February 2024 by The Senior Voice

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Published Locally Since 1980

February 2024

Aspen: A Silver Boom Town

2 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

Aspen: A Silver Boom Town

Published Locally Since 1980 Vol. 44, No. 2

Online at www.theseniorvoice.net PUBLICATION INFORMATION The Senior Voice is locally owned and has been published the first of each month since 1980 for residents in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and nearby areas. ADVERTISING Ad deadline is 20th of month. For rates, call 970-229-9204; email wolf@theseniorvoice.net or see www.theseniorvoice.net

By Ginger Hunt

Colorado pioneers named the Maroon Bells mountains near Aspen for their unusual maroon color. They have long been associated with Aspen, the silver mining capitol of the world in the late 1800s. Before the miners came, Ute Indians called the peaks the “Shining Mountains” and used the nearby valleys as summer hunting grounds. Archaeologists have discovered that prehistoric peo-

wood and gleaming marble.

boom was headed for collapse.

In 1885, the Aspen Times reported the booming town had 5,500 residents, 16 hotels, 40 saloons and 15 sporting houses (brothels). The town also had 31 lawyers, an unusually high number.

The miners hadn’t counted on one thing that has often ruined American economies: government involvement.

The newspaper gave curious descriptions of some of the town’s residents: “150 Eastern havebeens...and 1,500 men hankering for wives.” A city ordinance stated: “No bawdy house or house of ill fame

When the U.S. Government suddenly returned to the gold standard in 1893, the price of silver plummeted and many silver mines closed. For places like Aspen, it was nearly a death knell. Miners lost fortunes and the town declined rapidly. After reaching a population of 12,000

Wolfgang Lambdin Publisher and Advertising Director

Fort Collins, Colorado (970) 229-9204 wolf.lambdin@gmail.com EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Announcements and stories must be received by the 10th of the month; ads by the 20th of the month. READER INFORMATION: Subscriptions $52 a year. Writers' opinions are not necessarily those of The Senior Voice. EDITORIAL OFFICE: (970) 229-9204 wolf.lambdin@gmail.com www.theseniorvoice.net Design Production by Ellen Bryant Design ellen@ellenbryantdesign.com © Copyright 2024 The Senior Voice No material may be reproduced by any means without permission of the Senior Voice. William and Peggy Lambdin Founders, 1980

Aspen Silver Mines taken between 1895 and 1905. Library of Congress. ple lived in the area at least 8,000 years ago. Shining Mountains is a good name for the region. It suggests the beauty of the ancient wilderness, recalls the glittering wealth silver miners derived from it, and captures the present-day appeal of ski slopes glistening in winter sunlight. The beauty and appeal of the area were recognized by Aspen’s earliest settlers. Unlike many other mining towns, Aspen drew wealthy developers from the time its silver ore was discovered in 1879. Jerome B. Wheeler, president of Macy’s Department Store in the East, built the Hotel Jerome in Aspen in 1889. It was then one of the finest hotels in the United States, with expensive crystal, polished

shall be kept within the city limits.” But the miners and madams paid no attention to that. The town was jumping. Fortunes were being made overnight. Investors arrived almost daily. Wealthy Victorians dined on caviar and lobster. In some ways, the exciting and flamboyant atmosphere was similar to that found in present-day Aspen. By 1890 the town’s rich mines produced more silver than any other place in the nation. In 1894 the Smuggler Mine yielded one of the world’s largest silver nuggets. It weighed nearly 2,200 pounds and was 93 percent silver. Some people said it had to be trimmed to 1,840 pounds to get it out of the mine shaft. But the glittering, exuberant

in the 1890s, Aspen had only 700 residents by 1935. It was on its way to becoming a ghost town. But the shining mountains were discovered once again, this time by skiers who had trained with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division during WWII at nearby Camp Hale. One soldier skier, Friedl Pfeifer, saw Aspen’s possibilities as a ski resort. He returned after the war, raised money and opened Aspen’s first ski lift in 1947. It didn't take the world long to discover Aspen’s small-town mountain charm and superior skiing conditions. ________________ COVER PICTURE: The mountains near Aspen.

February 2024 • The Senior Voice • 3

MEDICARE CHANGES MORE ON MEDICARE In 2024 mature Americans will see how much Medicare can change drug prices. The change will affect what seniors pay for dozens of drugs.

Januvia, made by Merck, is used to lower blood sugar for people with Type 2 diabetes.

Medicare is negotiating the prices for the first round of 10 drugs. By the fall, the federal government will publish the prices for those drugs, which will go into effect in 2026.

Entresto, made by Novartis, is used to treat certain types of heart failure.

Here are the 10 drugs affected in 2024:

Imbruvica, made by AbbVie, is used to treat different types of blood cancers.

Eliquis, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, is used to prevent blood clotting, to reduce the risk of stroke. Jardiance, made by Boehringer Ingelheim, is used to lower blood sugar for people with Type 2 diabetes. Xarelto, made by Johnson & Johnson, is used to prevent blood clotting, to reduce the risk of stroke.

Farxiga, made by AstraZeneca, is used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

Enbrel, made by Amgen, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Stelara, made by Janssen, is used to treat Crohn’s disease. Fiasp and NovoLog, insulins made by Novo Nordisk. The outcomes mean big changes for drug companies, which view the process as a threat to their profits. They will sue to stop the changes, and that lawsuit will probably go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here is President Joe Biden’s statement about Medicare changes in 2024: “From day one, I vowed to strengthen Medicare for the millions of Americans who have paid into this program from their very first paycheck. Today seniors and their families will be able to see the progress we’ve made in lowering health care costs. “Starting January 1, 2024, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, prescription drug costs will be more affordable. Seniors and other Part D enrollees with high drug spending will have their out-of-pocket drug costs capped at about $3,500 next year, and all enrollees will have their costs capped at $2,000 in 2025.

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“Low-income seniors and

disabled people will be able to get extra help paying for their premiums and cost-sharing through the expanded Low Income Subsidy program. And many Medicare beneficiaries will continue to save hundreds of dollars on their health care costs because Democrats capped the price of insulin at $35 per month and made recommended vaccines free. “I am proud that Congressional Democrats and I were able to deliver these cost savings for millions of seniors and their families. “Medicare is a lifeline for seniors, and I will continue the fight to lower health care costs and protect Medicare for generations to come.”

4 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

Pioneer in Fort Collins By Wayne Sundberg

Fort Collins Historian Have you ever driven down Mason Street in Fort Collins and wondered where the name came from? Joseph Mason was one of the earliest settlers in this area, coming to LaPorte in February, 1860, just about the time that Antoine Janis and others were establishing that town. Joe Mason was born in Montreal, Canada, January 28, 1840, and came to the United States when he was only 15, and spent the next few years in the East. He came west with an expedition to the Yellowstone country in 1859. His stay in LaPorte was brief, before he headed for the new mining camps. He returned to settled on a farm on the Poudre River in 1862.

When the small military post, Camp Collins, above LaPorte was flooded in June of 1862, Lt. James Hanna was sent down stream to find a new site. Mason pointed out some high ground on the south side of the river, a half mile below his farm, which was located south of Willow and east of Shields on the north side of the river. The new fort, Fort Collins, was established

He was kicked in the head by a vicious colt.

of the first board of county commissioners, after being appointed by Gov. Wm. Gilpin in 1864; and was an early sheriff. The store, “Old Grout,” had multi uses: first jail; first home of some of the early church services and fraternal organizations; and the Larimer County court house after the county seat was moved from LaPorte in 1868. Mason was a well-liked and much respected member of the community. His tragic death in 1881 was mourned by most citiJoseph Mason. Photo courtesy

zens. He was kicked in the head

Fort Collins Public Library. on August 20, 1864. Mason was abandoned. appointed post sutler (store keepMason was Fort Collins’ first er) and with Asaph Allen built the town’s first store after the fort was T:9" post master; he became a member

while working with a “vicious colt” and died two days later. He was only 41 years old, but his memory endures today.

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February 2024 • The Senior Voice • 5

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etc., and while effective for athletes and the younger population, high impact activities are generally discouraged for those with joint replacements.” So, how do we promote power training for this unique group of individuals, making access to a pain-free and power-driven life equally attainable for those from twenty to ninety?

In the ever-evolving landscape of orthopedic rehabilitation, a paradigm shift is occurring in the realm of post-hip/knee replacement recovery: power training! This specialized form of exercise is proving to be a game-changer: helping individuals not only regain strength, but also enhance overall physical performance and, consequently, quality of life. Statistical insights underscore the benefit of integrating power training into rehabilitation program, showcasing promising results and bolstering the overall strength and agility of post-surgery patients. Dr. Emily Turner, a distinguished rehabilitation specialist, explains “Power training involves retraining the neuromuscular system for optimal efficiency. By integrating high velocity movements into rehabilitation, we not only fortify strength, but also enhance coordination and balance, which are crucial for a comprehensive recovery.”

states “For our clients who have had hip or knee replacement surgeries, this methodology proves pivotal in being able to add physical activities such as pickleball, hiking, and travel back to their bucket list.“ Bemis further explains, “Typical power training includes exercises such as: plyometrics, box jumps, sprints, ball slams,

A study published in the European Review of Aging and Physical Activity further states, “Research suggests that muscle power is a more critical determinant of physical functioning in older adults than muscle strength”. Power training differs from conventional strength training by incorporating dynamic, high- velocity movements, allowing for activation of multiple muscle groups at once. While traditional resistance training increases only strength, power training places a premium on speed and force of muscle contractions, simultaneously developing strength, balance, and mobility. Kirk Bemis, a Certified Personal Trainer and owner of Fort Collins Based Fit-Rx,

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6 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

The changing brain with hearing loss: Link between hearing loss and cognitive decline

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Greeley in the late 1800s. Hazel Johnson Collection. By David Halaas Colorado Historical Society John Evans from Greeley was the second territorial governor of Colorado. He arrived in Denver in 1862. Evans tightened mining claim laws, ordered a survey of Berthoud Pass for a possible railroad route west through the mountains, petitioned Congress for a commitment to build the Union Pacific through Colorado, lobbied for an increase of federal troops along the roads, and negotiated a treaty with the Utes.

Friday, February 23, 7 pm and Saturday February 24, 2 pm The Lincoln Center Performance Hall Get Tickets at www.LCtix.com Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

With a medical degree from Clermont Academy, Evans had previously been one of Indiana’s leading physicians. Shocked by the deplorable conditions of that state’s insane asylums, he successfully lobbied the Indiana legislature to establish the nation’s first state-supported institutions for the mentally ill. Later, as a professor at Rush Medical College in Chicago, he received national acclaim for his

discovery that cholera is contagious. Ever supportive of education, Evans founded Northwestern University in a Chicago suburb that was later named Evanston in his honor and was president of the university’s board of trustees. Evans was a physically striking man, and his appearance was made all the more remarkable by his penchant for carrying a block of cedar and a sharp edged knife, always ready to whittle his way through any meeting or street corner chat. He was welcomed everywhere. His involvement in Colorado was total and sweeping. He ran banks, built railroads, invested in business and mining ventures, and founded the University of Denver. In honor of his services, the legislature gave his name to the highest peak on the front range of the Rocky Mountains: Mount Evans west of Denver.

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9 S 2H 3A 4D 5 S 6H 7O 8D T 10S 11A P E R U 13I S K I 14N 15G 16O W L 17 18 19 O R E G O N T R A I L T A O 20 21 22 D O N O R A N T E L O P E 23 24 25 E N O U G H A R A Y 26 27 28 T O U C H S O M E 29O 30N 31E 32 35 36 M 33A 34E G N U S I M O N 37 38 39 40 41 42 A L V A O N T O P S I L T 43 44 45 46 R A I N S C R Y T O O 47 48 49 50 51 S I L V E R T H O R N E 52 53 54 I N O R O A T S 55O 56R 57 58 59 60 61 C A L L S O U T S H OW A 62 63 64 65 O R U E S T I M A T I O N S 66 67 68 A L L A T H E N S C U S P 69 70 71 L O U S D A K S T A Y

ACROSS 1 Type of herring, common along the Atlantic coast which migrate up rivers to spawn 5 Wearing shoes 9 Part of the Department of Homeland Security (abbr.) 12 Where you’d find Machu Picchu on a globe 13 Famous quote by old time investor Jack Welch, CEO of GE: “Cash _____ _____” 16 Nocturnal raptor 17 Pioneer travel path k 19 Principle underlying (Chinese philosophy) 20 One who gives 21 The “pronghorn” of the prairie to most people 23 Ample amount 25 The chief’s smile provided _____ _____ of hope for their release the next day. 26 80s tag line by AT&T, “Reach Out and ____ ____.” 32 West, of early films 35 Wildebeest 36 Keep it “simple” for him 37 Three time governor of Colorado: _____ Adams 39 Folk song of the 1950’s: “____ ____ of Old Smokey 42 Garfield County town along the Colorado River 43 Monsoon weather feature 45 Johnnie Ray hit of the early fifties 46 Also 47 Summit County town convenient for skiers to spend the night 52 Ultimation to a pet dog: “ _____ _____ out!” 53 The stable hands provided either _____ _____ hay for the hungry mounts 57 Ump’s decision on a close play at the plate 61 Mom’s advice to a belligerent child: “You need to _____ _____ little respect.” 62 Higher learning institution located in Tulsa, OK (abbr.) 63 Political pundits’ guesses 66 Greedy one’s demand

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ABOUT

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by Tony Donovan

February 2024 • The Senior Voice • 7

67 Home of the “Acropolis” 68 Point of transition or turning point 69 Bud’s comedic partner of 50’s film 70 Pierre is the capitol (abbr.) 71 Command to Rover DOWN 1 English brand of china and pottery 2 Lake wading bird seen in Colorado: Great Blue ____ 3 There ___ ___ ivory billed woodpeckers in the U.S. 4 The players sat in the _____ until the rain stopped. 5 Moral digression 6 Presidential monogram of late WW II 7 Gumbo ingredient 8 Ross and Rigg are two famous ones 9 Dorothy’s dog 10 Trade 11 Burn friendly plant 14 It is the “N” in TNT 15 Brief flashes of light 18 “I couldn’t decide if I should stay _____ _____.” 22 _____ _____ a caustic compound 24 Small Lincoln County community 27 Cable news org. 28 Storage cabinet for curios and treasured items 29 Leave out something in a publication 30 “ _____ contendere” (a plea of no contest) 31 Prefix meaning within 32 God of war for the Romans 33 Jai _____ 34 ___ Empire, how Reagan described the Soviet Union 38 Blacksmith’s surface for hammering or shaping 40 Gold, in Mexico 41 Prefix used to denote heat or fire 44 The scientists could ___ ___ breakthrough coming. 48 Place for a bird to hangout 49 “We hold these _____ to be self evident...” 50 Cartoonist who created Uncle Sam 51 The news is full of ___ violations in the government 54 “After running, I was ____ _____ of breath.” 55 That actress _____ _____ ski chalet in Vail 56 It's hard to understand him because of his ___ voice 57 There used to be an old ___mine in these mountains. 58 _____ Guthrie was a folk singer years ago. 59 ____ City, a ghost town in Rocky Mtn. National Park 60 He couldn’t help me. His hands were _____ . 64 The Museum of Northern Arizona, abbr. 65 “ _____ me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies!” COLORADO CROSSWORDS are created by longtime Loveland residents Tony and Peggy Donovan.

The Donovan family. By Bill Lambdin The Senior Voice staff wants to thank Tony and Peggy Donovan, who produce the Crossword Puzzles that readers enjoy every month. They have produced the puzzles for 44 years, since The Voice began in 1980. Their crosswords are one of the most popular features of The Senior Voice, and they are close friends of The Senior Voice founders Bill and Peggy Lambdin. For many years, Tony and Peggy Donovan owned Aunt Alice’s restaurant in Longmont, Colorado. They established it in 1987. Reviewers described it as a family owned business featuring traditional American foods. One reviewer said, “The dining area is unlike any other restaurant, full of plants and flowers.” We also want to thank some other people who have made important contributions to The Voice. Wolfgang Lambdin and Heidi Lambdin Carney have been with

The Voice since it began in 1980, and they are the two people most responsible for its success. Wolfgang continues to be the publisher and owner of The Voice. Graphic Designer Ellen Bryant is also an important contributor, as is attorney Ronald Rutz. Many northern Colorado historians have written for The Voice. Some are no longer living, but we want to remember Arlene Ahlbrandt, Hazel Johnson, and Josephine Clements. In addition to writing, those women contributed historic photographs you still see in The Voice. You can pick up printed copies of The Voice at many locations in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and other towns. You can read it online at www.theseniorvoice.net. And thank you, readers. We look forward to many more years of publishing The Voice. Email wolf.lambdin@gmail. com. Call 970.229.9204 in Fort Collins.

8 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

OUR HOSPITALS Estate Planning Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said it’s time to hold hospitals accountable for the high costs they are passing onto patients. “Sadly, we are among the top 10 states for hospital cost, price and profit. Let’s change that,” Polis said. “Some large hospital systems are making record profits, paying zero taxes, and sitting on enormous reserves while overcharging customers,” Polis said. “Meanwhile, they are consolidating providers, which drives up costs and leaves fewer options for Coloradans.” But hospital executives disagree. Many hospitals are operating with negative margins, said the Colorado Hospital Association. More than half of Colorado’s hospitals are in unsustainable financial situations, their report states. “Almost three years into the

pandemic, hospitals continue to meet their missions and provide life-saving, accessible care for patients and communities,” said the Hospital Association president Jeff Tilman. “At the same time, they are managing staff constraints, financial pressures, and growing regulatory burden.” Tilman added that while Colorado hospitals are seeing fewer patients, they are seeing patients with more serious illness, which is also a trend being seen around the country. Nationwide, hospital leaders say they are dealing with sicker patients requiring longer hospital stays. Hospital leaders say many patients have delayed seeking healthcare in the pandemic, and now they are showing up in hospitals with more advanced illness.

By Ron Rutz, Attorney Q: In your last column, you stated that one spouse can leave any amount of value to the other spouse tax free and “remains one of the cornerstones of estate planning”. Is this what is referred to as the technique that no one is being told about? A: I have addressed this area several times but let’s revisit focusing on probate and federal estate taxes. The goal is to pass on assets without probate, so assets should be set up in joint tenancy, or with beneficiary designations, and the total value of the rest should be under $68,000 (so a Small Estate Affidavit can be used). Except for assets passing to the surviving spouse, the value of everything else would be deducted from $12,920,000 to eliminate federal estate taxes. Next the surviving spouse

would have beneficiary deeds for any real estate, along with beneficiary designations where available, plus keeping the value of the others nonbeneficiary designated assets under $68,000. The second spouse would have a $12,920,000 tax exemption plus if a timely election was filed, that part of the first spouse’s $12,900,000 exemption not used to offset taxes to non spousal inheritors. In addition, appropriate LLCs and corporations could be used to push the value being inherited above $25,740,000 Testamentary trusts could also be inserted to provide for minors or inheritors with special needs. No probate, no taxes, and only a couple thousand dollars in cost for estates from zero to around $30,000,000. (Email rutz@ronaldrutz.com, Call 970.227.6062 in Loveland.)

February 2024 • The Senior Voice • 9

DRUG COMPANIES BAD HEALTHCARE How will drug companies continue to make profits after the latest Medicare change?

Drug companies’ pricing is still relatively unregulated, and they can often raise drug prices beyond inflation rates. This allows the drug companies to increase their revenues continually, even if demand for one or more drugs is not high. The majority of a drug company’s revenue comes from a pattern of steadily increasing prices of drugs that have been on the market for some time. Because of drug companies’ pricing power and their ability to increase prices, the worry about sluggish demand is far down on the list of concerns in relation to pricing. Drug companies often say that price increases are necessary

to fund their continuing research of new drug discoveries. In addition, as some patented drugs face no competition, drug companies can raise prices without customers having enough suitable alternatives.

The companies set their own prices when selling the products they have created. Without any competition for a newly created drug or one still under patent, pharma companies can set whatever price they want, knowing there are no alternatives for consumers. When considering how to price a drug, pharma companies take into consideration the uniqueness of the drug, competition, drug effectiveness, and research and development costs.

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(Editor’s note: This article was written by healthcare researcher Dr. Daniel J. Stone) Why has the U.S., the world leader in drug and healthcare technology, fallen so far behind? The answer is that the system stopped serving the public long ago. It serves the needs of those profiting from healthcare. Powerful lobbies representing insurance companies, drug companies, doctor groups and others block meaningful reforms. The costs of this failing system challenge comprehension. As a comparison, World War II appropriately set the benchmark for unrestrained public spending, as the U.S. government poured almost $6 trillion (in current dollars) into the military from 1940 to 1945. We now spend more than $4 trillion on healthcare each year.

What do we get for that staggering sum? Statistics compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development tell an embarrassing story. On critical rankings such as life expectancy at birth and deaths from avoidable conditions, the U.S ranked near the bottom. The insurance industry poses the greatest obstacle. Its administrative overhead cost is around 17% of revenue, compared with Medicare, which spends only 2% of operating expenditures on administration. If a federal single-payer system — like “Medicare for all” — saved even 10% of what insurers are wasting on administration, the extra billions could revolutionize care.

10 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

The Great Diamond Hoax By Peggy Hunt One of the few valuable diamond discoveries in the United States was made northwest of Fort Collins near the Wyoming border in the early 1970s. Many fine gems have since been sold from that mine. It’s curious that, over 100 years earlier, the Great Colorado Diamond Hoax occurred in 1872 when prospectors Philip Arnold and Jack Slack said they found raw diamonds and rubies in northwestern Colorado. The prospectors showed up at the Bank of California in San Francisco in 1872 and dumped a bagful of uncut stones on the desk of bank president William Ralston. Ralston was a major investment banker and eager to become even richer than he was. He told Arnold and Slack that he could arrange financing to mine the precious stones if they proved to be genuine. He sent two of his trusted associates to the Colorado site. They verified that uncut stones could simply be picked up from the ground. They also brought back samples they valued at $125,000. Ralston then had the samples examined in New York by Charles Tiffany, founder of the famous jewelry firm. He appraised them at $150,000. Licking his chops but still

The village of Hahn’s Peak north of Steamboat Springs was near the hoax site. Colorado Historical Society. cautious, Ralston sent mining engineer Henry Janin to inspect the Colorado site. Janin said the gem field was authentic and estimated that a crew of 25 men could mine $1 million worth of gems every month from it. Now Ralston was excited. He quickly formed a company of investors that included his associates and some prominent men like Civil War General George McClellan. Word got out, and newspapers worldwide ran headlines about the Great Colorado Diamond Field. Ralston didn’t want the two rough prospectors as associates; so he bought out Arnold and Slack for $600,000. They took the money and disappeared. Meanwhile, a young geologist named Clarence King heard about

the discovery and became curious. Earlier in 1867, King had surveyed the area near the diamond site for the transcontinental railroad. He had found no indication of precious stones. He went to the Colorado site. His investigation showed that the diamonds were African rejects. The prospectors had purchased them in London and Amsterdam for almost nothing and carefully salted the Colorado area. Now the newspapers had an even bigger heyday with the hoax. Charles Tiffany admitted that he was inexperienced with uncut gems and had over estimated their value. Others involved, including the Bank of California, tried to make excuses and avoid embarrassment. Eventually

investigators

found the prospectors. Philip Arnold had established a bank in Kentucky and agreed to pay back $150,000 in return for immunity from prosecution. Jack Slack was not found until after he had died in 1896. He had been an undertaker in a small town in New Mexico. Young geologist Charles King, who had saved other potential investors from losses by revealing the hoax, became the first director of the U.S. Geological Survey. The incident put the Bank of California into temporary insolvency and made William Ralston the butt of jokes nationwide. The day Ralston was fired from the bank, his body was found in San Francisco Bay.

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Stage Coaches in Colorado By Dorman Lehman

The first stagecoaches to serve Denver arrived on May 7, 1859. The Leavenworth and Pikes Peak Express was formed by William Russell, a partner in the freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Waddel. Russell later organized the famous Pony Express. The Denver stages followed the Republican River to its source near Hugo, northwest to near Limon, west to north of Kiowa, then on to Cherry Creek and the company’s office in Denver. The stages were “Concord” coaches drawn by six mules that were changed at each of the 25 intermediate stations. Early settlers, prior to the establishment of sec-

February 2024 • The Senior Voice • 11

tion line roads, used the route and some of these roads are still in use today. The earliest settlers tended to locate at or near the old station sites, as there was a dependable source of water there. When Russell finally obtained a mail contract in July of 1859, he was required to change the route to follow the South Platte River route. This required the establishment of new stations and the relocation went quite well, but there were rumors that some freight and passengers were stranded on the original route. Later the stages followed a cut-off from Julesburg through Ft. Morgan and approached Denver from the east. By October of 1859, Russell

This ranch trail follows the old stage road northeast of Stratton. Photo by Dorman Lehman. had to admit to his partners that the stage line was bankrupt. The partners agreed to take it over providing the name was changed to the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak (COC&PP). The employees soon knew this as the “Clean Out of Cash & Poor Pay.” By February of 1862, the stage line was again bankrupt and

was purchased by Ben Holladay for $100, 000. In 1869 the completion of railroad service eliminated the need for a cross-country stage line. ________________ Dorman Lehman lives in Greeley. Email him at vidorm48@ecentral. com.

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12 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

Owen Wister in later years. Wyoming History Museum.

Origin of

the Western By Peggy Hunt

The little town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming, northwest of Laramie has one claim to fame: It was the setting for the first major Western novel written in America—Owen Wister’s “The Virginian.” That book was the model for all the Western movies, books and TV shows we’ve had since. Wister was a Harvard educated lawyer from Pennsylvania. In 1885 as a young man of 25, he came to Wyoming for his health and kept a record of his observations and stories he heard from early cowboys. The book was the model for all the Western movies, books and TV shows we’ve had since. Medicine Bow had only a saloon and store when the transcontinental railroad was built through it in 1868. But it soon became a major shipping point for cattle.

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Wister stayed at nearby ranches during summers for several years and published his novel in 1902. It was a huge success because, unlike earlier dime novels that were distortions, it contained well written descriptions of what the West was really like.

Its most famous line, “When you call me that, smile,” came from a scene in the book when the Virginian was playing poker with a badman named Trampas, who called the Virginian a S.O.B. “The Virginian’s pistol came out,” wrote Wister, “and his hand lay on the table, holding it unaimed. With a voice as gentle as ever…he issued his orders to the man Trampas: “’When you call me that, smile!’ And he looked at Trampas across the table. Yes, the voice was gentle. But in my ears, it seemed as if somewhere the bell of death was ringing.” Nearly every Western writer since then has used a similar scene. John Wayne drawled through it many times. Wister later had a summer cabin at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and said the time he spent there was the best of his life. That cabin was moved to Medicine Bow years later and became a tourist attraction. The town also put up a sign that said: Medicine Bow, Home of the Virginian. “When You Call Me That, Smile.” At the top of the sign were the words “Wonderfull Wyoming.” Wister would have agreed it was wonderful, but he would have spelled it right.

February 2024 • The Senior Voice • 13

Rattlesnake Kate (Editor’s Note: Greeley historian Hazel E. Johnson wrote the following story years ago.)

They called her “Rattlesnake Kate.” She lived in the sandhills southeast of Greeley, and one day in 1925 she killed over 140 rattlesnakes. On a sunny fall day, Kate Slaughterback put her three-yearold son on a horse and rode to a lake near their farm to shoot some ducks and geese.

strange sound like wind rustling in dried corn stalks. She looked around and realized what was happening. Hundreds of rattlers were moving through the area, and she was in their path.

She threw down her gun and looked for something with which to do battle. She spotted a piece of fence post about three feet long, grabbed it up and began killing rattlers as fast as she could. Kate didn’t know if the trembling horse would bolt and throw her son off among the snakes. She only knew she was fighting for his life and hers.

Rattlesnake Kate. Kate tanned the skins. On an impulse one day, she made a dress from some of them.

But another rattler appeared, and then another, and soon her ammunition was gone.

After the slaughter was over, a count revealed she had killed over 140 rattlers, an exploit that spread throughout the U.S.

She later said the Smithsonian Institution offered her a considerable sum for the dress, but she didn’t accept it. The dress was eventually given to the Greeley Museums, where it is displayed only occasionally because dry weather is hard on the skins.

Then she heard a sinister,

Having studied taxidermy,

Once when I visited her, she

Dismounting to open a gate, Kate was met by a coiled rattler. With her .22 rifle, she quickly dispatched him.

saw me casting wary glances at a chair with a snake on it. “Don’t let that rattler scare you,” she said. “It’s one I killed and I’m drying the skin.” A few minutes later, she mused, “I forgot to tell the minister that yesterday. Maybe that’s why he didn’t stay long.”

CLIMATE CHANGES TUBERCULOSIS VACCINE Climate change affects the planet on a global scale, and it affects every region of the planet in a different way. In the western United States, we already see the effects of Climate Change. Colorado relies heavily on the snowpack it receives during the winter months., When it comes to our state’s economy, snow skiing is very important, but when it comes to water, Colorado has seen a decrease in the average snowpack in the past couple of decades, adding to existing problems of drought and water scarcity, according to the Environmental Center at the University of Colorado. If you’ve been in the mountains lately you’ve seen the devestation caused by the pine beetles, which have killed an area of Colorado’s forests equal to over 1.5 million football fields. Rising temperatures and fewer below

freezing winter days allow them to thrive at higher elevation. As Warmer temperatures move their food sources higher up, large Rocky Mountain mammals are being forced to higher elevations. Rising temperatures also bring deadly parasites and diseases to the higher altitudes, further reducing their populations.

Wildflower buds are sensitive to spring frosts. Earlier snowmelt exposes them to more frequent frost kills. Climate change will shrink mountain wildflower populations, affecting the birds, insects and mammals that depend on them for food and shelter. Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said, “The most significant threat to our economic security is not having a secure future water supply.”

Shingrix is a new vaccine to treat tuberculosis, the world’s deadliest infectious disease. But its development slowed after the drug company, GSK, became more interested in profits than in helping patients. Experts say the story of GSK’s vaccine highlights our broken healthcare system, which has for too long prioritized the needs of corporations over those of sick people. From a business standpoint, GSK’s decision made sense. The drug Shingrix would become what the company calls a “crown jewel,” raking in more than $14 billion since 2018. But the ability of a drug company to allow a potentially lifesaving vaccine to languish shows the distressing reality of healthcare in America. After our government pumps millions of taxpayer dollars into the efforts, the companies get con-

trol of the products, locking up ownership, and protecting their profits. Tuberculosis is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent next to coronavirus (COVID-19). Problems with such medicines are why drug companies are the most hated industry in the United States. According to researchers, 58% of American’s think negatively about drug companies. They have been abusing the patent system by creating patents on generic versions of necessary drugs, making the cost of the medicines astronomically high for anyone without adequate health insurance. (Senior Voice note: Information for this article was provided by the non-profit newsroom of ProPublica. See more information at www.propublica.org.)

14 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

A Colorado Ghost Town By Aspen Historical Society The ghost town of Independence near Aspen, Colorado was the first mining site in the Roaring Fork Valley where, legend has it, prospectors discovered the Independence Gold Lode on July 4, 1879. A tent city sprang up that summer, and by 1880 there were 300 people living in the camp. By 1881, the Farwell Mining Company had acquired most of the leading mines in the area including the Independence No. 1, 2, & 3, Last Dollar, Legal Tender, Mammoth, Mount Hope, Champion, Sheba, Friday, and Dolly Varden. The company also operated the Farwell Stamp Mill and a large sawmill for their mines. That summer, the population grew to 500, served by four grocery stores, four boarding houses and three saloons. The Independence Miner started printing in October. By 1882 the Town of Independence had over 40 businesses with three post offices and an estimated population of 1,500. A miner could get room and board for $2 at the New England House, a boarding house on the east end of Main Street. Typical of mining boom towns, the bust soon followed. Miners were lured away from Independence by the abundant work, good pay and milder climate of Aspen. The citizens of Independence could expect to be blanketed in snow from early October to late May. Daily life in a town at 10,900 feet was not easy! Although mining at Independence proved to be short lived, over $190,000 worth of gold was produced between 1881 and 1882. The next year production dropped to $2,000. By 1888, only 100 citizens remained in the high mountain town, which in its brief history had been called many names—Independence, Chipeta,

The ghost town of Independence during a blizzard in 1941. Library of Congress. Farwell, and Sparkill. During the winter of 1899 the worst storm in Colorado’s history cut off the supply routes to Independence. The miners, who were running out of food, proceeded to dismantle their homes to make 75 pairs of skis and to escape en masse to Aspen. They made light of their adventure by making it a race of the Hunter’s Pass Ski Club—entry fee: one ham sandwich. Around 1975, Aspen Historical Society was granted a permit by the United States Forest Services to maintain and interpret the ghost town site, and it was also added to the National Register of Historical Places which helped protect the remaining structures under federal law. Soon after, the Historical Society began staffing an intern at the site in partnership with the Forest Service. Preservation and reconstruction efforts began in earnest in the 1980s under the leadership of Ramona Markalunas. Labor troubles that rocked the district in late 1903 significantly impacted Independence. After thousands of miners walked out of the mines, bloody conflicts erupted between the Western Federa-

tion of Miners union, mine owners, and militias sent from the state of Colorado. On November 9, a bomb planted in the Vindicator mine killed two men. The bomber’s name was Harry Orchard, but that fact was not known until after he struck again six months later. Orchard and an accomplice concealed over 150 pounds of explosive under a platform if the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad depot. On June 6, 1904, the bomb exploded killing 13 miners and injuring 20 more. Labor troubles that rocked the district in late 1903 significantly impacted Independence. After thousands of miners walked out of the mines, bloody conflicts erupted between the Western Federation of Miners union, mine owners, and militias sent from the state of Colorado. On November 9, a bomb planted in the Vindicator mine killed two men. The bomber’s name was Harry Orchard, but that fact was not known until after he struck again six months later. Independence was one of numerous towns that formed around the rich mines of the Cripple Creek District. First known as Hull’s Camp, or Hull City, the name was changed to Independence in 1894

after the Independence Mine rose to prominence in the area. The Independence Mine was actually over two miles south of the town, and was much closer to the city of Victor, but it seems promoters wanted to give the mine a boost by having a nearby town named after it. By 1899, Independence had become a significant community with over 1,500 residents, a post office, two hotels, and numerous businesses and commercial buildings. The Midland Terminal and the Florence and Cripple Creek railroads both had depots here. The Vindicator and Hull City mines were significant producers that employed many miners at Independence. By 1910 many people had left Independence, with just 500 residents counted that year. The population continued to decline over the years, resulting in the closure of the post office in 1954. The Hull City mine closed in 1958, putting an end to this historic mining town.

February 2024 • The Senior Voice • 15

LAU G HTE R : BEST M ED I C IN E

A patrolman pulled a man over and asked him why he was speeding.

The drunk said, “You might as well take me to jail now. There’s no way I can pass that test.”

The pilot was silent for a moment, then said, “You mean you’re not the flight instructor?”

The man said he was a juggler and was late for a performance.

A newspaper photographer was sent to get pictures of a forest fire.

Funny observations from comedian George Carlin:

The patrolman said, “I’m fascinated by juggling. If you can do some for me, I’ll let you go.” The juggler said, “I sent my equipment on ahead and have nothing here to juggle.” “I have some flares in my patrol car. Can you do those?” “Yes,” said the juggler. The patrolman lighted the flares and the juggling began.

He arrived at a local airport and asked for permission to go up in a plane. The permission was granted, and he was told there would be a small plane waiting on the runway in a few minutes. He saw one warming up, jumped in with his camera bag and told the pilot, “Let’s go!”

A drunk pulled up behind the patrol car, got out and stood watching the juggler for a minute. Then he walked over and got in the back seat of the patrol car.

The little plane took off, and the photographer told the pilot, “Make several low passes over the fire.”

The patrolman went to the car and said, “What are you doing?”

“Because I’m a photographer and I need to get pictures.”

“Why?” asked the pilot.

Take Care of Yourself. Plan Ahead.

Ever wonder about those people who spend $3 apiece on little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: Naive. What hair color do they put on the driver’s licenses of bald men? I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me—they’re cramming for their final exam. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the post office? Are we supposed to write to them? Why don’t they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

Call Bohlender Funeral Chapel to talk about pre-arranging funeral and cremation services.

121 W. Olive, Fort Collins

(970) 482-4244

bohlenderfuneralchapel.com

Who are the most influential consumers in Northern Colorado?

People over age 50. • They have twice the spendable income of other consumers. • They account for 51% of all consumer demand. • Colorado has had a 65% increase in this age group in the past seven years—the largest in the nation.

They read the Senior Voice every month. (970) 229-9204 • www.TheSeniorVoice.net • Published locally since 1980.

16 • The Senior Voice • February 2024

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