Turning Back the Pages

30 years ago - December 1, 1989 Gilpin County Arts Association President Linda Hargrave presented a proposal to Central City’s aldermen at their November 22 work session to restore the Washington Hall bell tower. The Arts Association has been encouraged to apply formally to the Army Reserve 244 th Engineer Battalion to have the bell tower restored to original historical specifications. The bell was removed from the tower in 1986 because supporting timbers had rotted. Council members approved the project and said they will provide necessary documentation for the application. The matter will again be discussed at the December 6 council meeting. In the interest of preserving the city’s rock walls, which are considered a historic asset to the city, Central City’s aldermen will form a citizens committee with at least one alderman participating, to decide which walls must be maintained, and whether the city or the property owners should pay for the upkeep. Perhaps a program of matching funds can be arranged. Rock wall maintenance will be discussed again at the December 6 council meeting. The Social Register: Gerald and Connie Hansford recently celebrated their 35 th wedding anniversary. We’re pleased to report they’re both happy about the event! Their children will help them celebrate this Christmas when the whole family gathers for the holiday. Remember Alice on the Brady Bunch? Or maybe Schultz on the Bob Cummings Show rings a bell. Ann B. Davis, who portrayed both characters was recently in town. She stopped by the Glory Hole Saloon in Central City where she munched a Polish sausage and sipped a bottle of Watney’s. Davis charmed the Glory Hole staff, who characterized her as a very gracious lady. Other celebrities spotted in Central City in recent weeks include Juliet Prowse, who popped in at Brown’s Palace more commonly referred to as the Gold Coin Saloon. Prowse was playing in Mame in Denver at the time of her visit. Died: Emerson Buckley, former music and artistic director of the Central City Opera, died at his Miami home November 17. He was 73. His death was caused by emphysema. Born April 14, 1916 to Wendell and Minnie Buckley in New York City, he graduated from Columbia University in 1936, having studied conducting. He enjoyed a long career, which included serving on the faculty of several universities, and as music director of numerous opera companies. Buckley was music and artistic director of the Central City Opera from 1956 to 1969. During that time he led the world premiere of Douglas Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe . A plaque near the opera house entrance honors Buckley. In south Florida, where he lived, Buckley was a musical pioneer. For 35 years, he conducted most of the productions of the Greater Miami Opera. In 1963 he began also conducting the Fort Lauderdale Symphony, later known as the Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida. Buckley was known for promoting works by American composers. He became associated with Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and after retiring from the opera, started a second career as chief conductor for Pavarotti on world tours. Buckle appeared as guest conductor with major opera companies across Europe, and was decorated by the French government for his work. Buckley is survived by his wife Mary, a noted voice teacher, and two sons, Richard and Robert, both of whom are involved in musical theatre. Richard, a conductor, plans to conduct a memorial concert in his father’s honor in Miami. 60 years ago - December 11, 1959 Central City Nuggets: Across the Crossroads , by A.F. Mayham: Thinking seems to be a lost art and if anyone thinks that people who are often maligned do not make out in this confused world, take another think. Formers are given pages of advertising, even a 22 year old bank cashier, in making a mistake which was easily rectified, got published across the nation. Since, she has been offered several jobs more lucrative than the one she had in operating a check writing machine. Lincoln was the target of innuendos, but became president and is still revered. Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Earl Flynn, and others got a sample of public thinking, but it didn’t last long. They all won honors, but so will the TV quiz participators. The TV was good entertainment, no one got gipped unless it was the public and they are used to that. The government took its share of the financial bite and everybody was apparently happy until someone thought up a think. Thinking in the days of Fatty Arbuckle was different. For getting in a bad situation, Fatty was dropped; he was through, but he would not be ostracized today. People would get a kick out of the situation, forget it, and take up with a later episode. HST and FDR both became president, and in some quarters are still disliked by those who think the country would have been better off without either. “There’s nothing either good or bad by the thinking makes it so.” One of the most beautiful trees to adorn the intersection of Main, Lawrence, and Eureka Streets since the adoption of the custom in 1937, was placed last Saturday by Norman Blake, Melvin Blake, Charles Goodpasture, Joe Thomas, and Max Robb, all members of the Lodge of Elks which has sponsored the message of the Yuletide season since that year. The tree, which is a silver spruce, is almost perfect from the lower branches to the top and is beautiful from any angle, proving “poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.” It will be trimmed by colorful electric lights and tinsel by volunteers from the Elks this week and will be a sight most gorgeous to behold. The smaller trees placed by the Lions Club along Main Street will make Central City one of the most gorgeous and attractive places in Colorado proclaiming to the world the real Christmas spirit. Died: The community was shocked and grieved on learning of the death of George Anderle, who died Sunday evening at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver, where he had been for the past two weeks while receiving treatment for a heart condition. He was 55 years of age. He was born on Quartz Hill in the Nevada mining district, and moved with his parents to Central City when a child. He attended St. Aloysius Academy and later Central City High School. He worked in many of the mines in this vicinity, and after his marriage to Winifred Moyle Kruse in 1929, moved to Golden where they lived for 13 years. At the time of his death he was the road foreman for District No. 3, living in Black Hawk and was considered one of the most capable men in that capacity throughout the state. George was a swell fellow, conscientious in his work, and true to his friends, of whom he had hundreds. He always greeted you with a smile and a firm handclasp, and he will be sadly missed. He is survived by his wife; sons George B. Anderle, Bell, California; Joe Anderle, and Eugene Anderle, Black Hawk; daughters Shirley Anderle, Black Hawk; and Mrs. Dale Thrash, Wheat Ridge. Brother of Ben Anderle, Golden, John Anderle, Black Hawk, Mrs. Mary Sears, Portland Oregon, and Mrs. Minnie Weber, Burley, Idaho; also survived by six grandchildren. Services were held Thursday at Woods Memorial Chapel at 2 p.m. Interment in Golden Cemetery. Died: Funeral services were held at the Woods Mortuary in Golden for Frank Skankee, who passed away December 2, 1959. He had been in ill health for several years. Interment, Dory Hill Cemetery. Mr. Skankee was born on a ranch 20 miles Northeast of Black Hawk on June 10, 1882. He moved to Black Hawk in 1905 and took a job with Harry and Otto Blake, well known livery men. In August 1912, he married Janie Elofson and a few years later they moved to Golden, where he held a number of jobs until his retirement. He is survived by two sisters, Hilda Belcher and Rose Chinburg, one brother Arthur Skankee, two nieces, Gwen Thomas and Laverna Mitchell; one nephew, Marlin Belcher, also a great niece, Donna Johnson, and great, great niece and nephew, Gayle and David Johnson. Died: Services for Mrs. Sarah S. Tiller, a Colorado native who died Tuesday were held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Arvada Methodist Church. Burial was in the Arvada Cemetery. Mrs. Tiller was born February 10, 1877, in the mining community of Caribou, Colorado, and moved with her parents to Central City where she attended school. She was married to Fred Tiller on July 10, 1901. The couple moved with their family to Arvada in 1915. Tiller, until his death in 1939, was engaged in the coal and feed business in Arvada. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Algot Erickson of Idaho Springs, Mrs. Albert Rinnander of Wheat Ridge, and Mrs. Charles Folsom of Welaka, Florida; a son, Frank of Arvada; two sisters, Mrs. Ann Williams of Seattle, Washington, and Mrs. Joseph Floyd of Denver; a brother, Matthew Stephens of Livingston, Montana; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 90 years ago - December 6, 1929 Mrs. W.O. Jenkins received word the first of the week of an accident to Mrs. L.P. Davies, which sent her to the hospital. She is spending the winter months with her daughter in Oakland, California, and stepped off a wall, fracturing her hip, and was taken to the hospital at Oakland. Reports received are that she is getting along nicely under the circumstances. Neil McKay who had been visiting his son Reuben and wife, in Denver, returned home on Sunday morning’s bus. Mr. C. J. Hancock, of Idaho Springs, district manager of the Public Service Company for this section of the state, was in Central Wednesday, looking after the interests of the company. 120 years ago - December 8, 1899 The daily shipments from the East Nottaway Mine are over two cords, which are being sent to the New York Mill in Black Hawk for treatment. Some nice looking smelting ore is being hoisted daily, and a good sized shipment will be made during the early part of the week. The present working force now numbers five men, but as soon as the new hoisting plant is installed, the number will be increased. The Aurora Mine in lower Russell Gulch District, will soon have their 100 horsepower boiler installed, and when in position the mine will be unwatered and put in shape for production. A force of 15 men are working on day and night shifts, which number will soon be increased as the mine is opening up well and showing plenty of ore in the levels and stopes. An assay of smelting ore was made during the week, which returned $203. 80 per ton, while the stamp mill ore carries values of one ounce gold to the ton. Manager Vivian says that in the west 200 foot level there is from 3 to 4 feet of milling and smelting ore, and a winze sunk in the bottom of that level shows the ore to continue in depth. Born: In Central City, December 1 st , 1899, to the wife of Joseph Gridler, a daughter. Born: In Black Hawk, December 1 st , 1899, to the wife of Gus Thompson, a daughter. Born: In Black Hawk, December 1 st , 1899, to the wife of Lagero Meneghatti, a son. Married: In Central City, at the residence of the bride’s mother, November 30 th , 1899, by Thomas Hooper, Justice of the Peace, Augustus Meyer and Ana Elizabeth Garlick. Married: In Black Hawk, December 1 st , 1899, at the residence of the bride’s brother, Hulian Marterson, by Thomas Hooper, Justice of the Peace, John Madson and Miss Pauline Marterson. Died: In Central City, December 5 th , 1899, of pneumonia, Margaret, wife of N.W. Willis, aged 40 years. Died: At Roger’s Ranch, Ralston Creek, December 1 st , 1899, of Bright’s disease, William alters, aged 21 years. 151 years ago - December 9, 1869 The new public-school building just completed in Black Hawk, was 40x60 feet, two stories high, and had accommodations for 250 children. A burglar was caught Friday night at the home of W. Bird Johnson, of the Register force. His name was John McCarty and the sheriff took him in charge. He made an attempt to burglarize Frank H. Messigner’s residence the night before. The first bar of silver taken out of the Franklin Company’s works was shipped east on Tuesday. It weighed 697 ounces and was worth $457 in coin. The company was working at the head of Willis Gulch. A fearful accident happened at the Briggs Mine Saturday afternoon, when a stull gave way and three men were killed and four seriously injured. The men killed were John Moyle, Thomas Penall, and Charley Aldersley, and the injured were James Hutchinson, foreman of the mine, Dennis Harrington, Mortz Sullivan, and John Kelley. Harrington died the same evening from his injuries. Died: In Central City, December 6 th , 1869, Maggie, wife of William Mitchell, aged 22 years.

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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