This week we have already had very warm sun, afternoon thunderstorms, lovely long days, and the Fourth of July! This also means that it is time for summer barbecuing! Truly, what is July Fourth without a barbecue? Barbecuing has been a long-standing tradition as part of our Independence Day activities. This is especially evident in our Colorado newspapers.
In 1879, a whole ox was roasted in Evans, for their July Fourth celebration.1 They had to be sure the meat was sufficiently flame-broiled when serving it to reporters at the town’s barbecue because if it was a bit on the rare side, it would have made the news.2 The barbecue was often (and still is) used to entice attendance to a town’s Independence Day celebration. This was especially true when the event was also a fundraiser, such as for the “old folks home” in Walsenburg.3 On occasion a promoted celebration, which in one case included “nice juicy pea fed pork steaks”, had to be abruptly canceled, disappointing the local citizens and depriving them of a much anticipated barbecue.4
Independence Day isn’t the only time to barbecue; the whole summer is! Interestingly, true outdoor barbecue recipes didn’t really start making an appearance in the newspapers until the early 1940s. Even then recipes called for using the barbecue as an outdoor stove, rather than as a grill.5 In fact, most of the “barbecue” recipes consisted of using an oven.6 
Outdoor grilling recipes (or how we more commonly think of contemporary barbecue) surfaced within the newspaper columns in the 1960s, where large portions of meat such as a roast7 or whole chicken recipes8 could be attempted on the grill. By the 1970s, non-traditional American recipes could also be found, such as the “out of the ordinary” recipe for kabobs.9 Thinking of the grill in new and exciting culinary ways really took off about 25 years ago and has remained a place of foodie innovation ever since.10
Of course one cannot go wrong with a delightful hamburger recipe or two. A dillburger sounds lovely. Perhaps adding the potatoes directly to the burger as opposed to on the side sounds intriguing. And what burger is complete without bacon (the answer is no burger is)?11
Newspapers are a great resource for interesting recipes. Don’t forget to search CHNC as you may find something “new” to try. Happy summer barbecuing!
could be used as a park, free of charge. His children upheld his wishes and the acreage became part of Colorado Springs in 1910. Between 1910 and the 1970s the city was able to purchase more of the surrounding land to add to the park, eventually totaling 1,300 acres. They also allowed commercial development, such as an inn built within the cliffs, sightseeing bus routes throughout the park, a chuck-wagon dinner establishment, as well as a beer hall near Gateway Rock.
They were not alone, however. In the 19th century there was an explosion of fashion publications, mainly due to mechanization and industrialization of both print and “ready wear” clothes. This advancement in technology also helped create a middle class, as well as increased literacy among the masses. While magazines were indeed popular, newspapers began to add their own fashion columns in the 1840s. In addition to the Associated Press, which in the 19th century was primarily an east coast conglomeration, there was the Western Newspaper Union (WNU) out of Iowa. They supplied standardized, pre-printed news to more than 12,000 newspapers in the western part of the United States. By the 1880s, one of their factories was located here in 
Denver. Fashion columns were part of the standardized news they offered, and many Colorado newspapers at the time subscribed to their service. The primary woman reporter on the scene for fashion news through WNU, was Julia Bottomley.
On Dec 5, 1920, 
The autumnal equinox – the day in September when daylight hours are almost equal to nighttime hours. This time also represents the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The days turn cooler and the leaves turn color and begin their descent to the ground from the branches above.
Providing heat was not the only cold weather preparation recommended. As we Coloradans are aware, the difference in temperature from day to night during autumn can be quite vast. In the late nineteenth century there was a strong belief that such dramatic temperature changes led to sickness, “the human body not being made of steel or India rubber, sensibly feels these tremendous changes.”
Gold was discovered in 1858 and attempts to keep it a secret failed. By 1859 the rush of potential prospectors from the east and west culminated in a quick habitation near Cherry Creek, thus establishing Denver City and Auraria. At the time, this land was considered part of Kansas Territory. By 1861, Colorado Territory had been established by President James Buchanan. Fourteen years later on March 3, 1875, the Enabling Act (a draft of the state’s constitution required by the United States for consideration into the union) was submitted to Congress.
In the mid to late nineteenth century, Colorado still had quite the brown bear population, which included the grizzly. There were also plenty of black bears, including a lighter colored subspecies often referred to as “cinnamon.”
These were not poor Jim’s only injuries. He lost an eye and his hands and feet were nibbled on. Somehow, Jim survived, managed to drag himself to his horse and make his way to Idaho Springs where a doctor visiting from Georgetown was able to give Jim medical attention. He was in extremely critical but stable condition when the incident was reported.
Black bears, however, continue to be a problem. More so, in the way of nuisance than attack, as was just reported last week in the 
the former Territorial Governor, John Evans at the helm) the Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph was incorporated and $300,000 raised. The rest of the funding was a bit harder to procure, but Evans eventually persuaded the Kansas Pacific Railroad to grant right of way to their land in Colorado and Wyoming along the route, as well as to assist in financing the building of the road after the Union Pacific’s agreement to provide the iron fell through due to financial hardship. Road work began in May 1868 with a grand celebration, complete music and a keg of beer.
“Finds Atheist in Foxhole-It’s Himself.” The Blizzard, February 27, 1945. CHNC
About a year later, a charlatan named J.W. Suitterlin proposed building a public library and reading room. He just needed the funds. And he had a ruse to obtain them.