“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”
– Dorothea Lange
By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com
A photograph well done can capture a thought, a time, and a soul.
Looking at the black-and-white image transported me back there to isolated northwestern Colorado in 1895. The three Shaw brothers lounge in hard backed chairs, rifles in hand; out in front of a rustic cabin as a deer carcass hangs from the crown beam in front of the door.
An alternately dark-and-light colored dog (its name could easily be Spot) rests in front of one of the gun-toting brothers, another white bulldog occupies its own chair, and a black cat independently and disinterestedly stares off into space in the corner. A buck saw, several pack frames and other miscellaneous tools hang from the outside of the cabin.
The three brothers all wear narrow-brimmed hats, suspenders and riding boots. The Shaw brothers’ homestead on the Williams Fork near Craig was part of the last area of the state to be settled. The relatively famous shot of my great, great uncles is not the only image in my mind that says Colorado.
A photographic comparison of the southwestern Colorado town of Dolores in 1893 and then again in 2000, in John Fielder’s popular coffee table book “Colorado: 1870-2000” shows the main street with many of the same buildings. Sometimes things don’t change much. The one building I note as missing, I can remember well the night it burned.
In our Monument office, several photos hang on the walls that I recognize as Bill Kezziah’s handiwork during his 19-year tenure here as editor and publisher of the Tribune. One of those, a photo of the Westcliffe School down in the southeastern part of the state caught the attention of a visitor recently. “Hey, I know where that is. I grew up near there.”
“Does it still look like that,” I asked.
“I have no idea. I haven’t been back there in 25 years, but that is how I remember it.”
Maybe that is why it is important what pictures we take today.
Thing of the past ...
Thing of the past ...
Old dredge, at mouth of Swan River
Date: 1905?
A placer dredge at Valdora, Summit County, Colorado, in the Swan River. Gold miners pose on the Bucyrus-built hydraulic mine boat and processing plant.
Notes: Title inked on back of photoprint.
Thing of the past ...
Excursion party
Date: 1882
A crowd of gathers in front of a one-story, wood frame, gabled cabin in the town of Bonanza, Saguache County, Colorado. The cabin has a porch, where a little girl stands with two men, one wearing an apron. Two women and a baby sit on burros held by a man. A man in a top hat and beard stands next to a third burro. A boy in a baseball uniform swings a bat in front of the group.
Notes: Photoprint has yellowed. Stamped on back of photoprint: From: Clark's Studio, 112 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Colo.
Title hand-written on back of photoprint. Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Thing of the past ...
Catholic Church at Gillett in 1919
Date: 1919
Catholic Church, Gillett (Teller County), Colorado; children pose in the doorway. Architectural features include brick and wooden framing, a frame vestibule, a barrel-curved roof topped by a bell tower frame with a cross, and a brick chimney.
Denver Public Library Special Collections
Thing of the past ...
Denver - girls' dance group
Creator: Rhoads, Harry Mellon, 1880 or 1881-1975
Date: [1920-1940?]
Donor: Morey Engle
A group of girls pose in a chorus line, Denver, Colorado. Their costumes includes ruffles, flounces, and wide brimmed hats.
Format of Original Material: 1 photonegative : glass ; 13 x 18 cm (5 x 7 in.); 1 photoprint ; 13 x 18 cm (5 x 7 in.)
Original Material Found in Collection: Harry M. Rhoads photograph collection. Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Thing of the past ...
Canning factory Delta, Colo. peeling tomatoes
Date: [1930-1940]
Women workers can tomatoes at a Delta, (Delta County) Colorado canning plant, by benches of tin cans. A man picks up pails; a conveyor belt, pulleys, belts, and other machinery are in the background.
Format of Original Material: 1 photoprint ; 19 x 25 cm (7 1/2 x 9 3/4 in.)
Photoprint has yellowed. Stamped on back of photoprint: Walker Art Studio, Montrose, Colo. Title hand-written on back of photoprint.
Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Thing of the past ...
Filming a movie in Steamboat Springs
Actors and actresses, members of the cast of the movie "The Wolves of the Street" directed by Otis Thayer and produced by the Art-O-Graph Film Company, pose near the corner of 9th (Ninth) St. and Lincoln in Steamboat Springs (Routt County), Colorado. Many of the men are mounted on horses. The women sit in automobiles. A movie camera is set up on a tripod in the street. Observers stand on the sidewalk and near commercial buildings. Signs on businesses read: "Barber Shop," "Art-o-Graf Film Company," and "Hugus & Co."
Date:[1919]
Notes: Condition: badly soiled, torn, ripped, discolored.; Formerly F98; Handwritten on envelope: "C-Steamboat Springs-Streets"; Note handwritten on back of print reads: "The building on NW corner of 9th and Lincoln, Steamboat Springs. It was once the banking house of F. E. Milner, who was one of these progressive men who wanted to see the county grow a healthy pace, and was ever ready to loan money for industrial development. His son Earle is at the front window in the U. S. National Bank and could give you some history. His father first freighted by of teams across Rabbit Ears Pass in the early days of this section, later he ranched, ran a store, and banked. The event shown in the photo was a part of the filming of a picture, "The Wolves of Wall Street." The taller brick left was the famous old Hugus store, the small portion of brick is now a shoe shop. The church at right is the Episcopal Church, is of native Dakota sandstone. Taken about 1918."
History Colorado.
Thing of the past ...
Ski jumping
Creator: McClure, Louis Charles, 1867-1957
Date: [1916-1923?]
A ski jumper taking off from the platform at Howelsen Hill, Steamboat Springs (Routt County), Colorado. The town is across the Yampa River in the distance. Louis Charles McClure papers.
Notes: Copy negative made from vintage photographic print. Title and signature hand-lettered on front of original.
Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Thing of the past ...
U.S. Gold placer no. 6, San Miguel River : building flume
Creator: Goodman, Charles, d. 1912.
Men work on a flume for a U.S. Gold Placers mining operation beside the San Miguel River in Montrose or San Miguel County, Colorado. The workmen pose near a wooden flume that is under construction. Shows piles of lumber.
Date: [between 1880 and 1890?]
Notes: History Colorado.; Penciled on negative envelope: Mining-Building flume on San Miguel RIver. Charles Goodman. Title inked on glass plate.
Physical Description: 1 negative : glass ; 13 x 20 cm. (5 x 8 in.)
Is Part Of: History Colorado, Ronzio Collection
Thing of the past ...
Beer supply?
Note: Handwritten description on front says
"Budweiser Relief Train, Telluride, Colo."
Front of pack train carrying barrels
Date/circa: 1900/1930
Walker Art Studio (Montrose, Colo.)
Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College
Thing of the past ...
One timber per wagon, please.
Title:Wagon with big timber
Date/circa: 1900/1930
Photographer: Byers Photo (Montrose, Colo.)
Notes:The Studio assigned this item # 5011G.
Negative#:1501
From Walker Art Studio collection, Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College.
Thing of the past ...
Paradox - Colo.
Summary: View of Paradox, Colorado in Montrose County, shows a single dirt street surrounded by tents pitched among wood-frame houses in the middle of a broad valley.
Date: [1905?]
Notes: Formerly F5101.; Photoprint has yellowed.; Title hand-written on back of photoprint.; R7100129237
Physical Description 1 photoprint ; 8 x 13 cm. (3 x 5 1/2 in.)
Thing of the past ...
Title: San Miguel Valley (Colo.) before Telluride was built
Date/circa: 1870s?
Photographer: Byers Photo (Montrose, Colo.)
Subjects: San Miguel Valley (Colo.); Telluride (Colo.)
Notes: The Studio assigned this item # 5011G.
Thing of the past ...
Three Colorado soldiers send a message home from Korea, Dec. 1952. From left: Pfc. James R. David, Silverton; Sgt. (first name obscured) Wilson of Cortez; Pvt. Gordon K. Barrett, Durango.
Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.
Is Part Of: Rocky Mountain News Photograph Collection
Thing of the past ...
Hole in the Wall Gang
Creator: Rose, Noah H.
Date: 1880-1890
In Fort Worth, Texas, the Hole in the Wall Gang poses in suits, ties, gold chains, and bowler hats. Named for their Wyoming hideout, these outlaws are (l to r): Harry Longabaugh (The Sundance Kid), Will Carver, Ben Kilpatrick, Harvey Logan (Kid Curry), and Robert Leroy Parker (Butch Cassidy).
Notes: "See RMN July 16, 1902 P.1 C.1." Stamp reads: "This is a print from the famous Rose Collection of old time photographs N. H. Rose photograper P.O. Box 463 - San Antonio, Texas." Identifications are inked in margin of print. Typed paper affixed to back of photoprint has identification.
Thing of the past ...
Beer depot thru which the Zang Brewing Co. of Denver distributed their beer
Date: [1900?]
A wagon drawn by a team of horses is parked next to a brewery in the town of Creede, Colorado, in Mineral County. The driver sits in the cart and a man stands next to the wagon. The building is a two-story, wood- frame structure with gables, shingles, chimneys, rectangular windows, and a covered porch with spindles. Snow covers the ground and the hills in the background. A "Beer Depot of P.H. Zang Brewing Co. Jno. Knodel, Agt." shows.
Format of Original Material: 1 copy photonegative ; 13 x 18 cm (5 x 7 in.); 1 photoprint on cabinet card : cabinet cards ; 15 x 21 cm (6 x 8 1/4 in.)
Type of Material: Cabinet photographs; Film negatives.
Notes: Hand-written on back of photoprint: Knodal was their agent. Photoprint has yellowed, cabinet card has yellowed and is stained. Title hand-written on back of photoprint.
Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Thing of the past ...
Infant of Prague Nursery
Creator: Rule, Lloyd
Date: [1948-1955?]
Donor: Pierce O'Farrill, donor
Format of Original Material: 1 negative ; 10 x 13 cm (4 x 5 in.)
Lloyd Rule papers; Lloyd Rule photograph collection.
Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Thing of the past ...
Decoration Day, Montrose, Colo.
Creator: Goodman, Charles, 1843-1912
Date: 1888
Donor: T.J. McKee
Decoration Day parade with a marching band and men in cavalry uniforms in Montrose (Montrose County), Colorado. Men carry drums, rifles, swords, and a United States flag. The Mears Hotel with chimneys is at Cascade Avenue and Main Street. Signs on brick and frame buildings include: "W.W. Robinson Wholesale & Retail Grocer," "Johnson's Confectionery and Bakery," "Mrs. Wils[on's] Millinery," "Olson's Dry Goods," and "Ling Lee Laundry." People stand on sidewalks near wagons, buggies, and a woman riding sidesaddle.
Format of Original Material: 1 copy negative : nitrate ; 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 in.)
Original Material Found in Collection: C Photo Album 103. Thomas M. McKee album
Type of Material: Nitrate negatives
Notes: Formerly attributed to Thomas McKee. Formerly Mc310. Hand-lettered title reproduced on copy nitrate negative. Number: "Mc310" inked on copy nitrate negative.
Denver Public Library Special Collections.
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