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A 2014 Thank You for Telling Your Stories
In this era when people expect information at their fingertips and instant response to everything, our local history, local stories and local collections which are so rich in history and cultural heritage are increasingly inaccessible. Issues such as budget cuts and staff reductions are the usual culprits but part of this inaccessibility is also occurring…
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So Where is the Broomcorn Capital of the World?
NOTE: The original article was written in 2014, We have since updated (2023) and added more history of this forgotten industry. What is Broomcorn? I have had several conversations about recording local history as we are doing with Bacacountyhistory.com. Anytime the topic of broomcorn or broom corn has come up with someone not from Baca…
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Orville Ewing’s Travels: The Animals
Before we head into Orville’s travels during the 1940’s let’s take a peek at the the animal menagerie which served as Orville’s traveling companions over the years. This is the group that provided quite a background for those wishing to take pictures with him. The ox, burros, donkeys and/or mules were obviously used to pull…
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Orville Ewing’s Travels: The 1930’s
I mentioned in a previous post the large number of Orville Ewing postcards available for sale online, but there are also over 300 newspaper references to his 30 plus years of travel. UPDATE: April 2020. This past week I received another scan of the picture above. Since we already have it the picture isn’t that big…
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Were the Dirty Thirties the Good Old Days?
Posted with permission of Gloria Jean. Original article appeared in the Huckaby Times (Cousin Newsletter), April 2004 On Sunday April 14th, 1935, the sun came up in a clear sky. The day was warm and pleasant, a gentle breeze whimpered out of the southwest. Suddenly a cloud appeared on the horizon. Birds flew swiftly ahead…
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Tools of the Lost Trade: The Broomcorn Knife
The knives were razor sharp and they wrapped their thumbs with the old style electrician’s tape (friction tape). Each night they would set around and sharpen their knives. -Ted Burhenn NOTE: This was originally posted in 2014. This update changes the name to”Tools of the Lost Trade”, referencing the long gone broomcorn industry. This update…
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When the Humble Broom built Broomcorn Empires
It has been reported that 99% of all American households have at least one broom, and that a broom is vital to everyday living. -Los Angeles Times 1988 Think people don’t have strong feelings about the humble broom? A recent review at Amazon.com of an old fashioned broomcorn broom says, I have backyard chickens, and…
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Sheriff’s of Baca County
1950 Baca County Sheriff Voting Tally Sheet. Also note the Voting Tally for: County Superintendent of Schools between Eva Acre and Lillian Collings County Commissioner, 2nd Commissioner District between Jess Suhler and Lee Twyford. Hope I don’t stir up some 60 year old political wounds. Here is my Granddad Huckaby’s 1953 – 54 Colorado Rail…
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I Was Working on the Railroad…In The Heart of the Dust Bowl?
Dust Bowl noun, Associated Press staff writer Robert Geiger was in Boise City Oklahoma writing a series of articles on a day that is sometimes referred to as Black Sunday. In his April 15 release for the Washington, D.C., Evening Star he wrote: “Three little words…If it Rains” as the title of a story on…
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More Tales of the Prairie: The Kar-Vu Drive In…An American Icon
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars. -Wikipedia What a treat it has been watching a social…
