Mary Baker's Oral History Recording

Description

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 End