|
View as a webpage / Share
|
|
Historical Commission Corner
APRIL 2022
We are excited to announce the resumption of our regular educational programs. Due to Covid, there hasn’t been a program since 2018. Please plan to join us for:
Early Coal Mining - Tools, Techniques, and Times
Presented by Jim Lastoka
Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Superior Town Hall Board Room (124 E. Coal Creek Drive)
|
Jim was born and raised on a farm in Louisville that was complete with an abandoned coal mine. He has said “the Rex mine dump was my childhood playground.” Over the years, he has amassed an extensive collection of mining artifacts and memorabilia. During this program, Jim will use tools from his collection to explain coal mining techniques and to demonstrate equipment used by the miners in the Northern Colorado Coal Field and the Industrial Coal Mine here in Superior.
|
Perhaps you have noticed the Harney-Lastoka Open Space at 95th Street and South Boulder Road in Louisville or the open space of the same name at McCaslin Boulevard and Coalton Road in Superior. These preserved spaces bear the name of both sides of Jim’s family who owned these properties before they were purchased by Boulder County. Please plan to come on April 21 and learn about the mining heritage of Superior and neighboring coal mining towns.
We are still working on removing debris from the former Historical Museum. By the time you read this, the Town government should have all the bids in hand and a company will begin getting the affected items out into the open. Then they can be examined, and their fate determined. The Historical Commission does have options for our next museum building that we will announce when things become more definite.
|
An unusual item showed up at the Superior Community Center one day thanks to an anonymous donor. We invite all to speculate as to what it is. For the time being, we refer to it as an “ember.” See what you think. By looking at the photo, you can tell it is about 9 inches long. It is as light as a feather and has burned. This ember was found by the donors at 152nd Avenue and Washington Street in Thornton. That means the winds of the Marshall Fire blew it miles and miles from its source to where it was found. This object is yet another unbelievable back story from the unforgettable December 30 conflagration. We plan to eventually have a display of fire related artifacts. Thank you to the donors for providing us with this unique object.
The Historical Commission sends a big thank you for the monetary donation from:
Nancy Berry
Kathryn Castillo
Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
|
DID YOU KNOW THAT...
- Grays and Torreys Peaks were named for two of America’s earliest botanists? These Fourteeners, located in Clear Creek County, are popular with climbers because it is possible to ascend both in one day, “bagging” two fourteen-thousand-foot peaks in a single hike. Superior has a street named Grays and Torreys recognizing these well-known mountains.
- In 2013 two men in Colorado Springs (perhaps with too much time on their hands) played pool for 100 hours breaking the old record by more than 25 hours? Their record lasted only until 2017 when it was broken by a margin of 5 hours.
- The Gunnison County town of Tincup was so named after a prospector scooped some promising dirt into a tin cup, clipped it to his belt and took it to be analyzed. The result was the discovery of a very good gold deposit, and the community adopted the picturesque name.
For more information contact Lydia Yecke, Historical Commission Staff Liaison, at 303-499-3675 or Larry Dorsey, Commission Chair, at 303-499-1969. This and the February editions written by Larry Dorsey and proofed by Dorothy Mahan.
|
|
