WISHING YOU CONTINUED HEALTH AND SAFETY!
A Note from the President
I would like to personally thank all the volunteers and all the friends of the museum for keeping the Salida Museum viable and an ongoing part of Salida and the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Without your help and support it would not have been possible.
The history and artifacts shown at the museum illustrate the environment of a high mountain town founded in 1880 and how it grew over the generations, populated by people that loved the area and the adventures our wonderful location offered.
The donations that we received during the pandemic have helped us tremendously, and we are very grateful. As we turn the corner on a very trying time, we would also like to ask that our friends in the area consider volunteering to help run the Salida Museum. You are welcome to contact the museum and see what kind of help might be needed.
I would like to thank everyone again and ask that you visit the museum as you feel comfortable.
Sincerely, Bob Campbell
It’s Great to be Open
The Salida Museum has been open to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, since May 7 of this year. The hours are now 12 noon to 4pm, and we plan to continue that schedule into the winter. Face masks are recommended for those people not vaccinated, and we will continue to follow the Chaffee County Health requirements for businesses. Attendance has been gratifying since we opened, and we are certainly enjoying the interactions with visitors. No appointment is necessary to visit on the days when we are open, but you can call the museum and make an appointment for a visit on any other day except Monday.
Ghost Town Club of Colorado
by Bonnie Konopka
I am a member of the Ghost Town Club of Colorado (GTC). This summer the GTC had several field trips, including Buckskin Joe near Alma, Como to Breckenridge (Dyersville, Hamilton, Boreas, Farnham), Chalk Creek (Romley, Hancock, St Elmo), and near Breckenridge (Preston, Larium, Tiger, Parkville, etc). Please see the description below and check out the website.
The Ghost Town Club of Colorado is an active and energetic group of people with diverse backgrounds who share an interest in the history of the west, especially Colorado.
The club enjoys visiting historic sites and is committed to the preservation of these sites for future generations. In addition to trip planning, monthly meetings include programs on historical subjects. In addition, the club conducts field trips to sites throughout Colorado, and occasionally beyond to locales in the western United States and Canada.
Historic preservation is a focus of our work, and preservation work is done in conjunction with the field trips. Also once a year the club distributes its preservation funds to nonprofit historical sites in need of financial help. For exploration, enjoyment and preservation of historical sites, go to www.ghosttownclub.org.
Also if you are interested in being involved with local ghost town enthusiasts and perhaps begin regional field trips please contact bonniekonopka@comcast.net.
Recent Museum Donations
Since the last newsletter, the museum has received many donations of artifacts that are of interest to our chronicle of Salida history. Riley Murphy, daughter of Bill Murphy, who was the owner of KVRH Radio Station in Salida, donated items connected with her father’s tenure at the station. Gary Buchanan, current station manager, donated more items from the station, and the two donations will be used to create a new exhibit about the history of radio in Salida. Theresa Kahn donated items related to her father, Ray Maes, who was born and raised in Salida. Wally Ewing donated many of the books he used in compiling information for his own book, Uncommon People. Others who made donations to the museum include: Earle Kittleman, Susie Orzechowski, Glenn R. Mallory, Jr., Betty Plotz, Karen Starbuck Dunlap, Debbie Shrauner, Donna Rhoads, Brent Petrini, Michael R. Addy, Padget McFeeley, Timothy Byrne and Merna A. Kerss. Many thanks to all these kind people who added to our collection and enhanced our ability to display the history of Salida.
Books
Steve Chapman’s books on early Salida history are still available at the museum. His four book series about the early history of Salida continues to be popular: Blood, Booze and Whores, The History of Salida, Colorado Vol. 1: 1880-1881; Dead Bodies and Brothels, The History of Salida, Colorado Vol. 2: 1882 & 1883; Three Murdered Wives, The History of Salida, Colorado Vol. 3: 1884 & 1885 and Salida Burns Down, The History of Salida, Colorado Vol. 4: 1886 & 1887.
Steve has written another book about the history of Salida: MURDER! The Criminal Conspiracy & Coverup Behind the Slaying of Salida’s Most Famous Marshal. This book investigates the shooting of Marshal Baxter Stingley in downtown Salida in 1883, and is also available at the museum.
All five of Chapman’s historical Salida books can be ordered online at www.SalidaWalkingTours.com/shop.
Salida Regional Archivist Joy Jackson has published a book called Retro Salida, Short Histories from the Archive. This book is a collection of articles on Salida history that Joy wrote for The Mountain Mail, Salida’s newspaper. The articles detail an assortment of subjects and events that combine to give the reader a feel for life in early Salida. Some examples of articles are “The Richest & Unluckiest Man in Town”, “Rise of the Cattle Thieves”, and “The Making of Spiral Drive”. The book is available at the museum and is a good read for anyone interested in the history of Salida.
Library Corner
Helen Hanks
by Joy Jackson
Helen Hanks loved the camera, and it loved her right back. She was born in 1889 here in Salida and after graduating from Salida High School, Helen got a job at the Hay Studio working for Henry Hay as an image retoucher. In the early days of photography, photographers used india ink, crayons, or watercolors to touch up imperfections in their images, kind of like an old school Photoshop. Also, since images were in black and white, color was added to create a more life-like appearance in subjects.
The Salida Museum houses a large collection of Helen Hanks images; here are just a sampling:
This is young adult Helen, probably still in high school when this was taken:
Helen was active in Salida’s social scene, throwing parties and going on outings with Methodist Church members. She was also a member of the Tuesday Evening Club, the organization that built the Salida Library, and was the social club in Salida.
And Helen was an actor, regularly performing in productions around town.
Here she is as James Madison from the patriotic play ‘Builders of a Nation,’ a Tuesday Evening club production:
As a comparison, the detail in the color work that Helen did can be seen in the below images:
Here is Helen as Esther, the biblical heroine, from a Methodist church production. This image includes the touch-up coloring that Helen was proficient at:
Dress-up was commonplace at parties that Helen frequented. At one George Washington party, eight ladies (including Helen) dressed as ‘colonial dames’ and danced the minuet: “Flags were used in profusion in the rooms and George’s tree with his little hatchet was much in evidence … Much amusement was afforded from the guessing games, paper race and suit case race. At a late hour all enjoyed cherry pie a la mode and coffee.” (Salida Mail March 1, 1921)
And Helen performed in numerous Shakespeare adaptations: A Winter’s Tale, Twelfth Night, and Macbeth, where she performed in the coveted role of Lady Macbeth:
The Tuesday Evening Club was a big proponent of Shakespeare; at one business session, the roll call was answered by each member with quotations from the Bard.
By the 1920s, Helen’s job was photographer at the Hay Studio. She bought the business from Henry Hay (he died in 1937) and was active from the 30s to the 50s, until she sold the business to Roy Morris.
Helen Hanks died in 1973 and is buried out at Fairview, section H.
For a more detailed look into Salida’s photographic past, check out the ‘Salida Photographers’ page at the Salida Library:
http://salidaarchive.info/salidas-photographers/
Business of the Month
By Earle Kittleman
What a surprise! Salida Museum was selected Business of the Month by the Salida Chamber of Commerce. All hands, including this year’s faithful docents Giff Kriebel and Ron Regenold, showed up Sept. 3 for the picture in front of Engine No. 40 in front of the museum. Larry spoke on behalf of the museum in a short KVRH interview, and then we gave the red-suited Chamber Vaqueros the VIP tour.
We would like to believe the museum was singled out because of all the improvements that have been made over the last several years— new and revamped exhibits, new lighting (LED), new front desk and other remodeling, uniform signage and labeling, digital cataloging, etc. And, we have managed to be open, with Covid safety precautions, at least for weekend visitors.
Museum Board of Directors
The current museum board of directors is comprised of the following:
President, Bob Campbell
Secretary, Earle Kittleman, 719-539-6153
Treasurer, Larry Kovacic, 505-280-4831
Board Member, Judith Kinzie, 719-539-9439
Board Member, Arlene Shovald, 719-539-3139
Board Member, Bonnie Konopka, 505-270-6523
Special thanks goes to Margaret Dean, who volunteers as a board liason from Maysville. The members of the South Arkansas Landowners Association (SALA), comprising residents in the Maysville area, do a lot of work taking care of the historic Maysville School, which is owned by the museum. We appreciate their efforts to maintain the school as a historic landmark and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.
Museum Docents
Giff Kriebel
Ron Regenold
Terry Pintane
If you are interested in becoming a board member and coming to one meeting a month (minimal commitment, no summer meetings), let us know. We would be very happy to talk to you about joining our team. Our board meetings are open to the public, so if you want to attend one and find out if you’re interested, the meetings are the third Wednesday of the month, 11:00am, at the museum. Note: meetings have resumed after a long hiatus, so feel free to join us..
Support the Salida Museum
The Salida Museum Association is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that relies on donations, memberships, admissions and limited fundraising to remain operational. You can help support the museum by making a donation or becoming a member.
Donation – any amount appreciated
Annual Membership – $15, includes 5 free visits
Lifetime Membership – $100, includes unlimited free visits
Memberships and donations are tax deductible. Send your payment to the address listed below, use our website to remit with PayPal, or join when you come in to see the museum. You will receive an acknowledgement letter for tax purposes. (make sure we have your address)
Salida Museum Association
406 1/2 W. Hwy 50, Salida, Colorado 81201
salidamuseum@gmail.com
719-539-7483
For more museum information, see our website or Facebook page.
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