As you probably know,
Douglas County Libraries provide a wonderful service to those of us who are excited about preserving Douglas County maps, diaries, photographs and oral histories. It is called the
Douglas County History Research Center. DCHRC is located inside the Philip S. Miller Library at 100 S. Wilcox St. in downtown Castle Rock.
Douglas County Leadership, a community program designed to develop informed, involved and knowledgeable community leaders for Douglas County, would like to record the oral histories of nine Douglas County citizens for the archives of the
Douglas County History Research Center. The 2007/08 leadership class will capture the recounted stories of our community's history as told by the people who lived it.
The oral histories will document the growth and changes that occurred during the twentieth-century that impacted our county's schools, museums, ranching, open space, fire departments, law enforcement as well as particular ranches, which have historical significance.
We would like your help in finding folks who have an interesting story to tell. We are looking for people who can provide vivid details about growing up or living in Douglas County. We are trying to capture Douglas County memories while they are still fresh in people's minds. The details they can recall of everyday life will help bring Douglas County history to life.
One of the oral histories already available on the DCHRC website may give you an idea of what kind of stories we are looking for. This excerpt is told by Billy Ellis who worked eighteen summers at the [Devils
Head Fire Lookout] Tower for the Forest Service. Here is an excerpt:
YOUNG: "Where did you grow up? How did you get into the forest service in the first place? Were you always in the woods bringing bugs home to Mama?"
ELLIS: "[Laughs] No, I was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1932, and I was raised there, back and forth with my grandparents who lived in the country. Always loved the country. Left there when I was 17, joined the military, the Army, was in the infantry. Went to Korea, served there, three different terms or tours, rather. Anyway, when I got out, well, I was married, had children, and had one daughter who was a severe asthmatic. The doctor there told us, he says, "You know, if I was you I'd move to Colorado Springs area." I had military benefits. That's the reason he recommended there. He said, "We don't tell people this because if we sent everybody to a certain area with certain, you know, diseases, why the hospitals would be overcrowded. She was severe, and he thought it would help it. So we decided we couldn't afford to live in the Springs. We wanted to live in a little town close by. So, we wrote to all the little towns around and got a few answers. Got one from Victor, Colorado, which was encouraging--$35 a month for renting this house. So, we sent three months in advance, made arrangements and took off. At that time, we had six children."
Billy Ellis goes on to tell stories of violent snow storms, adventurers coming to find out if the stories of buried gold were true and the struggles of the Ellis family to get their food and supplies up the mountain.
I hope you will share your stories with us. Though it is important to learn historical facts, it is equally important to comprehend what the atmosphere and the feelings were of the people who lived through events in Douglas County. Each story alone is fascinating but taken together they define us as a community and make us feel connected to our past and guide us in creating our future. These stories help us understand how we have become who we are.
Please contact me at the library if you would like to participate in the Douglas County Leadership Oral History Project. skerber@dclibraries.org
Recorded interviews will be available online via the Douglas County Libraries website. You can enjoy the stories already recorded by visiting: http://www.douglascountyhistory.org/voices/stories.htm
For more information about the Philip S. Miller Library or the Douglas County History Research Center, visit DouglasCountyLibraries.org or call 303-791-READ.