Wetmore-Hardscrabble Genealogical & Historical Society

Wetmore Volunteer Fire Department is on Facebook!

The Wetmore Volunteer Fire Department has a new Facebook page thanks to Recording Secretary, Chas Clifton!

Chas has uploaded many photos to the site, chronicling the history of the Fire Department, fires in the area that volunteers helped fight, training and events.  Some of the photos are painful to look at, some will make you smile.

 Be sure to check out the WVFD's Facebook Page HERE.  Then, log onto your Facebook account to view the WVFD Facebook Page.

As always, we thank our Fire Department Volunteers for helping to keep our community safe!

 

History Center Meeting February 9

Here it is February, time for our meetings to begin again. We've had no winter or appreciable moisture. I would love to postpone this meeting due to a foot of snow!

Our meeting will be this coming Saturday, February 9th, 10:00 a.m., at the History Center in Wetmore.

Discussion items will be:

1) Rosenstock Award 2) Notecards 3) Homestead & Walking Tour (Dr. Hamilton) 4) Grandmothers' Cookbook (Dave Alexander).

We would also like each member attending to have a short story or memory to tell about George Draper as we have our own brief memorial service to honor our co-founder.

The Colorado Women's Hall of Fame is soliciting nominations for submission for the 2014 Award. The women can be historical or contemporary who have significant ties to Colorado. Forms and documentation are due August 2013. Do we have a woman to nominate? Three come to mind: Jeannie Culpin, Eleanor Medill and Francis Wetmore.

Just a reminder to those who owe 2013 dues; please mail to the History Society at PO Box 211, Wetmore, CO 81253. Single $10, Family $15, Single Lifetime $100, and Family Lifetime $150. If you pay by PayPal, memberships are slightly higher to cover those costs. We will send out the new membership cards this month.

See you Saturday, Margaret

The Passing of George Draper and Chum Haynes

Dear All,

It is with great sorrow to let you know that our co-founder George Draper has died. He had a stroke on Monday night and was airlifted to Swedish Hospital in Denver. The family took him off life support yesterday afternoon and he passed away around 7 last night. His services will be in February but I don't know the date yet, or where. A legend of our time, George will be greatly missed!

Another Wetmore friend and neighbor, Chum Haynes, died on Sunday; his services will be this Sunday, January 27, at 1:30, at the Crossroads in Penrose. Dress warmly if you attend.

In God's love and blessings,

Margaret

Family of George Draper PO Box 27 Wetmore, CO 81253

Family of Chum Haynes 679 County Road 396 PO Box 97 Wetmore, CO 81253

The Passing of Carolyn Shellenberger

Carolyn Shellenberger, Wetmore resident and strong supporter of the Wetmore Library and Historical Society passed away on January 13, 2013.  A memorial service will be held for her on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at the Canon City United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm.

Carolyn L. Shellenberger, 79, of Wetmore, Colo., died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Colorado Springs after a lengthy illness. 

Carolyn taught first grade for 30 years at Washington Elementary School in Canon City, where she built positive and enduring relationships with many of the faculty, staff and students. Carolyn also was an accomplished soloist and enjoyed singing in the Pueblo Symphony Chorale. She was a longtime member of the Canon City United Methodist Church, where she participated in the chancel choir, the handbell choir, the worship committee and served as lay delegate to annual conference. Carolyn's love for the Lord was evident in her joyful service to Him and others. She was known for her enduring faith, her love of music and her life of service and hospitality. 

 

Carolyn was born on Nov. 2, 1933, in Kansas City, Mo., to J. Glenn and Ethel Lee (Pezoldt) Bell. She spent her youth in and around Rye, Colo., where her parents were school teachers. Carolyn developed a love of the mountains and small towns which ultimately drew her to Wetmore for retirement. She enjoyed a view of Pikes Peak and the presence of a host of wild animals and birds. Carolyn was very involved in the local community as a neighbor, a supporter of the Wetmore Community Church, a member of the homemakers guild and a coordinator and volunteer at the Wetmore Community Library. She was instrumental in building the library's capacity and funding. Community members and county officials publicly recognized her dedication by naming the library's non-fiction wing in her honor. 

 

Survivors include two children, Becky (Bob) Tillman of Colorado Springs and Sam Shellenberger (Laurie) of Washington, D.C.; eight grandchildren, Graham, Elise and Glenn Shellenberger; Rachel (Javier Aguirre), Raleigh, Risa, Reade and Regan (Lindsay) Tillman; and one great- grandchild, Evelyn Ann. She will also be missed by many other Bell nephews and cousins.

 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at Canon City United Methodist Church. 

 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wetmore Public Library, 95 County Road 393, Wetmore, CO 81253 or the Pueblo Symphony Chorale, P.O. Box 3780, Pueblo, CO  81005.

Notecards of our Historic Post Office Are Available for Purchase

We have received our notecards of the History Society's Historical Post Office in Wetmore.  They are beautiful:  4 x 6 inches; post office painting by Jane Carpenter on front; a short history is on the back; blank middle.  They come with an envelope.

We are selling them for $3.00 each as a fundraiser for the Society.  There is no tax because we are a non-profit.

If you would like one or more, please send an email to [email protected]  

We will e mail you the address of where to send payment.  The notecards will be sent to you as soon as possible.

No paypal on this order please.

Merry Christmas to you and your families!

Margaret and the Board

 

The WHG&HS commissioned local artist and WHG&HS member, Jane Carpenter to create a watercolor painting of the Wetmore Post Office.  Jane presented the finished piece to Margaret Storm at our October meeting.  This painting will be proudly displayed at the History Center, and the image will be used for stationery, postcards, publicity and advertising.

To view more of Jane's artwork, please visit her website gallery HERE.

Community Dinner to Benefit the Wetmore Fire Victims

Community Chili Dinner November 17, 2012 3:00 pm-7:00 pm

 Wetmore Wizards 4-H Club, Wetmore Fire Department, Wetmore Hardscrabble Historical and Genealogical Society, Mountain View Homemakers Club, Wetmore Baptist Church, Wetmore Community Library, Wet Mountain Goods, Wetmore Steak House and the Wetmore Community Church are gearing up for a benefit Community Chili Dinner to help the families in Greenwood who lost their homes and animals.  The dinner will be held on Saturday, November 17 at the Wetmore Community Building. 

The cost of the chili dinner will be: ages 12 to adult $6.00, all you can eat $7.00, ages 7 to 12 $3.00 and 6 and under are free.  The chili will include yummy fixings and following will be some wonderful community desserts.  A variety of beverages will also accompany the meal.

Money donations are also welcomed and checks can be made out to "Wetmore Fire Victims". On the memo of the check, please write "general fund." The money will go to set up an account at the Rocky Mountain Bank in Florence.  Contact Jan Lawson 784-6076 with any questions.

We hope to see you there!

WHG&HS Meeting November 10th

Dear Members,

While the Wetmore/Greenwood residents affected by the fire are still picking up the pieces of their lives, days come and days go. Our friends and neighbors continue to help where they can; so many have contributed goods and money to the various avenues that distribute to the victims. During November, there will be several fundraisers to help, so watch the bulletin boards and the newspapers as to their locations. We thank everyone for their efforts!

Saturday, November 10th, will be the monthly meeting for WHGHS in the meeting room of the Society building. 10 a.m. We will cover the Grandmother's Cookbook update, Jeff's Project, tours, and the Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation.

Our sister historical Society in Cañon City will be presenting Sue Cochran (assistant archivist at the Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center) with her program on the "KKK" (Ku Klux Klan) and its influence in Fremont County. The event, on Sunday, November 4th, will be at 2 p.m. at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. This program is one not to miss.

WHGHS does not meet during the months of December and January. Our membership runs January through December of each year. It is time for our membership renewals. An individual membership is $10 and a family is $15. Below you will find our new membership application. Everyone needs to fill it out and return to us. It has new information on it, including the new Lifetime Membership fees. Due date for return is January 10, 2013. If you pay by PayPal, note that the fees are higher and PLEASE follow that rate schedule ($11.05 single; 16.05 family).

Happy Thanksgiving! Margaret

Download WHGH&S_Membership Application

Help for the Wetmore Fire Victims through the WMVCF

Please be advised that the Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation has established a dedicated fund for the Wetmore fire relief efforts; 100 percent of all donations will go to the Custer County Office of Emergency Services for victim assistance.

Donations can be sent to the Foundation at P.O. Box 718, Westcliffe, 81252. Checks should be made out to the Foundation (or just WMVCF) with a notation of Wetmore Fire Relief.

Because the Community Foundation is a 501c3 organization, all donations are tax deductible.

Thanks! Jim Little

Help for Wetmore Fire Victims

If you can, please help our Wetmore Fire Victims:

1.  Wetmore Community Church is setting up a collection & distribution area for those in need.  Donations of clothing, small appliances, hygiene articles, sheets, towels, blankets, pots & pans, silverware, dishes can be dropped off at the church parsonage directly across the street from the Wetmore Post Office, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

If you have furniture to donate, talk with Dee West who will get you in touch with those with that type of need.  She will be at the parsonage to help with this.

If you are a fire victim, you may also browse through these items to see whether they fit your needs during the same days and hours.

2.  If anyone wants to monetarily donate to the fire victims, please send the donation to:

Wetmore Fire Victims Account
% Rocky Mountain Bank & Trust
Attention:  Jan Lawson
PO Box 579
Florence, CO   81226

The funds collected will be distributed among the families who had losses.

Thank you and blessings,
Margaret

WHG&HS Painting by Jane Carpenter

The WHG&HS commissioned local artist and WHG&HS member, Jane Carpenter to create a watercolor painting of the Wetmore Post Office.  Jane presented the finished piece to Margaret Storm at our October meeting.  This painting will be proudly displayed at the History Center, and the image will be used for stationery, postcards, publicity and advertising.

To view more of Jane's artwork, please visit her website gallery HERE.