Time Machine: 120 years ago, Teddy Roosevelt wraps up hunting trip with Eagle County guide
Courtesy image
30 years ago
May 5, 1995
A program to help Vail residents purchase homes was approved by the Town Council, the Vail Trail reported.
The program was a partnership with FirstBank, with the bank funding up to 80 percent of the purchase price of homes costing $200,000 or less within the town of Vail.
“The town, in turn, will supply the bank with a cash collateral pledge for 10 percent of the loan,” the Trail reported. “The remaining 10 percent will be provided by the purchaser as a down payment.”
Members of the Town Council said they hoped the program would help buyers get into Vail Commons for-sale units, many of which were priced under $200,000.
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“Homes purchased under the program will be permanently deed-restricted as employee housing units with an annual appreciation cap of 3 percent per year,” the Trail reported.
40 years ago
May 3, 1985
Eagle County officials were narrowing down a plan for what to do if a mudslide were to block the Eagle River in Minturn, the Vail Trail reported.
“In the drill scenario, the hillside above the damaged portion of Highway 24 will slide into the Eagle River, creating a wall of mud that will dam the river,” the Trail reported. “The dam will create a lake that will threaten to flood the town of Minturn.”
Authorities next were to plan on escorting Minturn residents to higher ground.
“The state disaster team will evaluate the success of the drill, and will make recommendations on how to improve the response to the mock emergency,” the Trail reported.
The plan came together after the river rose to record levels the year before.
“The added moisture in the soil could cause mudslides at the very time that the river is at its highest, say geologists,” the Trail reported.
50 years ago
May 2, 1975
When Vail Mountain closed on April 20, 1975, the mountain was still reporting a 100-inch base on top of the mountain after receiving 400 cumulative inches of snow that season.
Vail exceeded its projection of 800,000 skier days, recording more than 815,000 for the season. The mountain was scheduled to reopen on May 17, with both gondolas operating daily, the Vail Trail reported.
“As snow leaves the top of Vail Mountain (mid-June), chairlifts No. 3 and 4 will begin operating: No. 3 daily, and No. 4 during peak periods,” the Trail reported. “The first (or last) ski event of the season will be held May 30 – June 1 — The 11th Annual Vail SkiGolf Tournament, with the skiing portion scheduled for Sunday, June 1.”
70 years ago
May 5, 1955
Eagle County celebrated the arrival of Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine, administering shots to 206 first and second graders in the county.
“Needles and syringes were provided for the whole program by the Empire Zince Hospital at Gilman,” the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.
“Dr. Salk’s name shall go down in history as did Louis Pasteur and the long line of women and men who have contributed so much toward discovery and cure of so many illnesses and diseases,” the Enterprise reported.
80 years ago
May 4, 1945
Eagle County resident Joe Caywood, an Army sergeant who was wounded seven times in World War II, was home on furlough, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.
Joe Caywood was visiting his brother, Jim Caywood, in the Gypsum valley, and his mother in Grand Junction, the Enterprise reported.
“He will report to Camp Carson for hospitalization at the end of his furlough, where he will have shrapnel removed from a wound in his face,” the Enterprise reported.
Caywood had received a purple heart, among other medals.
“Joe has gone through the invasions of Sicily, where he participated in establishing two beachheads; followed by Salerno, Anzio and Southern France,” the Enterprise reported. “His part in successfully establishing the above five beachheads has earned for him the bronze arrowhead to his campaign ribbon. Five times he has won the bronze battle star for the campaigns in Sicily, Naples, Rome, Southern France and the German campaign. In lieu of these five bronze stars he now wears one silver battle star.”
Caywood fought overseas from June of 1943 to April of 1945.
“At Salerno he was taken prisoner — for three days,” the Enterprise reported. “He outsmarted the Krauts and returned to his outfit. When Joe left Eagle County in January, 1941, he was among the very first to leave through selective service.”
120 years ago
May, 1905
President Theodore Roosevelt’s six-week Western Colorado hunting expedition was wrapping up.
Among his guides was Jake Borah of Gypsum.
The hunt was a phenomenal success, wrote Kathy Heicher in the book “Eagle County Characters, Historic Tales of a Colorado Mountain Valley.”
“On the first day, the president bagged a bear,” Heicher wrote. “The next time out, the group returned with two bears; the third trip brought in three bears; and the fourth trip brought in four bears. Historical accounts credit Roosevelt for killing six of the ten bears. The party also brought in five of what Roosevelt called ‘lynx cats’ (possibly bobcats). Two elk were shot for camp meat.”
The trip also became the inspiration for a popular children’s toy.
“At one point, the dogs chased down two small yearling bears,” Heicher wrote. “Roosevelt insisted the animals be called off, allowing the bruins to escape. The incident was reportedly the inspiration for an opportunistic toy-maker in Glenwood Springs to stitch together the trend-setting ‘teddy bear’ toy as a gift for Roosevelt’s young daughter, Alice.”
