“Judge” Joe Wescott’s Bear

Excerpts from the memoirs of George W. Cox who camped on Grand Lake in 1879 with two friends and three mules, transcribed by his great granddaughter, Pat Snyder.

The Judge’s Story, copied by George Cox:
One night I retired early, being extremely tired after a tedious day on the lake. I soon fell asleep. I judged it came about midnight and awoke me. It being something unusual, I listened attentively but could not distinguish the cause, only that it came from some large animal. I had forgotten to tie up the strings that held the door shut. This did not occur to me until too late. The night being a cold still moonlight one a heavy mist arising over the lake gave a gloomy Ghost like shade, that seemed very uncanny. Before I had decided on my plan of action, the door was pushed aside and a great Cinnamon Bear came in. I gave a shoop, sprang for my large sheath knife, and with one stroke opened a passage through the back end of the tent. I bolted through; as I jumped down from the logs, I saw the bear making for me. I did not take any more time for looking, but shinnied up a pine tree close at hand. I never went into a tree quicker. I did not find it a pleasure resort; the branches were few and far between that caused me to use my clinging capacity more than I enjoyed. Only the fear of that beast prevented my falling.  My wardrobe of a necessity being quite scanty I soon began to feel the night air. The animal came out passing around the tent, and returned with a cub half grown. The old one tore an opening into the side of the tent and proceeded to go through my goods. They soon found my condensed milk, biting holes in the cans. The milk would come through; they would gether it with their tonges. They seemed to enjoy the find, judging from the many satisfied grunts that came my way. How I did wish nature had given me more sand*, for just then I felt quite hostile. They destroyed a dozen or more and proceeded to destroy many things. Finally they found the sugar bag that contains my winters supply. This they finished up entirely. Then they took a rest. The old one clasping the cub between her fore paws, they laid down and remained thus until daylight. Getting up, she came to the foot of the tree, looked up with a twinkle I fancied in her eye, and followed her cub into the bush. 

      Then my courage came sufficiently strong enough to venture a descent. I was benumed, stiff, and quite exhausted. It required considerable time to secure a fire, and a long time to get enough warmth in my body to think. When I did, the tent business ended for me, and I would build a cabin then and there  *courage

For more information on Joseph L. Wescott follow the links below:
http://www.kauffmanhouse.org/People/Wescott.html
http://www.kauffmanhouse.org/LegendofGrandLake.html
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/10792

Historic Holiday Celebration

In 1919 the Middle Park Times reported that there had been a community gathering “to promote sociability” at the Kauffman House hotel in Grand Lake, and that “everyone had a fine time”. We wish those folks could have been here for the Historical Holiday Celebration at the House on December 26^th, 2011! The rooms were overflowing with guests, who loved the music generously provided by the Kauffman Combo of Geoff Elliott, JR Faivre, Lee Boehner and Vince Comella. The Middle Park Club Carolers – Linneya Gardner, Grace Little, Juliet Shams, led by Melanie Little- were also a huge hit with the crowd.
Rounding out the “old timey” music for the event were the talented musicians called Old Folk, Trent and Betty Corbin, and finally the amazing Sarah Clements with her fiddle.
You know people are having fun when you have to ask them to go home so you can close the place up! We can’t say enough about the extravagant and generously donated food: delicious mini-quiches, chocolates and cream puffs from Blue Water Bakery, mounds of savory sliced meats from Mountain Food Market, fabulous canapé puffs from Daven Haven, amazing shrimp, veggie and cookie platters from The Rapids, home-made deviled eggs from Max & T’s, and all sorts of wonderful dishes from the Historical Society board members. Wine was donated by many folks as well. Thanks to Sagebrush BBQ & Grill, El Pacifico, Pancho & Lefty’s, Rapids Lodge, Terrace Inn, Max & T’s, Grand Lake Wine and Spirits, Gateway, Mountain Lake Properties, Grand Lake Art Gallery, Grand Pizza, Grumpy’s and National Distributing Company. It was a spectacular evening, and all proceeds will benefit the Smith Eslick Cottage Camp Campaign. Thank you to all who attended, and to all who made it such a success. Mark your calendars – the next Celebration is Dec. 26^th, 2012, and you don’t want to miss it!

Sincerely,

The Historical Holiday Celebration Committee
Grand Lake Area Historical Association
Elin Capps, Lynne Ludwig, JR Faivre, Malene Mortenson, Judy Forman, Kate Elliott
To see a larger version of the photos just click on them.

Challenge Grant

The Cottage Camp Campaign has been offered a challenge grant by the Grand Foundation to purchase the land needed for the permanent placement of the Smith Eslick Cottage Court.

We must earn donations or pledges of more than $170,000 before April, 2012.  This seems an enormous task, but we can do it with your help!

Please pledge or donate today.  Pledges are a particularly comfortable way of supporting this very important project.  Your pledge can be paid in any amount over time.

The Cottage Camp Campaign will meet its goal and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have helped to save, restore, and interpret this rare and significant part of our nation’s history.  And you’ll be adding a lovely park to Grand Lake as well.

Cottage Court Photos

Here is a picture of Clyde and Grace Eslick but the year is not known.

 

 

Cottage Camp Ice Cream Social

Photo taken July 23,2011 at the Smith Eslick Cottage Camp in GL.

The Smith Eslick Cottage Camp has been placed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, and we are so proud, we just had to celebrate! So, on Saturday, July 23rd, we threw a bash… an Ice Cream Social, with sundaes, cold drinks and cookies, vintage photos taken in a 1925 Dodge touring car, and four “history guides” dressed in costumes of the period.

The very delicious, handmade ice cream was donated by the folks at the Miyauchi Snack Bar, and folks ate a huge amount of it! Chocolate chip cookies were donated by the bakery folks at City Market, and they were yummy. The 1925 touring car is named Rosie, and is the pride and joy of Jim and Kathy Kunc, who generously let folks enjoy her as they smiled for the camera. It was a giant success, and we thank everyone who volunteered to help and came to participate.

Welcome to the Cottage Court.

 

Here is an interesting youtube.com video of the Fort Model T cars.
I’m sure some of the 15 million produced stayed at the Cottage Court.

Ford Model T–100 Years Later