Society Documents

Annual Report, September 2019-  August 2020

This has been a challenging year for the ECHS, as it is  for everybody. The COVID pandemic forced us to halt our planned events and activities, and to keep our museum closed for the season. However, we have remained busy.  Despite the pandemic, we reached 641 people directly with our programs, and helped dozens more with research and questions. Here’s a summary of the past year:

Museum

• Initiated a “Raise the Roof” capital campaign that raised $30,000 toward a new museum roof.
• Replaced the 1986 shake shingle museum roof with a new metal roof.
• Removed hazardous outside stairs to second floor; replaced with balcony.
• The museum exterior will be re-painted this fall (last painted in 2011).
• Total improvements cost: $60,000.
• Added 18 artifacts to the ECHS collection, including lawyer Hume White’s top hat, a brick from the first Eagle Medical Center, and an advertising poster for the H.W. Lewis General Store in Eagle.
• Transferred artifact records for 735 objects, 231 archives (paper items), and 33 photos to new Past Perfect archive record system.

Education programs

• Reached 271 local students with “History Take-Out” programs.
• Partnered with History Colorado to learn and present a new Ute Knowledge STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) hands-on history program.
• Hosted museum visits for second graders.
• History program for staff of Mountain Youth.org.

Partner Events and Programs

• Camp Hale/Mitchell history hike – Walking Mountain Science Center.
• Horn Ranch history hikes (3) – Eagle County Open Space/Eagle Valley Land Trust.
• Brush Creek/Trail Gulch hike – Eagle County Open Space/Eagle Valley Land Trust.
• History Happy Hour – Bonfire Brewing.
• Pioneer Woman talk – Territorial Daughters.
• Support of Sweetwater Lake Land purchase – Eagle Valley Land Trust.
• Support “Endangered Places” nomination for Climax Observatory – Michelle Hall.
• Support “Endangered Places” nomination for historic bridges – Colorado Department of Transportation.
• Assisted Eagle Valley Land Trust in honoring Rosie Shearwood.
• Interpretive speakers for Minturn’s 115 year anniversary – Town of Minturn.
• “Haunted History” PowerPoint and lecture – Eagle Valley Library District.
• Worked with Eagle Valley Library District in obtaining, curating, transcribing, and digitizing Alfred Borah pioneer journals.
• Lobbied Town of Eagle in support of keeping Visitor Information Center operating.

Pandemic -related programs

• History blogs on ECHS website, eaglecountyhistoricalsociety.com.
• Increased presence in local newspapers with pandemic-related history stories and columns.
• Researching answers for history questions posed by the public (notable increase in questions).
• Relief grant of $2,688 from Colorado Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (restricted to operations use, only).
• Development and presentation of Zoom history programs (via Internet)
• Creation of “Travelling Exhibits” – display of artifacts and interpretive materials in public places (ongoing program).

We appreciate the support from members and community during this unique year. Please feel free to contact us at echs@eaglecountyhistoricalsociety.com with suggestions or questions.

Annual Report,  September 2018 – August 2019

Museum

• The museum hosted 4,785 visitors this season.
• The aging roof on the General Store building was replaced with a metal roof, which should suffice for many decades. The log walls on the general store and blacksmith shop were re-stained.
• Updated Ute exhibit with new photos, arrowhead framing, and interpretive information. Frank Gates bison painting hung at the entrance.
• Interpretation added to the Leonard Horn camp kitchen exhibit.
• Added 114 new artifacts to our archives, including a leather vest and journals from Brush Creek pioneer Alfred Borah. A total of 1,224 artifacts are listed in the archives.
• Loaned artifacts to the Eagle Public Library for school history display
• Developed and installed a “Ranching and Farming” history exhibit at Vail Public Library.
• Installed a traveling exhibit “Seasons of the Nuche” at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards (Partners CMC, Aspen Historical Society, Metcalf Archeological Consultants). An estimated 2,000 -2,500 people viewed the exhibit in a six-week period.
• Volunteer Jaci Spuhler archived 125 new items for the ECHS collection
• Shared the joy of our restored Nottingham player piano (1911) with museum visitors.
• Continued pursuit of Past Perfect software for archives
• BluSky Restoration, donated spring-cleaning services
• Initial work in fundraising for replacement of museum barn roof

Events and Programs

• Honky Tonk Night at the Museum – player piano program and whiskey
• Two – Horn Ranch history hikes (partnered with Eagle County Open Space and Eagle Valley Land Trust)
• History of Mining talk for Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail
• Town of Eagle History Hike – (partnered with Vail Board of Realtors)
• Eagle County Mining History program for “Super Seniors” in Edwards
• Nimon-Walker Award – partnered with Eagle Valley Library District in honoring Jaci Spuhler; Doc Susie program
• The Past and Future of Wolves in Eagle County – program by Andrew Gulliford (partner Ptarmigan Sports)
• Tales of the Utes program at Edwards (partnering with CMC, Aspen Historical Society, Metcalf Archeological Consultants)
• History talk for Eagle Lions Club

Education Programs

• Red Canyon High School history hike on Brush Creek
• McCoy Fossil Beds and Waterwheel history hike (partnered with Walking Mountain Science Center)
• Fourth Grade Colorado “History Take-Out” programs presented to 138 students, various schools
• Three sessions – Eagle County History lesson for Vail Board of Realtors – 70 participants
• Museum tour/history lessons
  • 203 elementary school students
  • 17 Walking Mountains interns
  • 45 local realtors

Behind the Scenes

• Supported Colorado State Parks & Wildlife in effort to preserve Upper Brush Creek School
• Supported Eagle County Open Space in seeking funds for preserving Brush Creek ranch land
• Curated historic photos and interpretive text for Eagle County Airport display
• Supported Avon Preservation Committee in (unsuccessful) effort to preserve Hahnewald barn
• Supported nomination of Climax observatory to “Colorado Endangered Places” list.

Administration

• Continued work on new ECHS website
• Participated in Colorado Gives Day
• ECHS membership totaled 115 people in 2019

Fundraising campaign

• Continued fundraising campaign for barn roof replacement
• Contributions have been sought from
  • Individuals
  • Local businesses
  • Local government
  • Grants and Foundations
  • ECHS Museum Improvements fund

Annual Report
September 2017 – August 2018
Museum

• Recorded a total of 6,066 visitors, down from 9,910 visitors in the 2017 season. The drop in attendance directly corresponds to the removal of the “Rest Area” sign from I-70. The ECHS is working with the town of Eagle and the Colorado Department of Transportation to address the issue.
• Hosted museum tours for 156 elementary school students.
• Updated several exhibits with the addition of large, canvas photographs and interpretive text.
• Loaned artifacts for exhibits at the Eagle Library (school display, winter sports display, Brush Creek Ranching and Lady Belle Mine) and at the Betty Ford Alpine Garden (mining history display).
• BuSky Restoration generously donated their services for the annual museum cleaning.
• Volunteer Jaci Spuhler assumed the task of accessioning artifacts that have accumulated since the passing of our museum curator, John Bronn.
• Completed repairs of the Nottingham player piano, and acquired a dozen rolls of music.
o Celebrated piano with “Honky Tonk Night at the Museum” event.
• Continued to pursue acquisition of Past Perfect software for digitizing archive records.

Acquisitions
o Camp Hale Croquet set
o Tools from Holy Cross City
o Photographs and journals from the Al Borah family

Administration
• Launched new ECHS website in July 2018.
• Participated in “Colorado Gives Day,” raising $2,020.
• The ECHS had 81 members in the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

Partnerships
• Assisted Colorado State Parks & Wildlife with pursuit of GOCO grant for preservation of Upper Brush Creek School.
o Hosted Brush Creek snowshoe history event at old school and Visitor Center
o Wrote letter of support
o Set up historical photo display at Visitor Center
o Hosted Joe Dice to tell stories at Visitor Center
• Worked with Eagle County Open Space on history presentation related to Hardscrabble Ranch property.
• Partnered with Eagle Valley Land Trust on two Horn Ranch history hikes, with a total of about 50 people participating.
• Partnered with Walking Mountain Science Center on “Hiking through
History” programs.  About 50 people participated.
o Sweetwater Indian Cave
o McCoy Fossil Beds

• Worked with Betty Ford Alpine Gardens on “History of Mining” evening program (35 attendees).
o Loaned artifacts for mining display.
• Partnered with Eagle Valley Library District on collection and digitizing of photos and documents.
• Partnered with Eagle Valley Library District on Nimon-Walker award program honoring Verne Albertson.
• Partnered with Vail Public Library in bringing education programs to elementary students.
• Worked with Avon Historical Committee on efforts to preserve Hannewald barn.
• Worked with Four Rivers Historical Alliance in setting up traveling exhibit focusing on the Utes.

Projects and programs
• Red Cliff Cemetery Tour – 200 people participating.
• Published Verne Albertson memoir (now in its second printing)
• Women’s history presentation for Camp Hale Chapter of DAR
• Taught two local history classes for Vail Board of Realtors
• Took “History Take-Out” programs to 308 elementary school students at various schools in the
valley.

Museum

• Recorded the best museum year ever, with a total of 9,910 visitors – more than double the previous year’s attendance.
• BluSky Restoration generously donated cleaning services for the museum opening.
• Marketed the museum with the addition of a large, outside banner featuring one of our historic photos.
• Made minor upgrades to several exhibits.
• Initiated repairs for the Nottingham player piano, which should be operational in 2018.
• Operated with paid docents every day (no volunteer docents).
• Loaned artifacts and helped create exhibits for the Vail Library, Eagle Library, Colorado Mountain College (One Book, One Valley program) and the Frost Creek Golf Course.
• Continued to pursue the acquisition of Past Perfect software for digitizing archive records.
• Mourned the loss of our long-time volunteer museum curator, John Bronn.
• New artifact acquisitions during 2017 include:
  • Clothing and other items from Oleson family
  • Framed photo of Woods Lake circa 1913
  • Cowboy hat, horsehair bridle, photos and history from Leonard Horn family
  • Borah family photographs and artifacts
  • Whiskey still from Elliott Ranch
  • Railroad depot signs from Gypsum and State Bridge (donated by the Glenwood Railroad Museum upon its closing)

Administration

• Using grant funds, hired a website designer to update the ECHS website. New website will go online in 2018.
• Participated in “Colorado Gives Day,” raising $2,020.
• Hired Anne Kerrigan as our part-time administrator.
• The ECHS had 104 official members.

Events/Projects

• Hosted “Old West Gambling Night” where participants learned the strategies of Keno, Chuck-a-Luck, Spanish Monte and Faro (and how to cheat).
• Honored ECHS supporter John Buchholz with the Nimon-Walker award (in partnership with EVLD).
• Edited and published Verne Albertson’s memoir, “Beanies, Stick Horses, Marbles and Mean Chickens.”
• Partnering with Walking Mountain Science Center, offered popular “Hiking Through History” tours at Fulford and Red Cliff.
• Created a local history class for the Vail Valley Board of Realtors. Some 53 realtors participated.
• Co-hosted two Horn Ranch history hikes with the Eagle Valley Land Trust and Eagle County.
• Presented local history education programs to 374 elementary school students.
• Presented a series of local history talks:
  • High Country Speaker Series – (EVLD and Walking Mountain Science Center)
  • Castle Peak Care Center
  • High Altitude Quilt Guild
  • Up-Valley Seniors program

Miscellaneous

• Supported Eagle County’s effort to purchase the Hardscrabble Ranch open space.
• Worked with Eagle Valley Land Trust in creating an Adam’s Rib Timeline for a fund-raising event.
• Created a very successful partnership with Walking Mountain Science Center.
• Worked with Avon Historical Advisory Committee on efforts to preserve the Hannewald barn.
• Continued to work with the Four Rivers Historical Alliance on promoting local history tourism.
• Assisted CSU Extension Office with Brush Creek history for tour by CSU professors.
• Assisted town of Eagle in creating history-based sign honoring the Citizen of the Year.

Plans for 2018

• Museum party celebrating Nottingham piano acquisition.
• Red Cliff Cemetery tour Saturday, Aug. 18.
• More “Hiking through History” programs.

* Many thanks to the ECHS Board and the dozens of volunteers who helped make 2017 a year of both ongoing and new accomplishments in our goal of preserving and sharing local history.

Museum

• A total of 4,871 people visited the museum during the season, an increase of 875 over the previous year.
• After a month’s trial, the ECHS Board voted to offer free admission (donations welcome) to the museum. As a result, the people numbers have increased, and the revenue collected was comparable to previous years. Museum admission will be free in 2017.
• An effort to staff the museum two days a week with volunteers proved challenging for the administrator. We will return to an all-paid staff in 2017.
• Exhibits from the museum were displayed at the Vail Public Library during the off-season. A similar display will be offered in 2017.
• The new glass display cover over the Gilman mine diorama was put in place. The new cover was partially funded by a grant from Alpine Bank.
• Under the leadership of Curator John Bronn, some artifacts were moved and displays reorganized for better presentation. Interpretation was added to some displays.
• Special tours were offered to several groups, including 70 second-graders from Eagle Valley Elementary.
• New artifact acquisitions during 2016 included:
  • Antique tables and chairs from the Stremme family (Gypsum pioneers)
  • Child’s saddle from the Holland family, prominent Wolcott ranchers
  • Antique gas pump from the J. Perry Olsen family at Wolcott
  • A player piano from the Nottingham family, dating to 1911

Administration

• The ECHS hired its first part-time administrator/bookkeeper.
• Membership is on the rise with 114 total members in 2016
• ECHS took part in “Colorado Gives Day,” raising $1,635 in donations.

Events/Projects

• The Eagle Cemetery Tour in October drew 275 people and raised over $5,000.
• Local history programs were presented to 446 students in Eagle County schools.
• History program presented to campers at Sylvan Lake State Park
• Partnered with Eagle Valley Library District (EVLD) in presenting the Nimon-Walker award to John Comer, recognizing his efforts to restore the McCoy waterwheel.
• Partnered with Eagle County on a hiking tour of the Horn Ranch property.
• Partnered with Eagle County on creating interpretive signs for the Horn Ranch.
• Hosted railroad historian Pat Thrasher for a program in Avon.
• Partnered with EVLD on adding the following items to the artifact collection:
  • Letters and personal correspondence from the Doll Brothers Ranch
  • Manuscript from John Gabelman detailing 1950s mining operations in Gilman and Fulford.
• Acquired several artifacts for the pending Mt. of the Holy Cross exhibit.
• Edited/rewrote Eagle County Entry for the Colorado Encyclopedia (Colorado Humanities/History Colorado)
• Added nine more properties to the “Honoring Historic Eagle” walking tour, completing that project.

Awards

• ECHS and EVLD received the Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence recognizing the ongoing Nimon-Walker award.
• Local historian Kathy Heicher and the Colorado Department of Highways received the Carolyn Bancroft Project Award from History Colorado for the writing and publication of The Bridges of Eagle County book.

Museum

• A total of 3,996 people visited the museum during the season, an increase of 1,289 over
  the previous year.
• Using a $500 grant from Alpine Bank, a new glass cover was created for the mining
  diorama.
• When the museum closed for the winter, four exhibits were moved to the display cases at
  the Vail Public Library, which will provide some exposure for the ECHS in the Vail
  community.

2015 Projects and Activities

• Membership is at an all-time high, with 100 paying members in 2015.
• Published The Story of Fulford book by Richard Perske.
• Partnered with the Eagle Valley Library District on presenting the Nimon-Walker Award
  honoring author Richard Perske.
• Hosted a “Fulford Night at the Museum” fund-raising event, raising $3,000.
• The ECHS served as parade marshals for the Eagle Flight Days parade, creating a prize- winning float that featured a Conestoga covered wagon.
• Continued work on the “Honoring Historic Eagle” interpretive sign project, adding eight
  additional signs. This project is near completion.
• Continued to explore the possibility of creating an addition to the museum.
• Partnered with the “Gardeners on the Go” garden club to bring in Master Gardener Su
• Gray for a program on Heritage Gardening, which drew about 35 participants.
• Presented “History Take-Out” programs to 304 elementary school students, a senior
  citizen group, Sylvan Lake State Park, and a teacher sorority.
• Maximized the revenue from the “Penny-Pinching” machine by moving it to the Eagle
  County Airport during the winter tourist season.
• Continued to work with the Four Rivers Historical Alliance, a regional group of Historical
  Societies whose goal is to promote cultural history tourism.
• Hosted a historic hike at Sylvan Lake for the FRHA and interested ECHS members.
• Partnered with Eagle County in offering two history-hiking tours of the Horn Ranch
  property.
• Individual members volunteered at the Eagle Valley Community Rummage Sale, earning
  about $3,000 for the ECHS.
• Assisted Eagle County with research for a history interpretive sign for the Colorado River
  Ranch School open space parcel.
• Supported citizens seeking to preserve the Hannewald barn in Avon.
• Hosted railroad historian Pat Thrasher for a program in Avon at the 2015 annual meeting.
• Volunteers began work on creating a movable “Mount of the Holy Cross Display,” funded
  by a $500 grant from the Slifer, Smith and Frampton Foundation.
• Continued to work on improvements on the ECHS website, including creating an option
  for people to pay for memberships and books with a credit card.
• Hosted a robust “Facebook” page with 758 “likes.”

Museum

• Museum operated from May 17 – October 6. Visitors for the season totaled 2,707, compared to 2,899 in 2013. The difference can probably be attributed to ongoing construction on the access road.
• Created rotating museum displays for the Eagle Town Hall and Eagle County Administration Building.
• Guided tours of the museum for 66 elementary students.
• Developed Ute Indian display; added “hands on” ranching exhibit for children, upgraded mineral display.
• Replaced outside stairs and ramp (Eagle Scout project).

​2014 Projects and Activities

• Minturn Cemetery Tour, drawing over 150 participants.
• Purchased “Penny Pinching” machine for the Eagle Visitor Center.
• Partnered with Eagle County on four hiking tours of the Horn Ranch open space parcel (125 participants).
• Continued second phase of the “Honoring Historic Eagle” sign project. Nine additional historic sites were identified and researched. The signs will be placed in the spring of 2015.
• Organized tours of Norrie Colony and the Red Cliff Historical Museum and cemetery the Four Rivers Historic Alliance.
• Partnered with the Eagle Valley Library District and Eagle County in creating a display recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Eagle County Fair.
• Partnered with EVLD in bringing “Gypsy Cowbelle” program to library.
• Partnered with EVLD on presenting history program at Gypsum Library (33 participants)
• Partnered with EVLD on “Sherwood” author and burro program.
• Partnered with EVLD on the annual Nimon-Walker Award presentation honoring the Nottingham family.
• Worked with EVLD to add material to the historical archives.
• Partnered with Sylvan Lake State Park in bringing history program to campers.
• Partnered with Sylvan Lake State Park on creation of history signage for park.
• Worked with Colorado State Parks in securing Colorado Register of Historic Places status for the Upper Brush Creek Schoolhouse. (National Historic Register status is still being reviewed.)
• Presented “History Take-Out” educational programs to 406 students at schools throughout the valley.
• Presented local history programs to Rotary Club, PEO, Red Hat Ladies and other civic groups.
• Worked toward producing a new book documenting the history of the Fulford mining camp (ongoing project).
• Working with the FRHA presenting a poster session and program for the Mountain Plains Museum Association Conference in Snowmass.
• Organized a work day at the Eagle Valley Rummage Sale (volunteer hours earned the ECHS a $2,592 grant).
• Worked with citizen group seeking to clean up and preserve Edwards Cemetery.
• Built a robust “Facebook” following.
• Membership: 87

Honors

• The ECHS and EVLD received a State Honor Award from Colorado Preservation, Inc. recognizing both organizations’ leadership in the field of historic preservation.
• The Four Rivers Historical Alliance (a coalition of Historical Societies that includes the ECHS) was honored by History Colorado with an Honorable Mention in the Miles Award competition, recognizing advancement of Colorado History.

Goals for 2015

• Continue to broaden the ECHS mission by planning events throughout the Eagle Valley.
• Possible Camp Hale Historic tour.
• Convert more “observer” members to active participants.