Time Machine: A look back at past decades in the Vail Valley
Photo courtesy Eagle Valley Library District and Eagle County Historical Society |
1 year ago
Week of Sept. 1, 2016
The town of Eagle offered a tax-exempt municipal bond issue to raise money for its Eagle River Park project. The bond issue was expected to generate in excess of $6.1 million.
Doug Seabury resigned from the Eagle Town Board in anticipation of selling his Eagle home and moving upvalley.
Color Coffee Roasters opened its new operation in the Eagle Ranch neighborhood.
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5 years ago
Week of Aug. 30, 2012
Eagle Valley Enterprise reporter Derek Franz joined climbers Bill Paddock and Steve Kibler as they replaced the American flag flying atop a buttress in Glenwood Canyon. The pair erected the first flag in 1968, before they were deployed to Vietnam.
The town of Eagle relocated its recycling center from the truck parking area just south of the westbound Interstate 70 off ramp to a location near the Eagle Public Works building.
Amy Reyes joined the staff at the Eagle Public Library as the new children’s librarian.
Former NBA player Chris Herron shared his story of battling drug addiction with the Sobriety All-Stars at the Eagle County Jail.
10 years ago
Week of Aug. 30, 2007
With residents annoyed by the relentless din of construction noise, the Eagle Town Board approved a new noise ordinance. The rules restricted construction hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Outside construction work was prohibited on Sundays.
Downtown merchants in Eagle planned a fall festival called Potatopalooza. The event reflected back on the community’s history as a potato producer.
Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli was the first tenant to ink a deal at the new Caddis Corner commercial project located near Costco.
20 years ago
Week of Aug. 28, 1997
The Eagle Town Board began public hearings for the proposed West Eagle development. One of the first questions asked was about the development’s name. “Why is it West Eagle when you go south and east of town to get to it,” asked town board member Bill Heicher. Note: The development eventually went back to its original name — Eagle Ranch.
Workers in a downtown Eagle office were startled when a bullet crashed through a hallway window, nicked the wall and came to a stop on the hallway carpet. The case was being investigated as reckless endangerment.
Union Pacific pulled the last of its cross country freight trains from the Tennessee Pass route.
30 years ago
Week of Sept. 3, 1987
Gypsum made its bid to supply water to the Eagle County Airport. The town’s early estimate for a supply line and storage tank to serve the facility was $670,000. The week before, Eagle estimated it would cost $765,000 to run lines to the airport.
Eagle County School District hired 25 new teachers for the 1987-88 term. The new hires included Suzanne Foster, Del Birk, Linda Birk and Cathy Casper.
Eagle County resident Kent Wilson scored a hole-in-one at the Ranch at Roaring Fork. Witnesses to the feat included Ken Long, Ken Norman and Steve Smith.
Wedding licenses were issued to Thomas Carlin and Ottalie Faber, of Eagle, and Dale Horn and Rena Schofield, of McCoy.
40 years ago
Week of Sept. 1, 1977
A crowd of upset dog owners attended a county commissioners meeting to oppose a new animal control ordinance. The new rules included a leash law and a no-biting provision.
Wally Birlew took over as principal at Eagle Valley High School. He came to Eagle County from Akron.
Local archaeologist Mike Metcalf headed up an excavation at the base of the proposed Adam’s Rib ski area. The archaeological survey was required as part of the proposal’s environmental impact statement. The crew identified 22 prehistoric campsites.
50 years ago
Week of Aug. 31, 1967
Local 4-H’er Connie Eaton won top honors at the Colorado State Fair with a demonstration titled “Saladventure.” She won an all-expenses paid tip to the National 4-H Western Roundup in Denver.
According to an economic study, the personal wealth of Eagle County residents averaged $20,176 per person.
Colorado Gov. John Love appointed Andy Gerard to the office of Eagle County Judge. Roger Larson of Vail was appointed assistant judge for the Minturn-Vail area.
The first Rocky Mountain Natural Gas customers in Eagle were Mr. and Mrs. Nate Potts, residents of 124 Capitol Street.
60 years ago
Week of Aug. 29, 1957
The fate of television reception in Eagle and Gypsum was hanging on a decision by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC has ruled that the type of booster system used locally was illegal. Colorado Gov. Ed Johnson challenged that ruling.
Burns Ranch Joe Albertson escaped with minor injuries when he was struck by lighting. However, the lightning did ignite a haystack on the Benton Ranch.
The Eagle Valley Telephone Company broke ground on a new building in Eagle, the first step toward completing dial telephone service countywide.
70 years ago
Week of Aug. 31, 1947
Brush Creek rancher Frank Byers and his haying crew were startled when a light plane crashed in the field, within feet of where they were working. A glider plane then landed in the area, coming to the assistance of the first plane. Eventually the glider had to be dismantled so it could be removed from the field and trucked to Denver.
A barbecue, rodeo and baseball game were planned to celebrate the official opening of the Eagle County Airport. Local officials invited the Colorado Congressional delegation and Gov. Knous to the event.
80 years ago
Week of Sept. 3, 1937
A grizzly bear was reportedly sighted in the Lake and Squaw Creek areas, above the Baryeta Cabins. Reports also claimed the bear had been caught in a trap a decade previously, but gnawed off its foot to escape.
J.A. Terry estimated the bear weighed 1,000 pounds and he claimed the animal had treed two timber workers. Terry said the grizzly kept the men in the tree for three hours until it was distracted by a nearby berry patch. No one could account for where the bear had been for the past decade, although periodic sightings were reported on New York Mountain.
The newly opened Independent Lumber Company gave away paring knives for ladies and screwdrivers for men.
