The Record

JCHS 2nd Annual Book-and-Author Event

Please join fellow JCHS members, your friends and colleagues on Saturday, October 4th for our second annual book-and-author event, Reflections: Colorado Authors, Colorado Stories. Specially designed to acquaint our community with its talented local authors and the history they help to preserve, this event promises to be educational and entertaining! Here's more about the day's featured authors and their works:

Roger Baker is the author of three books on Colorado history. Clara: An Ex-Slave in Gold Rush Colorado was Baker's first book, praised by the Denver Post as "one of the best new books in our state's history." Roger will share his experience of capturing this true story of one of Colorado's best known and beloved women, honored after her death with a stained glass window in Colorado's capitol building.

Mark Eberhart is a professor of chemistry and geochemistry at the Colorado School of Mines. An author of two books, Mark will discuss his 2004 publication, Why Things Break: Understanding the World By the Way It Comes Apart, a remarkable and entertaining guide through the field of materials science. As an added bonus, we'll learn about his family's connection with Park Hill's Stedman Elementary, named for his great-great-grandfather.

Nancy Larner is a former teacher in public and private schools, and lest we forget, a cherished volunteer for Hiwan and JCHS. A published poet, artist, and designer, the brand new A Mouse in the Rabbi's Study is Nancy's first book for children.

Jan Murphy is the author of two books on Colorado history. She will enlighten us on the Mysteries and Legends of Colorado: True Stories of the Unsolved and Unexplained. Jan teaches state history at the Evening Institute at Lockheed Martin Aerospace

Please call Diane Fuchs at 303-674-9639 by September 26 to make your reservation for the Annual meeting and brunch. Mail your check ($15.00 per person, made out to Jefferson County Historical Society) to JCHS, P.O. Box 703, Evergreen, CO 80437. We look forward to seeing you there.

With Heartfelt Thanks and Appreciation

by Diane Fuchs

I personally thank dedicated Jefferson County Historical Society members and Hiwan staff and volunteers for their commitment to the history of Jefferson County and the Hiwan Homestead Museum. I greatly appreciate that Josie Hoover and Max Lankston volunteered for membership chair and grove coordinator, respectively, when The Society really needed their help.

Annual Meeting at the Marshdale Bistro: On June 22, the membership of JCHS attended a beautiful brunch and program at the Marshdale Bistro. Our hostess, Sarah, and her husband provided wonderful food and Hank Alderfer and Bud Weare presented an extremely informative program on the Marshdale area. We hope you will be able to join us next year for the membership brunch, which leads to my next topic...

Membership: Here's a gentle reminder to, if you have not yet done so, renew your membership asap. Please use the renewal form enclosed with this newsletter.

Bear Creek Mercantile: What a wonderful addition to the education program at Hiwan Homestead! On its May 30th Grand Opening, Nancy Nikl cut the ribbon that helped around 40 people to enjoy this new, hands-on, permanent exhibit. I can personally attest that he educational programs associated with the store are a delight!

Both Discovery Days and Medlen School were a great success this June with all sessions were full or nearly so. Speaking of Medlen, thanks to the coordination of Hank Alderfer; this summer our schoolhouse received its full full coat of new paint in 10 years.

The Tent: Hank Alderfer, Hank Fuchs, Max Lankston, Mike Strunk and Meghan McGinnes have taken direction from the JCHS Board to rebuild the replica "Camp Neosho" tent in the Grove, commencing next spring and into the Summer of 2009.

Heritage Grove: In June, John Steinle orchestrated a great vintage Model T event in the Grove. It was really fun to see and talk with the owners of Model Ts. At press time, The Evergreen Arts Festival is due to commence in the Grove on August 23rd. And we're very pleased that September will find samples from the 4th Annual Outdoor Quilt Festival displayed in the grove.

Upkeep of the Grove: Lam Tree Service deep fed the roots of our most precious ponderosa pines in May; they also sprayed all these trees for Pine and Ips beetle, along with 26 more trees located behind the Pavilion. Mike Goldblatt, the owner of Lam Tree Service, is keeping a very close watch over all of Heritage Grove in his capacity as a JCHS board member and Director of Grove Maintenance.

Support Heritage Grove by attending the upcoming "Reflections" Event: Keeping on top of all the trees and other expenses associated with Heritage Grove is costly. Regular maintenance is barely covered by Grove rental fees. That's why I would like to encourage members and friends of members to attend the "Reflections" book and author event on October 4, 2008. The funds we raise go directly to help maintain Heritage Grove, including The Pavilion. We had an electrical line break in The Pavilion this June which was a very costly repair. Thus, we need to have additional funds in our budget to maintain the grove. Last year we raised around $600 which was used to purchase several native shrubs that were planted in the grove.

Provided by Sue Ashbaugh, Meghan McGinnes, and John Steinle

To inquire about any of the above activities and programs, please call Hiwan Homestead Museum at 720-497-7650. Hiwan News provided by John Steinle, Sue Ashbaugh and Meghan McGinnes.

Brilliant Beads: Native Beadwork of the Wild West

This exhibit showcases spectacular beadwork from the collections of the Jefferson County Historical Society, the Humphrey Memorial Park and Museum, the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, and the personal collection of Al Huffman. Items of note include a pair of gauntlets worn by Buffalo Bill himself and reproduction pieces beaded and worn by Al Huffman in his portrayal of Buffalo Bill, as well as many examples of Plains Indian personal items. Be sure not to miss these beautiful and intricate examples of beadwork all assembled in one location! Brilliant Beads will be on display through Sunday, November 23, 2008.

Bear Creek Mercantile Exhibit Open

Be sure to stop by to see all the interesting "merchandise" we’ve found. The year is 1895, but you will be surprised to see some rather contemporary items!

Fall Events and Planning Meetings

• Thursday, October 30 from 4-7 pm--Halloween event at the Museum.
• Monday, October 6 at 1 pm--Christmas decorations planning meeting in Eric's House; please RSVP to Meghan if you plan on coming, or can't come but have any ideas or suggestions for this year's decorations
• Monday, December 1 beginning at 9 am--Christmas decorating; RSVP to Meghan.

Volunteer Training Openings for Fall

Don't miss out on these great opportunities! Education programs at Hiwan Museum are fun, rewarding and a great way to learn more, meet new friends, even visit other fantastic sites in the Metro Denver area.

Once training has been completed, you will be asked to serve 1.5 to 2 hours twice per month. Classes are offered to children Tuesday through Friday, beginning October 7.

Programs available are:

• Pioneer History Program - intended for 4th grade students, which is offered mornings 10:00 to noon. Professional spinning instruction will be provided (an added bonus & FUN!).
• Arts of the Tribal Southwest - intended for 3rd grade students, also offered mornings, 10:00 to 11:30. Learn about the Southwest Indians culture and arts.
• After School Program - enjoy sharing your favorite crafts with children grades 1 through 8 in these 1.5 hour classes.

Book Club meets in Eric's House at 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join our lively, casual discussions! 2008 Scheduled Books:

• Sept. 24 - Book Reports--read any book and come prepared to share.
• Oct. 29 - Broken Cord, Michael Dorris
• Nov. 26 - no meeting
• Dec. 3 - Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Barbara Kingsolver (pot luck luncheon)

In 1908, Denver hosted its first national political convention when the Democrats came to town in early July. John Steinle, Administrator of the Hiwan Homestead Museum will look back at how Denver was chosen to be the site of the convention 100 years ago in a special presentation set for Monday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m. Examine the vital political issues of the day from the conflict within the Democratic Party to the candidates and famous people attending the 1908 convention. As the nation's and the world's focus has fallen upon Denver as host of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Steinle will look at Denver's report card in their role as a host city in 1908. This special program will focus on how the 1908 Democratic Convention compares to the 2008 version in terms of issues, voters, and candidates.

A donation of $5 is requested for this illustrated program. Pre-registration is required. The program has a limit of 50 people. To register or for more information, contact the Museum at 720-497-7650.

Susan Grannell, founder and head honcho for this signature event at Hiwan, is pleased to say that she's expecting to display more than 100 examples of local handiwork at this year's Festival, scheduled for a guaranteed-to-be-sunny Saturday, September 27, 2008, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This year's display will include a new addition: Afghans. Another exciting new feature this year will be a quilt raffle, organized by and for the benefit of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. The Museum and current exhibits will be open with regular tours conducted on the half-hour.

To submit your quilt or knitted or crocheted afghan for display, contact Susan at Hiwan, 720-497-7650 to obtain a sign-up sheet. She's also looking for volunteers to help set-up the displays, which will be inside, outside and around the Homestead. So, if you'd like a chance to wear those cute little white gloves and attach clothespins to your shirt, you can sign up for a shift (10- noon; noon-2 or 2-4) by calling Susan at 720-497-7650.

Thanks to a very welcome visit by Wayne Stivers, erstwhile Maintenance Director and always stalwart protector of Heritage Grove, the JCHS covered wagons got a much-appreciated tune-up in August. Accompanied by Bud & Juanita Weare, Randi Marcos and Rod Matlock, Wayne administered a healthy dose of linseed oil & mineral spirits to the wagons' weathered wood. The group also rotated the wagon wheels and mended the canvas covers. An added bonus to the day was the discovery of a squirrel who got into the chuckwagon, but never came out. Oh pioneers!

This most popular and productive event for JCHS and scores of other local non-profits is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9, 2008, at the Evergreen Lutheran Church. JCHS is looking for volunteers to staff our table. Shift choices for each day are 9-noon and noon-3. Additional welcome assistance will be at set-up on Friday afternoon, November 7, starting at 3.

This event provides a fun opportunity to promote JCHS books and meet and mingle with our community. If you can help out, please call Diane Fuchs at 303-674-9639.