teacher and homemaker. He attended grade school in Nebraska and then moved to Clifton, Colorado at the age of six, after Clara McFall separated from Elmer. He attended eighth grade at the Clifton School, and then bicycled to school at Grand Junction High School until his family moved into town. In his youth, he worked in Clfiton's Hornbecker Store, measuring...
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Voice Recording
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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Voice Recording
Jennie Dixon describes her early life and family history, including interactions with Native Americans and her parents’ lives before living in Mesa County, Colorado. She discusses working as a professional printer for newspapers, and her short stint working at the Fair Store as a “floorwalker,” where she would shop undercover to catch shoplifters. Jennie also provides information on restaurants around Main Street in Grand Junction, local artist...
