Tag Archive for: Eagle County Historical Society

Colorado Gives Day — December 4, 2018

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Give where you live: Support the Eagle County Historical Society on Dec. 4

  It takes more than beautiful scenery and great skiing to build a healthy community. The Eagle County Historical Society is among dozens of non-profit organizations in Eagle County that work hard every day providing quality-of-life services for locals and visitors. Programs include educational and health services, housing assistance and cultural enrichment.

   Eagle County Gives, a coalition of 50 local and worthy non-profits, will once again participate in Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, Dec. 4. This annual event simplifies philanthropic giving by providing a convenient on-line option for supporting local non-profits with a single website visit.

  Last year, the one-day event raised nearly $1 million for local organizations. Donors have the option of making contributions on the official Gives day, or scheduling donations in advance.

  Watch for posters, news articles, and sign -waiving volunteers in the roundabouts.  Take this opportunity to support your local community. Present and future generations will thank you.

  More information at eaglecogives.org.

 

Hiking through History: The McCoy fossil beds

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The history lessons spanned thousands of years at our McCoy Fossil Beds “Hiking through History” outing with Walking Mountain Science Center. Geologist and guest teacher Neil Suneson led the fossil hike, which turned up hundreds of fossils, proof of the era when Eagle County was a warm shallow sea. The group then learned some of McCoy’s more recent history with a walk through the cemetery and a visit to John Comer’s historic waterwheel. What a great way to end the season … and we are already working on ideas for next year’s history hikes.

Stem fossil

Shark teeth

Waterwheel, photo by John Comer

In the wash

handful of fossils

Fossil bed

 

Hiking through History: The McCoy fossil beds September 25

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Join the Eagle County Historical Society and Walking Mountain Science Center on Tuesday September 25 [8am to 3pm] for some time travel to an era when Eagle County was a warm, shallow sea. McCoy’s high desert ranching community is a treasure vault of fossils, including shark teeth and brachiopods. The tour will also include a visit to John Comer’s waterwheel, which dates back to 1923 when local ranchers devised an ingenious method of ensuring water from the Colorado river could flow into irrigation ditches. Put on your hiking boots and join us for a fascinating end-of-the-season hike.

Reserve a spot at https://www.walkingmountains.org/project/hiking-through-history-with-echs/

ECHS members get a 50 percent discount. Use the code ECHS at checkout.

Comer Waterwheel, photo by Raymond Bleesz

 

Honky-Tonk Night at the Museum September 7

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We had some fun at “Honky-Tonk Night at the museum. Piano expert Jere DeBacker explained the workings of a player piano. Special thanks to 10th Mountain Distillery for providing a sampling of their brews. And lots of people learned they can play the piano (with their feet).

 

Honky-Tonk Night at the Museum September 7

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The Eagle County Historical Museum gained a couple of notable artifacts over the past year: a 1911
player piano from the Nottingham family and a whiskey still from a homestead in West Vail.
Good time to have a party, right?

Welcome to “Honky-Tonk Night at the Museum” on Friday, Sept. 7, 5:30 – 8 p.m., at the history
museum in Eagle’s Chambers Park. The Eagle County Historical Society will be celebrating its new
possessions. Expect an interesting evening. Piano restoration expert Jere DeBacker will discuss the history and
workings of player pianos. Visitors will have an opportunity to “play” the piano like an expert … using their feet. Local pianist Linda Carr will also entertain with piano music and a sing-a-long of some old-fashioned tunes.

Refreshments, cash bar. Period clothing encouraged.
Tickets: $10 at the door ($5 for ECHS members)

Gypsum Saloon Tent