Rodney & Elliott Brown's Oral Histories

Description

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