Telluride Oral Histories
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Rocket Reave's Article
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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.
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Rodney & Elliott Brown's Oral Histories
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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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Roy Edward Elliott's Oral History Recording
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An oral history recording, given by John Stevens and Chuck Upton to Roy Elliott "Alley Oop" on February 28, 1995. Originally this was a Voice & Visions radio show from KOTO, but was turned into a CD by the Wilkinson Public Library. The recording ends abruptly. Here is the transcript:
Welcome to Voices and Visions by John Stevens and Chuck Upton John introduces Roy Elliot.
Mr. Elliot arrived in Telluride in 1939 and worked for the Telluride Mining Company. He has had the same post office box since 1942 when the post office was located in the Miners Union building. He worked for the Telluride Company as he could not go the war because of health problems.
Gives the history of the valley floor. Elliot has leased it and irrigated it since 1959. Oberto and Nobie sold the property to the ldarado Mining Company in 1970. ldarado continued his lease . ldarado bought the Telluride Mining Company in 1951 or 1952. Speaks of underground connections between Red Mountain and Telluride. The mill was rebuilt in 1952 after it reopened. Elliot worked as a moter man in the mine.
Elliot speaks of belonging to the Fire Department and the Elks Club. Describes the July 4th celebrations in the early days. When Fred Ellerd was elected sheriff, he eliminated July 4th celebrations for some years. Hank Lazzarino leveled off the park area with the county cat. They sold raffle tickets to raise money to buy the grandstand. Mr. Parsons and Elliot set up gambling tables during 4th celebrations in empty building on Main Street. The games attracted lots of people. There were always two dances during the celebrations then. Speaks of reasons the celebrations died out.
Speaks of all the dog problems in town for years. Many changes in town through the years. Speaks of the years he lost money in his business, but received loan from the bank, which he paid off, and then leased property from the Coredilla Corporation which owns the property in the valley floor now.
Mr. Elliot explains why he drives so slow on the highway while he is irrigating his land. He picks up lots of hitch hikers. Mentions the trouble he has with trespassers on his property. Describes different kind of cattle he has owned or leased.
Describes the milk house that use to be in the meadow near the sewer plant, but was later moved to town. He leased the valley floor for 19 years. Talks about the sale of the property from Mr. Oberto to the ldarado Mine. The ldarado bought the property to have the meadow for a tailings pond, but it was not allowed, so they leased it out for grazing.
Speaks of his views on political situations. Talks about controversy over the railroad bed and who owns it --railroad or county, and how it affects him. Speaks of paying his loan off at bank. His views on new wilderness trails. Speaks of his health and his views on life and death.
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Ruby Adam's Genealogy
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Ruby Noma Austin Adam's genealogy survey, taken the day of her oral history interview.
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Ruby Adam's Picture
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A copy of a photograph of Ruby Noma Austin Adams. The photographer and date is unknown, but probably taken during Ruby's oral history interview on November 13, 1990.
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Ruby Adams' Oral History
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An oral history, dated 11/13/1990, in which Davine Pera interviews Ruby Noma Austin Adams. This is also available on CD at Wilkinson Public Library (OH CD 52). The transcript is also available (both in-print and to download) and provided here:
Ruby's birthdate and memories of early history. She was born 12 miles west of town at bottom of Last Dollar Mountain in a snow storm. Names brothers and sisters. History of parents and grandparents.
Moved to Delta at age of 15 or 16. Attended school at Telluride. Memories of school years in Telluride. Describes where she lived on Garnet Mesa after moving to Delta.
Memories of living and working in California for 26 years. Moved back to Delta at age of 72 to take care of ill sister. Sister Hattie was married to Mr. Lawson after his first wife died. Lawson Hill named after him.
Names different people that were living in Telluride. Story of horse from livery stable finding his way home alone. Names different business people such as Painters and Vanattas.
Talks of her family name--Noma --being carried down through the years. Memories of childhood in Delta and watching rains go by.
Speaks of her life now and her physical health.
Speaks of Uncle John and Aunt Elizabeth Adams. Speaks of bells on horses that pulled the sleighs she rode in as a child. Mentions the fact that there were eighteen saloon on north side of the street at that time.
Recalls story of the militi in Telluride in 1902 & 1903. Describes Mr. Larson's home.
Memories of childhood friends. Describes places . she lived in Telluride. Talks of coming 100th birthday .
Ruby's father was a farmer and raised hay to sell. Names dairy farms. Describes her parents move to Delta by boxcar.
Describes different town characters in town and speaks of childhood names of her brother's friends. Talks of the reasons she stayed at home and took care of her parents. Speaks of her loving family and her many friends. Mentions her physical condition and how she manages to live alone with some day care help.
Ruby's father came from Germany and her mother was Scotch. History of parents early childhood, marriage and trip to Telluride.
Describes her collection of teddy bears. She rode in covered wagon, between Delta and Telluride many times. Speaks of brothers' deaths.
Speaks of her present life.
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