Lafayette Archival Oral History Collection 1968-2001

In the mid-1970s, Effie Amicarella and Carolyn Connaroe obtained a grant from the Colorado State Library to begin a series of taped oral history interviews to record and preserve early resident's recollections of the history of Lafayette. This collection features these oral histories and many more, altogether spanning from 1968-2001. These interviews highlight Lafayette’s mining history, agrarian history, history of commerce and more. Included here are digital copies of cassette recordings and transcripts that are physically located in Lafayette Public Library's archives.

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Oral History with Jack & Ruth Davies
Jack and Ruth Davies shared a variety of memories of their life in Lafayette, Colorado in their joint oral history interview conducted on May 6th, 1986. Married in 1932, the two discussed their personal and professional life, which included work at a local bakery, the Burlington Railroad, the Columbine Mine, the Lafayette Fire Department, and McMurtry Manufacturing Co. Paint & Varnish. They discussed recollections of the 1910 miners’ strike and the impact of the Great Depression on city life. In the conclusion of the interview, Jack commented that “…[Lafayette] was a good town and it still is a good town as far as towns is concerned, but I think there’s too many strangers. You don’t know anybody anymore. It makes it bad and by all the building going to the south, is making it bad for senior citizens – transportation, shopping, doctors, which is quite a change.”
Oral History with Jacob Weiler
Jacob “Jake” Weiler’s oral history interview conducted on April 25th, 1975 discussed his career in coal mining in northern Colorado. Jake was born in Germany but came to Lafayette in 1911. Weiler talked about his first job in Standard Mine driving mules, where he witnessed mine accidents but was never injured himself. He subsequently served as the foreman for several years. Jacob also reflected on the many changes in how local mines were run throughout his 54-year career.
Oral History with James Graham December 1975
In this interview, Jimmy describes his early years working in the coal mines in the Lafayette, CO area and his time as an organizer for the American Federation of Labor. He also served as president of Local 1388 of the United Mine Workers union in Lafayette for many years and was vice president of the Colorado State Federation of Labor. He was “dragged” into City Council in 1928-29 because the union wanted him to run. Jimmy talks about his time in the House of Representatives (1930-1937), during which time he introduced the first Old Age Pension Law in CO and sponsored unemployment compensation. In addition to all this, he worked with the state Vocational Education Department teaching first aid, mine rescue techniques, and preparation classes for mine foreman. He owned a 24 hour restaurant called “Jimmy’s Lunch” after his time as a coal miner. After he sold the restaurant, he went back to the state as Deputy Secretary of State under George Baker for two years. After that, he worked for the county in the Highway Department for about five years before retiring.
Oral History with James Graham March 4, 1986
Jimmy was born in Coal Creek, CO to James W. Graham Sr. (of Glasgow, Scotland) and Julie McDonald (of Illinois). He met Madge Waite in high school in Grand Junction, CO and they married in 1924. They had three children. Jimmy arrived in Lafayette in 1911 and at the time it was purely a coal mining town. He recalls the mine strike and what it was like to work in the mines and the conditions. Jimmy also recalls the Monarch Mine explosion. After his time working in the mines (about 12 years), Jimmy worked for the United Mine Workers as an organizer. He also worked for the State Federation of Labor as vice president on the board of directors. Jimmy served three terms in the State Legislature in the 1930s. During this time, some of the issues he worked on were old age pension, unemployment insurance, and increase in workman’s compensation. Jimmy was also the mayor of Lafayette for a time, although he cannot remember the exact dates. During his time as mayor, the sewer system was installed, streets were paved, and water meters were installed. Jimmy talks about the restaurant that he and Madge ran together and his five years that he served with the firemen. The interview ends with Jimmy talking about the Great Depression.
Oral History with Jim Webber
In this interview, Jim Webber describes his family's Studebaker garage and the fire that closed it in 1922. He recalls many of the old families of Lafayette and his adolescence in town. Bill Moon joins in on the interview and helped to recall some more residents and their histories.
Oral History with Joe & Betty Beranek
Joe and Betty Beranek are both lifelong residents of Lafayette, CO. In this interview, they talk about the Lafayette of their youths and the businesses that were present. They also discuss the coal mines in the area.
Oral History with Joe & Lois Distel
Joe and Lois Distel recalled their experience living in Lafayette in their 1975 oral history interview. The two spoke of their time raising their family alongside the growing community in Northern Colorado. Major themes from this collection of interviews include the Distel’s business conducted in Lafayette, such as owning a farm (wheat and hay), buying the Lafayette Elevator Co. in 1967, and providing the community with auto and mechanic services, as the pair opened Distel’s Motor Services in 1945. Additionally, this interview sheds light on the rapid population growth and changing infrastructure of Lafayette in the mid-twentieth century, including paving roads and centralizing water and sewage. Joe and Lois also speak about their overall life stories, sharing stories about their childhoods spent in Lafayette and anecdotes from their marriage and parenthood.
Oral History with Joe Distel
Joe arrived in Denver, CO in 1922 with his family and then they moved to Lafayette, CO in 1933 to farm. He describes the businesses in town in the mid 20th century. Joe himself had many jobs in the area including owning and operating Distel Motor Service, building houses, a car salesman at Arnold Motor Company, buying the Miller Ranch in 1951 (which he then farmed for 17 years) and buying the Lafayette Elevator Co. Joe bought a house with a double lot at 104 West Cleveland. After fixing up the house, he built an eight-unit apartment complex on the extra lot as housing for local teachers. Joe also talks about the development of some of the major roads and highways in the area like I-25 and the Diagonal. Joe discusses his role in establishing an early version of the Chamber of Commerce. He was on the City Council as well and during his time, the city went to Home Rule. The interview ends with Joe discussing what he remembers of coal mining in the area when he first arrived.
Oral History with Joe Fletcher
Joe (Cotton) Fletcher discusses his time working in the mines, the layouts of the mines, and what the working conditions were like as well as the unions at the time, the IWW and the UMW. The Columbine Mine massacre is mentioned and described in detail. Tape B begins by discussing smaller strikes that took place and the implication of the Taft-Hartley Act. The interview ends by discussing union organizers, the nationalities of those working in the mines, and more about how work was done in the mines.
Oral History with Joe Martinez
Joe Martinez discussed his extensive mining career in his oral history interview conducted on May 18th, 1977 by his son, Rick Martinez. Joe began working in various mines near Lafayette, Colorado in 1944 and ended his career in the Clayton Coal Mine in 1975. His interview covers pay and multiple incidents that reflect the dangerous conditions of mining work. Finally, Joe meditates on how mining practices changed over the course of his three decades of work.
Oral History with Joe Mathias
In this interview, Joe Mathias is interviewed at his home at 105 Cannon St. In Lafayette. The interview begins with Joe reading from various old articles of the Lafayette Leader and the Lafayette News in which he is mentioned. Joe worked as a miner in Lafayette and Louisville starting at age 12 or 13. He worked for the fire department from 1919 to 1957 and spent some of this time as the fire chief. Joe recalls the former businesses and entertainment in Lafayette as well as significant events, such as mine strikes and the influenza epidemic. He was also on City Council from 1969 to 1974.
Oral History with Joe and Ruthene Rodwick
In this joint interview with Joe and Ruthene Rodwick, they discuss what Lafayette was like in the 1920s when Joe’s family arrived in town from West Frankfurt, Illinois. Joe and Ruthene met in Denver and were married on April 7, 1937. They opened Joe’s Market in Lafayette, CO in 1950. Joe and Ruthene discuss was Lafayette was like during their younger years.

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