340 High Street

P. O. Box 9

Lyons, Colorado 80540

303-823-5271

Exhibits
	A Photographic Walk Through of the Town. Observe an old time parlor.

News:

Lyons Redstone Museum on Facebook

12/11/13 -

Door Prizes won at the Lyons Historical Booth were great – thanks to Kay Latt of Longmont, who rounded up many great prizes, Thanks to Carol & Shannon Purcell of Walden and Kay (in the adjoining booth) for filling in for our longtime helper, Geneva Thomas, a flood victim now in Vernon, Texas.  If your name was chosen, you will receive a phone call. We have door prizes for: Jennifer Lee, Wanda Duchnson, Jenny Hartly, Tess McDonald, Lori Miner, Barbara Colby, Alana Yerman, Joylelyn, Debbie Tabor, Richard McCready, Rose  Nom’s, Steve Lang, Carolyn Cole, Lindsey Wheeler, Dan Ballard, Kim Lohr, Phyllis Tisone, Lia Malito, Barbara Dominguez, Kristine Buckner, Shane, (Call 823 5925 to pick them up)

 Thanks to Debi Stevenson in charge of the Cash Mob who brought her buyers to the Christmas Bazaar, helping the sales, and whose band that brought great music on Saturday, and to Santa (John Chilson, the former Soda Fountain owner) for bringing joy to the many children.

Thanks to bakers for the Lyons Historical Society:  Terri Weir, LaVern Johnson, Emily Walker, Jonelle Tucker, Michelle Goranson, and Susan Bling, giving us a good variety of yummy food for the sale.  Thanks to the folks at the River Church who provided hot chocolate and cookies during the fireworks, and especially to the  Dave Cosgrove and Marissa Davis of the Parks & Rec Department and all who helped at the parade-surely freezing their toes and fingers.  A great bazaar and parade.

SCFD (Scientific and Cultural District who collects 1\10th of 1% for Colorado Cultural events collected $34,812,368 to date for 2013, an increase from 2012 collections of $33,693887, an increase of 3.32%l Boulder County’s share is around $665,000,  which is dispersed to county non-profits, of which the Lyons Historical Society received $3000 for Museum operation.  Our Thanks.

12/4/13 -

FLOOD BOOKS are for sale by Lyons Photographer Kenneth Wajeda – order now: $89.95 – 196,  x 10, hotos-hard back or $69.95-soft back, or $59.95-7x7 – hard back & $49.97 - soft back.  Call 303 6399; or send money to Box 69; info@kennethwajeda.com

DO YOUR CHRISTMAS GIVING AT HOME:  GO TO  www.LYONS STRONG to find a list of Lyons charities:
 Lyons Community Foundation, Box 546, lyonscfs.org, Lyons Chamber of Commerce-Box 426. www.lyons-colorado.com, , Oskar Blues Can’d aid, Box  1826;  Lyons Business Recovery-Box 920; Lyons Parks and Recreation-Box 49; Planet Bluegrass-Box 769; Box `1820;  Lyons Musicians Relief Fund-Wells Fargo Banks;   Farm Relief Fund, LYONS ELEMENTARY-Box 591; LYONS M\SR HIGH-100 McConnell Drive .

THANK YOU TO:
The Lyons Community\Methodist Church and all helpers who rounded up 200 Thanksgiving boxes of food delivery last Tuesday.  Much appreciated by all (thanks to Jani Little and students from West View Middle School for delivering them)

TO THE STUDENTS FROM ALEXANDER DAWSON SCHOOL who worked in Lyons last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, headed from Rogers Hall, by David Meissner, Teacher

And to THE LYONS VOLUNTEERS,                   108 VOLUNTEERS FROM LYONS meet at Rogers Hall each Wednesday and Saturday at 9am. .Join the workforce to help Lyons clean-up flood debris, etc.

TO THE LYONS RECORDER for providing a free newspaper to all patrons during the many weeks of the flood.  They are not back on High Street.

THANKS TO NANCY & ROBIN OF LYONS VILLAGE, who is hosting the Four-Mile Store where flood victims can pick up furniture, and Christmas trees, that were donated.

WHERE IS ALICE HILTON?   Gary Coffey is looking to return a wooden bowl (found near their home on Apple Valley) with Hilton 1984 inscribed on it, and later he found the lid.  Call 303  817 0838 as to her address.  Alice Hilton and son, Ron, were awakened at 4:30am on Sept 12th, stepping in high flood water; they dove out the window when the house went (I think it is still there in shambles);  Ron Hilton, the dad, (now dec’d) was shop teacher in Lyons High
(It is thus assumed he made the wooden bowl), and Alice was Elementary School Librarian.  We want to find them. 303 823 5925

Carol (Ackerman) Ackerman called to relate some Lyons History, which includes a packet of History items she is sending to the Lyons Historical Society, about Hugh Murphy, first quarryman,  in 1894, and etc.  She states her brother, Rex, and Jim Mercer were hiking in the quarries and found this packet in an open empty cabin. Thank you, Carol.
    Carol, the daughter of Harolyn and Rex Hartman, and brother, went to school in Lyons in the 1950’s; living on Evans Street.  She spent her career in Arizona, and retired on a small acreage  at Crawford, Colorado.  Her parents and brother are deceased.  She remembers some of the names of:  Frysig, French, Colard, Prather, Tabor, Martin, Ohline, and Mercer.

Diane Goode Benedict was one of the local authors featured for book signing at the Used Book Emporium last week:  Diane has written”  Lyons, Colorado-The Quarry Town-1800’s; on Pella, Altona, and Hygiene.  Her books are for sale at the Red Canyon Art Store and Lyons Redstone Museum .

WITH SYMPATHY:
We just heard of the death of John Hains, who recently sold his acreage in Meadow Park to the Town of Lyons.  Although damaged by the flood, the town plans to make it a Park, in his memory.  John and wife, Kathy, lived in Meadow Park over 30 years; he kept the property spotless, and enjoyed the quiet and peace.  This summer, finding he was ill, he offered to sell his spacious property to the Town of Lyons; for which they paid $350,000, and $105,000 on the payment; they have applied to Go-Co for the balance for the land.  We express our sympathy at the death of John, who operated the Ice Cream Shoppe (now the Dairy Bar) and drove a school bus over 20 years.

DOYLE SMITH, age 83.  We note that Lyons Alumni Doyle Smith of Reston, VA, died on November 15th.  Doyle, a         1949 graduate of Lyons, was the son of Floyd and Hannah Smith; he was one of the whizzes in school, went to college, and worked in Washington, DC all his life.  His sister is Doris (Mike) Sanford of Platteville; he has a niece (Jody, dec’d) and nephew (David) of Meeker, Co., and four nephews.  Private family services were held.

11/26/13 -

THANKSGIVING IS HERE:  A time for us all to say Thank You: to all who saved us from the flood; to all that helped everyone;  to all who came and are still coming to help; to all the volunteers from Lyons and everywhere; to all the students who gave to our schools funds; to all for your support; to all for the meals and our Thanksgiving dinner – It is truly overwhelming how helpful and caring folks are! 

      YES, each one of us are counting our Blessing that after this monstrous flood we are all alive.  God Bless Gerald Boland and his family, the one victim that was caught in the flood.  God Bless and Our Thanks to One and All!

11/22/13 -

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR is scheduled at the Lyons Elementary gym, on Sat. and Sun.,
Dec. 7th (10-5pm) and 8th (10-4) with Lunch. This is the 38th annual Christmas Bazaar.  Our thanks to Cassi, and co-horts for taking on this job, of bringing Christmas to Lyons.
  The Lyons Historical Society is again soliciting for baked food, candy, popcorn balls, and Christmas gift items for their booth at the Bazaar. Bring it by, to #28.

CHRISTMAS PARADE OF LIGHTS - Sat., Dec. 7th, at 6:30pm.  Sign up to be in the parade (303 823 8250); the Theme is “Coming Home for Christmas”, very apropos, There will be lots of goodies, starting at noon the day of the parade:  A BBQ sandwich by the Lyons Community, Foundation, where they will be serving all day; Chili served at the Lyons Community Methodist Church, and before and during the parade Hot Chocolate and cookies by the River Church, the Salvation Army, and the Lyons Depot Library (who are having a Grand Opening of the Library in the Visitors’ Center), and a Bake Sale by the Lyons Historical Society, followed by our famous Fireworks.

      HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANTS FROM THE STATE HISTORICAL FUND FOR THE  LYONS DEPOT LIBRARY AND THE MEADOW PARK SHELTER are being considered.  A Stability Grant of $10,000 will help the Library, which was stripped of everything right after the flood, after which they can apply for $10,000 to hire a historic architect to assess the damage; and apply for a large grant, up to $200,000 on April 1st, to make the restoration, at which time 25% matching funds are needed. 

THE MEADOW PARK SHELTER HOUSE will be covered by the town’s CIRCA insurance, FEMA, as well as the State Historic Fund and Historic Places.  At the present time an assessment is being made, after which application for grants as well as fund raisers will be held to restore the 1935 Shelter House.  In its original location or out-of-the-floodplain is yet to be determined. 

THE WILDLANDS RESTORATION GROUP FROM THE STATE HISTORICAL FUND will be in Meadow Park to restore the trees, and start getting the rubble off on November 30th. 

FLOOD RECOVERY FOR MEMORIAL:  Shannon Johnson and fellow walkers have asked for permission to restore the Memorial on the Old St. Vrain Road in honor of Jake Adams and Regina Goodard, two high school students who were killed when their car hit a big tree on a curve.  Jake and Regina were at a Church Youth group when they drove around the Old South before going home. We think In 1983.  Noone knows exactly what happened, but other kids in the car ran down to Dean & Elaine Readmond’s for help.  Both the youth died, and are buried in the Lyons Cemetery.  A terribly sad time for all of Lyons.  Jake’s mom was Patty Padilla, then married to Walt Kinderman, then editor of the Lyons Recorder, and sister Anya.  The Goodards were longtime residents of Lyons.
     (Yes, ladies, do fix it in honor of these two loved students).  Call 303 823 5925 if you know more information.)

A WELCOME CALL FROM SISTERS LEONA DIAS AND WANDA GAUTHER OF LITTLETON, found them holding their own-although 100 and 93 years young
 Descendants of Wm and Ida Hubbell, who operated the Lyons Stage in 1888, who had four children: Amanda, William Henry, their father, Louis Herbert, and Dwight. 
   Their father, Wm. Henry married Rose Zella Fankhouser, in the Hubbell home, while he worked for the Lyons Mercantile.  The family moved to Denver where he worked for Denver Tramway Corporation for 35 years;  There three daughters were:  Ida Ellen, Leona Lillian, and Wanda Gwendolyn. 
   They asked about their grandmother’s (Rose Zella Hubbell’s) house (formerly owned by Marguerite Peoples, east of Ray and Dora Babcock’s, on west Evans; When kids they would visit “Grandma Hubbell” who spent the winters in California, in Lyons every Sunday.  We hope they will journey up this way for lunch soon.

11/15/13

HISTORY OF FLOODS:
     Chuck Keim, Engineer,  is studying the Rivers, and is looking for the Dates and stories of floods in the St. Vrain Area:  (If you know of flooding along the St. Vrain Rivers, Call Chuck 303 823 5686
One of the first and maybe the biggest is in 1894, when the main street located in the confluence area was moved up north, where it is now.
       In 1935 was a huge flood; where it says the North Platte River was almost as high as this flood 14 cubic feet to 14.35 in 1935
       In 1947 was a cloudburst up the South St. Vain, which took out several cabins along the way, the then McConnell Bridge, and a house at the Foothills Junction, killing Savannas Knight. (The McConnell’s had to go thru the field at that time)
    In 1969 – when Ralph Price Reservoir was just building; the Dam filled up with water in
9 days, where they said it would have taken 11 years with the run-off water allocated to it!
       In 1983 – Bob Freeman was town administrator at the time.  They collected money from the insurance company for painting, fixing streets, etc.
       In 1990 – someone mentioned this
    

DOCUMENTARY:  Greg Berham, the Channel 7 and 9 weatherman who lives in Lyons, states he is going to do a documentary  This is indeed recording History,  Type up your happenings during the flood.  We want to record everything.

October 31:

GOOD NEWS!!  Several sections of townspeople will be going home this weekend.  Yea, for us, and Yea, Yea for the Town Staff and all their co-horts for working so hard to get us back home.

DOCUMENTARIES:  Several persons are making Documentary of the Flood.  Type up your stories now and gather your pictures.  Send to bob@lyonsrecorder.com; weatherbe@gmail.com, Lyonshistoryvideo@yahoo.com  This is a historic event.

THANKS TO:  Historian John Meisner of the Estes Park Archives, who supports museum and libraries that help save local history, financially and otherwise, sponsored a miniature golf tournament last weekend with “buckets” for donations to the Lyons Depot Library and the Meadow Park Shelter House. 

HISTORIC RESTORATION:  FEMA met with Town officials, who said it was up to us, in Lyons, if we want to restore the Meadow Park Shelter House and Lyons Depot-Library
I, town historian, say “YES”, “YES”, “YES”.  The Depot-Library is not so bad off; it suffered about 8 inches of water, and the books have all been moved to a couple of trailers for drying; the inside torn out to dry, and the Town’s insurance will kick in.
The Library has received a $15,000 grant from the Longmont Flood Agency, which will help make repairs. Our thanks to Lou Thackston of Gateway Architectural Studio, and Mark Browning for tucking the Library under their wing and give it “tender loving care”

THE MEADOW PARK SHELTER HOUSE may be a different story.  It is piled in a heap in a hole in Meadow Park.  We want to save everything we can, the roof, pillars, stone, chimney, etc. etc., and rebuild same.  It will have to be moved out of the flood plain, and will take a lot of work, grants, town insurance, matching funds, fundraisers, etc. etc.  I DEFINITELY THINK IT SHOULD BE SAVED!!!!  (comments appreciated: lavern921@aol.com)  
    People from near and far have picnicked in this unique Shelter House since it was built in 1935, with foreman, Tom Brodie, father of former Mayor Fran Brackett and siblings, Virginia, John, Peggy, and Billy.  (It was a Depression project, where Pres. Delano Roosevelt instituted the Government to fund community projects to support the families.)   “We can’t let this Jewel of Meadow Park go to wrack and ruin”!

VOTE ‘YES” TO SUPPORT THE LYONS LIBRARY DISTRICT – A mill levy of 2.95%  will get the ball rolling on the District, see if it is feasible to have a new Library, or make extensive restoration and additions to the old-depot library; give the $100,000 that funds the Library now from the General Fund to the town for their many needs.  Yes, although it will take longer than anticipated, I can see a New Library in the future of Lyons area.  Vote “YES”  SEND IN YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT NOW! 

THE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR will be held on Dec. 7th & 8th, either at the Lyons Elementary Gym, or the Main Street School in Longmont.  (We will surely miss our good friend, Geneva, selling door prizes for the Lyons Historical Society, and need some volunteers!!  Call 303 877 6359)

SCFD:: LaVern Johnson and Priscilla Cohan of the Lyons Historical Society attended the Check Ceremony last Tuesday at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, and received
a check for $3000.00 for Museum Operations, which will help pay the utilities and maintenance of the Lyons Redstone Museum.
   SCFD is 1/10th of 1% paid by taxpayers of seven metro counties, which amount to $11 million for all entities, which includes Tier I, which helps the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Zoo, Denver History Museum, Denver Symphony, and etc. Most of Boulder County non-profits are in Tier III. Where 165 50l(3)c organizations received $540,000 for their various activities.  
      Reauthorization of the 1\10th of 1% will be held in 2016, with a vote.  SCFD was passed first in 1993, with Lyons agencies receiving over $100,000 since that time.

OLD-TIMERS of Lyons are in awe at the sad news about their Old Town.  We hear from John and Cheryl (Averill) Lawrence of California, whose grandparents, the Lahti’s owned the 2nd house from the 5th Street Bridge on the right. (The house is standing, but very wet); Also from Betty Dearmin of New Mexico– who owned the Quinn house on the corner of County Road 69E, and is related to the D’Arcy’s and Wormwood’s (that house, too, as well as all those to the North received water damage)

Octobr 1: From LaVern Johnson:

YES, this flood is the worst since 1895, when a flood ruined the South part of town and the main street moved to the north, where it is now.  It is hard to realize that we could get that much rain, that things were just “right” they say to make it happen, and thousands are impacted from the Continental Divide to Omaha, where it flows into the Mississippi - 500 miles of devastation.  \
  However, in view of the amount of water (25,000 cubic feet a minute) it is truly a wonder more did not lose their lives!  We are lucky in that way. We are left to clean out the mess, to pay for the mess, etc., which is estimated at 43 million in Lyons.
   THE FLOOD covered 1918 square miles with 8 fatalities; they evacuated 5966, 1210 cars, with Hwy 7-50% damaged; Hwy 34-85%; Hwy 36-40%, and Hwy 119-20% damaged.  

    We are working on a way to restore the Meadow Park Shelter—built in 1935. We hope the State Historical Fund will help. The Library also needs Emergency money to clean up the 5-6 inches of water in the building; However, are they ever happy the flood waters did not quite hit the window sills.
     The LYONS REDSTONE MUSEUM, the 1881 schoolhouse, received no Flood Damager, being high on the hill.  Good thinking, dear Forefathers.

       “HERE AND NOW”-Radio: Tim Combs and I, and maybe others, were featured on the Boston Radio, “Here and Now” asking about the Impact of the flood on Lyons, Colorado, how we are making it, what we are doing, and etc.  They are supposed to send a DVD.  I think they called me because of my Age, but I tried to give Lyons a “Thumbs up”  They are on Radio Station KCFCAM and are on Mons-Thursdays
12-2pm, on a Denver Station.  Several heard the Interview and listen to the station regularly. They are on 343 stations.

WE TIP OUR HATS TO: 
THE TOWN, THE FIREMEN, COUNTY, STATE, DOLA, SMALL BUSINESS, KIDS PLAYGROUND (National);  THE LYONS BOOTH AT THE RECOVERY CENTER; VOLUNTEERS EVERY WHERE; WITH SO MUCH HELP, WE WILL MAKE IT!!!!

LYONS DAMAGE IS SO EXTENSIVE ($43 MILLION)  It is hard for us to realize that other communities are severely impacted, but we are far from alone in this Catastrophe  The Townspeople of Jamestown evacuated to Niwot High School, where many stayed for several days.  They, too, have no Utilities
LONGMONT- The damage is estimated to be $148.6 million; and BOULDER-$48.9 Million; Most highways are still closed; A Caravan of 144 cars were allowed down thru Stagecoach Trail and thru Spring Gulch  (the first time in 100 years); then was closed.  They are working on a way to keep this open.  PINEWOOD SPRINGS PEOPLE and ESTES PARK have to go around Trail Ridge Road or on Hwy 7 to Gold Hill, a distance of 65 miles, and what about Big Elk Meadows???
   It is the largest storm in North Platte, Neb where in 1935 they had 14 cu feet, and last Sunday 14.32; In Boulder they had 5000 cu feet and 15,000 in 1895;

ST VRAIN PIONEERS ASSOCIATION had their annual Potluck at the Hygiene Community Hall for Pioneers of the St. Vrain Valley (Boulder, Larimer, and Weld Counties) last Sunday, with  Lee Ann Powell (a descendant of the Beasley) as President; Judy Dayhoff (of the Gould family) as Secretary.
Doris & Inez Sawdey-Historians;

   Whoa is me!!! I was the oldest one there. Glad to be there, but hate to be so old!!!! The program was on the Columbia Cemetery in Boulder, relating all the pioneers such as:  Maki, Mary Rippon, Maxwell, etc.  They have a book for sale-call 303 444-1104; pansydaisy@aol.com-$24.95.  Lyons area residents present were:  myself and son Jerry of the Katherine Johnson (1864-niwot area; John Reese-1862 and James McConnell-1885 of the Lyons area); and Theresa Hall Garner and brother and John Hall of the Gyer Hall (1880) and Cordelia Forbess family (1872). 

Sept 18: From LaVern Johnson:

Compliments to the Lyons Recorder for finding a place (Bob Gilson’s brother in Longmont) to produce the Lyons Recorder…..we need a paper, to read after we get our wits back in order, and a way to preserve THIS HISTORY, which we will remember as “’THE WORST FLOOD EVER”!
    They say in 1894 the town was then only 14 years old, and was being built on the South Side of the River; there was a big flood that took most of the home built there at that time.  The people talk about them being swarmed with rats!!
We will let you know about more floods as time goes by-1949; 1969; 1975’ 1983..Yes, we at the foot of two canyons have had a lot of floods, but nothing to this extent that we know of!!

What a trying time!  Luckily I got back from the Hix ‘n Chix Square dance Wednesday night at 10:30; son, Jerry was stopped at Rocky Flats on Hwy 93, due to the flooding in Boulder, for an hour and had to go down Hwy 6, I-25, and home; within 15 minutes Hwy 66 was closed. People on the south side of town were being evacuated to the Community Church and Lyons Elementary Gym.  That is where my son, saw Gerald Boland, former Lyons Coach and teacher, at 3:00a.m.  God willing he is safe and sound, but we are worried!

We wonder what happened to Janet, Geneva, her dad, Ray, and Brother Ray Jr & Bea; Carol Beam of Pinewood, Michael and Greg, Opal and Bill Jackson, Aggie, and etc., but it seems like they are all safe. Each has a harrowing story, (thanks to those that knocked on their doors at 2am to let them know) each lost items, homes, cars, yard, but WE HOPE NOT LIVES!!

It was certainly terrifying to see that water swishing past the St. Vrain Market (saved by Lyle and Connie; tearing out the old swinging bridge, into Alex’s and the one next door; trouncing Geneva’s, Banta’s, Ruth Tilson’s Dick Lewis’, Dude Cinnamon, and more.  Luckily Lyons Valley Park mostly survived, except the bridges are weak.  Dr. Meckle says he saved his records, but his equipment drowned, and the Trailer courts, Planet Bluegrass, Meadow and Bohn Park (is there much left?  It took the Hains house and the Historic Shelter build by the WPA in 1935 by Fran Brackett’s father, Tom Brodie, and it had been designated as a Historic site and restored), etc.  Bohn Park lost its ball fields, dirt bike jump, and someone said a twisted fence at the back of the Co-Housing helped save some of it.   We are sad about the Gas Stations; Clark’s Hardware, the Distillery, the Vasquez yard and cabins, etc.  It looked like’s Nick’s Bookstore was high enough off the ground, we hope so!  Everything along the way past Highland Drive was impacted.

Lyons was doing so great!  Money for the highway; sales tax up; most of the buildings full; plans for a new library; Wow, is me, we were too much on “Easy” Street, I guess!!!   Tamara, Chamber correspondent will keep us qued in as to businesses; the Town Staff as to the Sewer Plant, and the rest will no doubt fall into place.  IT HAS TO BE A TERRIBLE SITUATION FOR ALL CITIZENS TO BE “KICKED” OUT OF TOWN, AND IT IS!!!

Sept 14: The Museum is closed due to the floods.

donate to: Lyons Historical Society-Matching Funds
Box 9, Lyons, Co. 80540
lavern921@aol.com 303 823 5925

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