Telluride Oral Histories
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Mary Baker's Oral History Recording
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An oral history interview between the Wilkinson Public Library's Davine Pera and Mary Baker, that took place on April 14th 1991. The interview discusses Mary's life growing up in Telluride, Colorado. Here is the transcript:
Baker, Mary
OH65
1144 Colo. Ave. Grand Jct. Co. 81501
April 16, 1991
Grand Junction, Co.
Davine Pera
728-3632
OH65
CD1
37 Tracks
48:12
CD2
27 Tracks
44:10
CD1
T1
Intro
T2
Early history of parents who arrived in the US around the turn of the century. They married in Gallup, NM.
T3
They lived in Ophir for a few years.
T4
There were seven children in her family, but only 2 survived, the rest died in infancy.
T5
Mary's father worked in various mines around Ophir. Carbinerro, Butterfly, Silver Bell.
T6
Mary attended school in Ophir through the 8th grade. Names some classmates. Grace Brewer, Montinetti Boys, Tonniolli, Hawks, Tewskbury, Cline.
T7
Names some teachers.
T8
Location of school. Mary walked from her home in Ophir to school, over a mile.
T9
Describes the school chores, such as chopping wood for the stove, hauling water and etc.
T10
Stories of school days and names classmates.
T11
Tells where the store was in Ophir. Hutton, Kendrick. Ophir also had a saloon/boarding house.
T12
Talks of childhood activities. Skiing. Coasting.
T13
They road the train to Telluride, Salida.
T14
Her mother had a garden and canned. Mother took in washing for the miners. She did it all by hand for years, until they got a washing machine.
T15
Father died in 1929. Mary boarded with a family in Telluride to attend 3 years of high school. Lina Blixt. Mrs. Majors.
T16
Speaks of high school classes. Regina Poche taught French.
T17
She rode the train back and forth from town to Ophir on weekends.
T18
She talks about her husband. Mary and husband bought the house that L.L. Nunn had used for the Telluride Institute. It had been vacant for many years and was in bad shape.
T19
They fixed it up and sold the house a couple years later.
T20
She and husband owned a 2nd hand store and also The Corner Cafe. Nardine bldg. They later sold it to Big Billie. D. O’Rourke. Swan.
T21
Speaks of depression days and the places she worked.
T22
Worked for 32&1/2years at the City Clerk's office.
T23
She speaks of the many dances at Old Ophir on Saturday nights at the Richard's Dance Hall. Dances at the Deiti’s house.
T24
Speaks of sister's husband Jim who was killed on Armistice Day in the Butterfly mine. Dr. Parker.
T25
Oscar and Harry Blixt's mine above Blue Lake.
T26
Mentions the men who operated the power plant at Bridal Veil Falls. Buck Deal. Gator. Harry Blixt.
T27
Describes trip to mine above Blue Lake in the jeep.
T28
Mentions the book written by Dave Wood's girls.
T29
Mentions some of the changes.
T30
Speaks of the friends that lived at Pandora. Discusses some of the older traditions and customs. Speaks of Italian foods that were special when she was growing up. They picked mushrooms at Lizard Head and dried them.
T31
Recalls celebrating Santa Lucia on December 13th, an Italian tradition.
T32
Christmas programs were held at the school.
T33
Ophir families had their own picnics on July 4th.
T34
Picnics were popular.
T35
Speaks of families that lived at Matterhorn and Ophir. Montenettis. Memorial Day picnics were held at the Ophir cemetery.
T36
Continues talking about the Montenettis. She talks about other people who lived around the area: Pengrazzis, Clementis, Evans. Mat Evans had one of the first cars.
T37
She went to school with May Evans.
End CD1
CD2
T1
Mentions the many dairies in the area. Blackburn. Visney. McKnight. Adams.
T2
They speak of San Miguel. Speaks of being homesick when she attended business college in Grand Junction.
T3
She remained in Grand Junction after business college.
T4
Talks about her sister, Lena, and mentions the Penasa relatives and other friends.
T5
Talks about the Cassagrande family.
T6
Continues talking about Lena and a Cassagrande.
T7
Story of the Snodgrass disappearance.
T8
Baisch. Tom McMahn stories.
T9
Names various businesses in town. Pilcher, Wilson, Elscamps, Grossos. Big Billie.
T10
Petersons. Speaks of the Pekkarine family. McIntosh.
T11
Roses. Brewers. Memories of the movies she saw at the Sheridan Opera House.
T12
Describes the Finnish bathhouse at Ophir. Talks of the Jasperg family that owned it.
T13
Rautios had a sauna. Continues talking about saunas. Jaspergs.
T14
Mentions different families that lived in the Ophir area. Talks of the death of the Toniolli boy. Ames.
T15
Mrs. Clementi kept boarders. Her husband committed suicide. Mention the relationship between the Pengrazzis and the Matrix.
T16
Memories of their party phone line and the first electric utility bill they received.
T17
Continues talking about Mrs. Clementi. Names the children that attended school with her in Ophir. Marina. Irene & Elvera Visentine. Montinetti boys. Richards. Hawkins.
T18
Stories of Jimmie Noise, an old miner that lived in Ophir.
T19
Describes Carlo Girrardi who owned the Carbinerro Mine and later the Roma.
T20
Describes the Gabardi family. Stories of Rita and the property they owned on Pacific Street.
T21
Rita owned some of the Cribs on Pacific Street.
T22
Continues talking about Rita Gabardi.
T23
Mentions Irene Wichman and Viola Warrick's shops.
T24
Describes Irene Wichman and her parents’ brewery.
T25
Talks of all the building in Telluride today and prices of property.
T26
Speaks of the university that L.L. Nunn started.
T27
Conclusion.
End CD2
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Mary Boyer's Genealogy
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A genealogy report provided by Mary Kukuljan Boyer, in May of 1991, as a part of her oral history interview at the Wilkinson Public Library in Telluride, Colorado.
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Mary Boyer's Picture
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A picture of Mary Boyer on the day of her oral history interview in May of 1991, probably at her home in Grand Junction, Colorado
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Mary Lazzari's Oral History Transcript
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Mary Pera Lazzari's oral history interview transcript, from the interview that took place on 10/09/1990. Davine Pera interviewed Mary about her life in Telluride Colorado.
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