Oral History

Here are a few pieces of history by old timers from Old Colorado City. You must have a player that can handle .mp3 files, such as Windows Media Player or Winamp player to listen to these stories.

• "Ash-Can Joe". John McGrady, as a young boy in the 1920s, remembers a local man that everyone called "Ash-Can Joe." Kevin Shields interviewed Mr. McGrady on September 22, 1977. (36 seconds)

   

• The Dalton Gang. J. T. Reiley recalls receiving some good advice from a famous bank robber when Mr. Reiley was a young boy in the 1910s. Becky Hughes interviewed Mr. Reiley on October 4, 1977. (1 1/2 minutes)

   

• Firefighting. J. T. Reiley became a fireman in 1917 and remembers the horse-drawn fire pumpers, as well as other aspects of firefighting. Becky Hughes interviewed Mr. Reiley on October 6, 1977. (2 minutes)
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  Colorado City Hose Co. in 1875
  

   

• Garden of the Gods Sunrise Services. Harriet Adams talks about Reverend Lewis beginning the Sunrise Services at the Garden of the Gods in the 1920s. Kevin Shields interviewed Mrs. Adams on September 7, 1977. (35 seconds)
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  Sunrise Service, 1928

   

• "Herd Boy". Martin W. Drake, born in Colorado City in 1899, recalls the daily routine of the local "herd boy" in the early 1900s. Kevin Shields interviewed Mr. Drake on September 14, 1977. (30 seconds)

   

• Midland Band and Midland Railroad. Luther McKnight reminisces about the Midland Band and Midland Railroad in Colorado City, circa 1910. Dave Hughes and Becky Hughes interviewed Mr. McKnight in 1978 in the West Colorado Springs Commercial Club offices. (2 minutes)

Courtesy of Pikes Peak Library District (Midland R.R. photo)

Movie Theatres. John McGrady fondly remembers going to the movies as a young boy in the 1910s and 1920s. Kevin Shields interviewed Mr. McGrady on September 22, 1977. (2 minutes)

Ute Theatre, 1951

• • Radio Stations. John W. Peck remembers spending hours as a young boy in the 1920s listening to the first radio stations in the Pikes Peak Region. Kevin Shields interviewed Mr. Peck on September 12, 1977. (31 seconds)

     

  • Ramona. Martin W. Drake talks about the establishment of the town of Ramona in 1913 by saloon owners as a result of Colorado City residents voting to go "dry" on April 4, 1911. Kevin Shields interviewed Mr. Drake on September 14, 1977. (1 1/2 minutes)

     

  • Red Light District. Louis Unser, a patron uncle of the racing Unser Clan who began their racing career in Colorado City, reminisces about Laura Belle, the queen of Colorado City's red light district, circa 1915. Becky Hughes interviewed Mr. Unser in 1978. (3 minutes)

     

  • Street Cars. John McGrady used to ride the street cars as a young boy in the 1910s and 1920s. Mr. McGrady reminisces about the street cars, the design of the cars, where the tracks ran, and the cost to ride the cars. Kevin Shields interviewed Mr. McGrady on September 22, 1977. (4 minutes)
    Street Car #25

     

     

• Women's Christian Temperance Union--WCTU. Jane W. Summers tells about her grandmother's involvement in the WCTU in the 1910s and then how the WCTU "blackballed" her grandmother for keeping liquor in the house for medicinal purposes. Kevin Shields interviewed Mrs. Summers on September 15, 1977. (1 minute)