Interviews
The Salida Oral History Project preserved the history and heritage of Salida through interviews of long-time residents and other knowledgeable people who lived and worked in the area. These are shared stories of their childhood, schooling, family, church, outings, celebrations, friends, hobbies, and events that still live in their memories. The interviews will be kept forever so that others can learn from these true historians’ words.
The Oral History Project was co-sponsored by The Salida Regional Library and Historic Salida, Inc., and was composed mostly of volunteers.
The following narratives are in MP3 format. They are alphabetized by the interviewee’s last name.
John Aragon
Interviewed September 19, 2005. John discusses attending Catholic School, the lettuce industry, and being Postmaster for the town of Poncha Springs, Colo.
Ted Argys
Interviewed June 24, 2004. Ted discusses the mischief he used to get into as a boy, life in the U.S. Army, and Ted’s Auto Sales.
Tom Bauman
Interviewed July 5, 2005. Tom discusses his military training in Texas and his career at Climax Mine at Leadville, Colorado.
John Bayuk
Interviewed February 12, 2005. John discusses his football career and becoming All-American, his business-owning ventures, and his contributions to the city of Salida.
Bob Biglow
Interviewed March 12, 2005. Bob discusses skiing around Marshall Pass, being drafted into the U.S. Army, and his surveying business here in Salida.
Bonnie Bondurant
Interviewed March 15, 2005. Bonnie discusses her businesses, particularly Oxford’s Market on Highway 50 in Salida, Colorado, and her contributions to the town of Salida.
Irene Budd
Interviewed April 29, 2004. Irene discusses her struggle with tuberculosis, and raising two kids in Salida, Colorado.
Gladys Bunker
Interviewed September 25, 2003. Gladys discusses growing up and the ranching life in the San Luis Valley.
Frank Butala
Interviewed January 29, 2004. Frank discusses growing up in Salida, his work in the USMC, starting his business, Butala Construction, and has a funny story about a getting paid with Susan B. Anthony silver dollars.
Bette Cable
Interviewed October 26, 2003. Bailey Escapule remembers Bette coming in to Salida’s photo developing shop and saying, ‘My name’s Bette Cable. Like Betty Grable. And I got the legs for it.’ Bette discusses her father and uncle’s businesses and her marriage to Salida Police Chief Harry Cable.
Helen Campbell Drake & Norman Campbell
Interviewed September 21, 2003. Betty and Norman reminisce about attending Valley View School, square dancing at the band pavilion in Alpine Park, and have a funny story about Easter eggs.
Helen Campbell Drake & Norman Campbell
Interviewed August 16, 2004.
Laurence 'Campy' Campton, FIBArk Legend
Interviewed May 10, 2004. Laurence discusses his time in a P.O.W. camp in WWII, competing in FIBArk in the 1950s, and his life and work in Salida, Colorado.
Jack Chivvis
Interviewed January 11, 2005. Jack discusses the many layers of the history of Salida, focusing mainly on Salida’s historic district.
Mabel Davis
Interviewed October 24, 2003. Mabel discusses living in Poncha Springs and her work on the council and with the booster club. Mabel also has a great laugh.
Wilmoth Everett
Interviewed October 26, 2004. Wilmoth discusses ranching in Salida and the surrounding areas with her husband George E. Everett, the local rodeos they used to attend, and the plane crash that killed her husband and two Chaffee County Commissioners.
Jane Ferraro
Interviewed June 18, 2004. Jane reminisces about growing up in Salida, going to St. Joseph’s Parochial School, and what she did for fun.
Florence Fullenwider
Interviewed November 10, 2003. Florence discusses ranch life in northern Saguache County, the beginnings of the Saguache Library, and has a funny story about how the first cemetery in Villa Grove, Colo. got its start.
Jean Hanfelt
Interviewed November 24, 2003.
Jean Hanfelt
Interviewed October 20, 2004. This interview details the genesis of Salida Aspen Concerts.
Flora Harrison
Interviewed April 26, 2005. Flora discusses FIBArk, the Denver & Rio Grande passenger train, and being the first female surveyor in the state of Colorado.
Catherine Hayden
Interviewed October 2, 2003, Catherine discusses growing up in Salida and the businesses she remembers, the Salida Fish Pond, going up to the ‘Red Rocks’, working at the Hay Studio, and being sent to the Dumb Bunny Room in school.
Mary Held
Interviewed October 10, 2003. Mary was the wife of the High School music director, John Held, creator of Spartan Sparkles.
Joy Humes
Interviewed September 11, 2003. Joy discusses surviving the Great Depression and ‘Shasta’ the family car.
Wendell Hutchinson
Interviewed March 14, 2004. Wendell, aka ‘Hutch’, discusses going to Valley View School and ranch life at the Hutchinson Homestead.
Wendell Hutchinson
Interviewed March 21, 2004. Wendell discusses going to Salida High School and the teachers and coaches, meeting his future wife, Sue Swallow, and who his influences were in deciding to become a veterinarian.
Wendell Hutchinson
Interviewed March 27, 2004. Wendell discusses his veterinary practice, ranching and working on the farm, and dogs that he has known.
Wendell Hutchinson
Interviewed April 4, 2004. Wendell discusses some family history, his veterinary practice, and has an especially gruesome tale about a cow and a hatpin.
Wendell Hutchinson
Interviewed November 11, 2004. Wendell discusses cattle roundups and ranch life, his four great uncles (Bailey, Art, Harold, and Joe) and the details behind his grandmother’s murder trial.
Virginia Imig
Interviewed January 17, 2005. Virginia discusses her work in Salida on City Council and with Salida-Aspen Concert Series, and her musical career as an accompanist with The Noteables.
Marie Klockenbrink
Interviewed May 31, 2004. Marie discusses growing up in the San Luis Valley at Fort Garland, her Hispanic heritage, and has a funny story about driving her brother’s car in to the side of the Post Office.
George Koenig
Interviewed November 8, 2003. George did one of everything! He discusses his service in the U.S. Navy, owning a business in Salida, being a member of the Elks, Masons, Shriners, and the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. George was also a state highway commissioner, was on the board of HRRMC and the Chamber of Commerce, was the first president of the South Arkansas Fire Protection District and as one of the first officers of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, he was instrumental in bringing the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project to life. And George discusses how the Shriners obtained their meeting space, which used to be Laura Evans’ parlor and home on Sackett.
Anabel Lamberg
Interviewed January 22, 2004. Anabel reminisces about her childhood in Buena Vista, and her life and career in Salida.
Billie Jean Love
Interviewed January 29. 2004. Billie discusses her father’s work at a Salida brickyard, Salida High School hijinks, FDR on a whistlestop tour in Salida, and the effects of WWII on Salida.
Jane Melien
Interviewed April 30, 2004. Jane talks about riding the Denver & Rio Grande trains, the construction of Monarch Pass, and the history of Salida’s First Presbyterian Church.
Katherine Mendoza
Interviewed August 10, 2005. Katherine discusses hanging out on Front Street in Salida and getting candy from Laura Evans, selling ice cream at Alpine Park’s gazebo on Thursday nights, and soapmaking with her brothers and sisters.
Forrest Miller
Interviewed April 6, 2004. Forrest discusses his military service, the Poncha Springs and Lodge, fires at the Jackson Hotel, and working as a liftie at Monarch Ski Area.
Alberta Mitchell
Interviewed December 13, 2004. Alberta reminisces about how Salida was, the hijinks that her husband would get into with the American Legion Drum & Bugle Corps, and her career as chief surgical nurse at the Denver & Rio Grande Hospital.
Alberta Mitchell
Interviewed January 25, 2005. Alberta mentions a few more things about her hospital work, including taking care of Laura Evans.
Dennis Morain
Interviewed July 24, 2012. Dennis discusses his life in Salida and working at the Chaffee County Courthouse. Dennis rescued the 1930s-40s Assessor’s Cards from the trash while working there. No audio file available.
Janet Murphy
Interviewed November 11, 2004. Janet discusses her work with the Hospital Auxiliary, and her flower store (and its history) at 225 F Street, and a little bit about the Salida Library.
Janet Murphy & Opal Heister
Interviewed October 21, 2004. Janet and Opal discuss their work with the Hospital Auxiliary, and the history and people who worked at the Hospital.
Florence Naccarato
Interviewed March 25, 2004. Florence talks about ranching in Chaffee County and her great husband Lloyd.
James Nance
Interviewed April 7, 2006. Jim discusses working in Salida, the downtown businesses on F Street, and his work as a videographer.
George Oyler
Interviewed February 25, 2005. George reminisces about his life as a newspaperman in Salida, and living life as a cowboy up Bear Creek.
Erma Perri
Interviewed August 10, 2006. Erma discusses her Italian American roots, working at some of the downtown Salida businesses, and having fun at FIBArk.
Gwen Perschbacher
Interviewed November 6, 2003. Gwen reminisces about her time working at the Denver & Rio Grande Hospital and Columbine Manor.
Robert Post
Interviewed February 5, 2004 (immigrants from Italy, Bob’s Sporting Goods & Cafe on Highway 50, skiing Old Monarch Pass).
First Presbyterian Church Members
Interviewed April 12, 2005.
Stan Provenza
Interviewed June 1, 2004. Stan reminisces about playing for the 1933-35 Salida Spartans champion football team and attending St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Church.
T. Rex Rhodes
Interviewed April 4, 2006. T. Rex reminisces about all the fun he had in Salida when he was growing up: taking the ski train up to Marshall Pass, ice skating on the Albright ponds, fishing at Frantz Lake, and hanging out with the Frantz family.
Richard Robbins
Interviewed June 15, 2005. Dick discusses working at Climax Mine in Lake County, and working as a diesel mechanic in the San Luis Valley.
Bob Rush
Interviewed November 3, 2004.
Tom & Mary Jo Sandell
Interviewed August 11, 2006. Tom and Mary Jo reminisce about the changes Salida has seen, particularly with the Denver & Rio Grande Hospital, the inception of the Salida Cyclones, and taking their kids up to Monarch Ski Resort.
Chris & Paula Schirmer
Interviewed November 20, 2004. Chris and Paula discuss in detail the beginnings of Christmas Mountain U.S.A.
John Spino
Interviewed February 27, 2004. John’s family built a multitude of businesses on Highway 50. He remembers mining for local companies, cutting ice for the ice sheds, having fun at Wellsville Hot Springs, and being involved in the first FIBArk in 1949.
Dixie & Leon Stanton
Interviewed January 26, 2005. Dixie and Leon reminisce about all the downtown businesses on F Street during the 1960s and 70s. Leon was the Chaffee County extension agent and remembers 4H and his crew, particularly Bernice Miller, and all the help they were to him and the kids in 4H. Dixie worked for Bob Biglow’s surveying company and sang in the Methodist church choir.
Iris Stotler
Interviewed February 4, 2005. Iris remembers all the changes that have taken place in downtown Salida, and her teachers at Salida High School. Iris loved swimming at the Wellsville Pool, ice skating near the Little Arkansas River, and roller skating at the rink when she was younger.
Frank Thomson
Interviewed October 28, 2003. Frank discusses the Seratoma Club, the Old Goats, Haight Furniture Store, and Isaac Haight putting up money for ‘S’ Mountain.
Transcript of Frank’s interview
Agnes Thornton
Interviewed December 5, 2003.
Dick Tuttle
Interviewed September 10, 2003. Dick recalls Tuttle’s Sporting Goods store, serving as Salida City Councillor and Chaffee County Commissioner, and the building of the senior center.
Dick Tuttle
Charles Upp
Interviewed March 13, 2004. Charles recalls going to the movies at the Empress Theatre, military service, music store, and the Denver & Rio Grande Narrow Gauge shops.
Charles Upp
Interviewed November 29, 2004.
Anthony Vigil
Interviewed January 15, 2004. Anthony discusses discrimination, Salida’s downtown stores, and the Salida High School burning down.
Mary Virginia Luna Apodaca Vigil
Interviewed September 6, 2003. Mary recalls playing poker for pinon nuts, discrimination, and picnics at O’Haver Lake.
Pat Warner
Interviewed November 14, 2005.