by Rebecca Young

Lam Tree Service has helped Jefferson County Historical Society to maintain Heritage Grove ever since these three acres of history were saved from development back in 1980. After pruning, spraying and removing storm-damage from the Grove for the past two decades, the folks at Lam, like so many others in our community, have a deep appreciation for this rare collection of old-growth Ponderosa pines.

In 2008 Lam Tree Service celebrates 30 years of service to Jefferson, Summit, Grand and Eagle counties. In recognition of this milestone, Lam is giving back to the communities they serve in special ways, and Heritage Grove is one of the lucky recipients. Lam Tree Service has donated Vertical Mulching treatment in the area of Heritage Grove that has suffered most severely from soil compaction created by years of pedestrian traffic and drought.

Vertical Mulching is a technique that can be used to partially alleviate soil compaction within the protected root zone of a tree. Soil compaction is harmful as it reduces the amount of pore space in the soil normally filled by oxygen (micro-pores) and water (macro-pores). Tree roots require both water and oxygen in relatively large quantities.

Tree roots are generally found in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil and extend out from the trunk to a distance two to three times the width of the tree crown (critical root radius). Tree roots do not go down, they go out. While most trees have a downward-growing tap root in their early years, lateral roots quickly develop and extend out from the tap root, becoming the primary root system.

Vertical mulching is done using a power auger with a 2-inch diameter drill bit. Starting at the critical root radius, holes are drilled 12 inches down and spaced 18 inches apart. The holes are then back-filled with pea gravel. The drilling fractures the soil and the backfill provides a well-aerated column for the penetration of water, infiltration of oxygen, exchange of gases and growth of new feeder roots.

While vertical mulching is a time-tested method of helping trees to overcome stress, the results aren't necessarily immediate. Trees go slowly into decline; their return to health is slow, but steady, too.

JCHS is grateful to Lam Tree Service for their generous gift to Heritage Grove. The Vertical Mulching treatment plays an important part in our campaign to repair this treasured piece of local history. Restricting pedestrian traffic, maintaining a healthy layer of mulch and restoring an understory of native plant growth will provide additional, significant help to these centuries-old trees over the next few years.

At its February meeting, the JCHS Board approved the following services to be provided by Lam Tree Service over the months of March, April and May (weather permitting!):

• Root Treatment for the Ponderosa Pines in the preserved area of the Grove. These are the same trees that received the Vertical Mulch Treatment last Fall; Lam will use the mulch-holes to feed our trees a combination of mycorrizae (which helps roots interface with the soil); organic material (including sea kelp and humic acid); and slow release nitrogen, all injected under the soil surface with a high volume of water to maximize absorption.
• Spraying for Pine Beetle and Ips Beetle. The entire Grove will be inspected, with each tree receiving the necessary treatment as determined by Lam. Note that spraying will be conducted during no-traffic or low-traffic periods at the Museum and advance notice will be posted.

Esprit de Corps

"A common spirit of devotion and enthusiasm among members of a group."

... Could there be a better description of our JCHS volunteers and Hiwan Homestead Museum staff?

The enthusiasm and commitment of our volunteers created the wonderful Twelfth Night JCHS Holiday Party at Hiwan. Volunteers came together to write and prepare two grant applications. The General Store Exhibit is being created as this very moment. Volunteers give of themselves and their time at a moment's request.

In the last month, a very special group of volunteers came together to help prepare two grants to support the JCHS Photo Digitization project. Susan Halama wrote the grants. Susan Jones provided the technical oversight. Hank Fuchs provided the needed financial information. John Steinle provided important regarding public attendance at the museum and Meghan McGinnes gave other critical information.

To give you a little insight into the commitment of the Hiwan staff to the museum and its volunteers, I must share the following episode: On February 4, following a snowy night, we were meeting at the museum for a volunteer update. I arrived somewhat on time followed by John and Meghan, who had been out providing transportation for some of our volunteers. John's car had gotten stuck in the snow and in trying to get it out he fell on the ice. John was obviously injured (his wrist and elbow are still in plaster!), but he made a real effort to continue with the program, ably assisted by Meghan. The refreshments, prepared by Sue Ashbaugh, kept everybody going. Now, how's that for commitment? Thank you to our Hiwan team ... and if you, dear reader, havenÕt volunteered at the museum for a while, please consider sharing some of your time with this wonderful group.

Hurrah for all the wonderful volunteers assisting with the Bear Creek Mercantile exhibit. After a preliminary meeting at the end of January, the JCHS offices were cleared out with the help of Susan Jones, Rebecca Young, Dale Devine, Randi Marcos, Diane and Hank Fuchs and Meghan McGinnes. On February 21, with the help of additional volunteers the General Store was laid out. I am sure there will be continuous involvement by volunteers in the preparation of the store. I personally want to thank the following people for stepping up to help with the creation of this exciting new exhibit:

Joan Ball, Mike Bornhauser, Dale Devine, Genie Enders, Mary Lee Flower, Diane Fuchs, Susan Jones, Sue Knepley, Heidi Markely, Randi Marcos, Peg Slater, Priscilla Stenman, Gwenn Wilson

Read on in this issue for further details about our newest exhibit and other JCHS activities, old and new, including Spring Fling, the Annual Meeting, Discovery Days, Medlen School Days, the Photo Digitization Project, Reflections and more... all of which would not, could not, be possible without the Team Spirit possessed by our wonderful Society members and volunteers!

I cannot close without a tremendous thank you to Mary Lee Flower for so kindly agreeing to help in St. Joseph's Chapel for an upcoming christening. On that subject, we really need a committee of volunteers to help with chapel events. Joan Ball has graciously said she would help with such a committee. Can you help - or do you know someone who can? It is such a beautiful venue for weddings and other special events. We just need a group of people to join a committee with Joan.

Finally, I am very pleased to share with you that Mike Goldblatt of Lam Tree Service will be joining the JCHS board to further the commitment he has shown to Heritage Grove over these many years. Mike knows his community as well as he knows his conifers - what a boon for us!

Most sincerely,

Diane Fuchs, JCHS President

Provided by Sue Ashbaugh, Meghan McGinnes, and John Steinle

EXHIBITS

• The General Store exhibit which will be installed in the Housekeeper's Cabin at Hiwan Museum has been titled "Bear Creek Mercantile" and will interpret a local store circa 1895. The grand opening for this new hands-on, permanent exhibit is scheduled for May 30. If you have items you would like to donate, please check with Sue Ashbaugh or Meghan McGinnes so we can avoid duplicates. We are especially are looking for a cash register, a coffee mill and a small wood stove.
• The "Monster Madness: The Loveable Nauga" exhibit continues on display at Hiwan through Sunday, March 30. This exhibit showcases a collection of approximately 30 "naugas" from the 1960s. These creatures, the collection of Albuquerque resident George Anderman, were created in the 1960s by the Naugahyde Company to promote their new synthetic wonder product. Come learn the fascinating "nauga" back-story fabricated by the company to comfortably introduce the public to the new world of synthetic fabric ... and get a sneak peek at plans for a "nauga-nation" rebirth!

ADULT EDUCATION

• Ukrainian Eggs Tuesday, March13, 1 p.m. Learn the art of pysanky, the beautifully decorated Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Discover the historic and symbolic value of these eggs while trying them yourself. $10.00 includes all materials. Instructor: Meghan McGinnes.
• "Daisy Chain" Beaded Bracelet Thursday, April 3, 1 p.m. $8.00 includes instruction and all materials. Sign up soon to make this clever, attractive craft! Instructor: Sue Knepley.
• Book Club and Needles & Friends are both on-going at the Museum. Please join the fun and take the opportunity to meet some of our friends and volunteers. Needles group meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 12:30 p.m. Book Club meets the fourth Wednesday (usually) of each month at 12:30 p.m. to discuss the current volume.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

• Attention Hiwan Volunteers! Mark your calendars for Monday, May 5 and give JCHS the opportunity to say "thank you for all you do" at our annual Spring Fling luncheon. This year's program will feature the newly remastered "History of Evergreen" historic photo show. Look for more details arriving in your mailbox in the coming weeks.
• EMILY GRIFFITH: At last September's JCHS Reflections event, author and historian Debra Faulkner wowed the audience with her a first-person portrayal of Emily Griffith. Please join us on Monday, March 10 at 2 p.m. for a repeat presentation about this fascinating Coloradoan. Although Griffith ended her education with Grade 8 she went on to become a world-famous educational pioneer with her Opportunity School in Denver. In 1947, Griffith and her sister were inexplicably murdered in their mountain cabin, a mystery unsolved to this day. Faulkner's portrayal will explore Griffith's life and death, with a new theory of who-done-it - and why. A suggested donation is $5.00 per person. Pre-registration is required.
• JOHN FIELDER: Hiwan Homestead Museum and JCHS are pleased to announce a slide show and book signing by John Fielder on Saturday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This exciting event will be held at Center Stage, located at 27608 Fireweed Drive in Evergreen. Mr. Fielder will present a "then and now" slide show from his acclaimed photography book Colorado 1870-2000 II. Following the presentation there will be a book signing with the opportunity to purchase copies of Mr. Fielder's books. Mr. Fielder has graciously arranged to donate a percentage of book sales to JCHS. Light refreshments will be provided. A suggested donation is $5.00 per person. Pre-registration is required.

To inquire about any of the above activities and programs, please call Hiwan Homestead Museum at 303-674-6262. Hiwan News provided by John Steinle, Sue Ashbaugh and Meghan McGinnes.

As reported in the last issue of The Record, JCHS is conducting a long-term project to digitize the Society's entire historic photograph collection for preservation. Thanks to a detailed proposal prepared by John Steinle, Susan Jones and Meghan McGinnes, the JCHS Board approved the purchase of computer equipment to support the digitization of approximately 6,000 photographs. In late January, the project team began to discuss the next phase of the project that is applying for grants to get help to do the actual organization and scanning. After considering many options and deadlines, the team decided to apply for a grant from the Colorado Endowment for the Humanities, the same folks who helped out with the Oral History Project, completed in 2004. JCHS board member Susan Halama spearheaded the grant-writing effort by answering all of the required questions and gathering the necessary information. We also found that our eligibility to apply for SCFD grants was out of date so she reapplied to change our eligibility status. Both applications have been submitted and we await a response from each organization later this Spring.

A secondary advantage of the digitization project is improved accessibility by researchers and the public, including media usage which was not covered in our outdated Photograph Usage Agreement. In the last few months, Diane Fuchs, Meghan McGinnes, Rebecca Young and Susan Jones researched the agreements used by other historical societies and adapted those to establish new policies for the JCHS photo collection. The Board approved an updated Photograph Usage Agreement at the January Board meeting.

The History of Jefferson County is the next slideshow to be updated and put on the laptop. Since it is not presented as often as the Evergreen show, this slideshow has gotten really out of date and will require a total overhaul, beginning with a script re-write to which will be added the appropriate pictures from our collection.

JCHS turns 35 this year. A check back in the archives to the first issue of The Record, dated November 1973, allows us to extract this "birth announcement" provided by then-editor Marji Todd:

'In spite of a week's delay caused by a perverse snow storm, 27 determined history buffs met on April 2 to give their approval to the development of a historical society. The spark had been touched off in one of Mary Helen Crain's Chit-Chat columns in January. After a second meeting in May, the group had a name, High Jefferson County Historical Society, by-laws, and its first set of officers:

• President - Connie Fahnestock
• Vice President - Hazel Humphrey
• Recording Secretary - Ruth Hershberger
• Corresponding Secretary - Virginia Garrison
• Treasurer - Wallace Howell
• Historian - Mary Helen Crain
• Curator - Don Rickey
• Directors: Jean Gravell, Lyn Beardsle and Sandy Crain

They also had an official logo and motto, "Open the Door to the Past."'

In celebration and appreciation The Record plans, in our 35th year, to feature highlights from JCHS's first year which correspond to each quarterly issue.

Discovery Days Sets Out on the Pioneer Trail

Discovery Days is for children who have finished kindergarten, first or second grades. This year's theme is "Pioneers," providing kids with hands-on, small-group opportunities to experience crafts, games, stories, chores and "vittles" authentic to the Colorado pioneers. Three sessions will be offered this year, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, 9 - 11:15 a.m., June 3-5, 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26.

We welcome Randi Marcos back as Program Coordinator for Discovery Days 2008. Randi's looking for teen and adult volunteers to serve as Activity and Group leaders. Here's your chance to learn, along with the kids, all about how to pack a covered wagon; whip up sourdough pancakes from scratch; and practice your "3 R's" in a one room schoolhouse. What's more, you'll be among the first to enjoy the brand new Bear Creek Mercantile exhibit.

• In keeping with the revived tradition of historical venues for the Annual JCHS Meeting, the historic Marshdale Lodge, now known as the Marshdale Bistro, has been selected. We will have a Sunday brunch on June 22 at 11 a.m. , with three wonderful choices of brunch items for $15.00. We've invited John Steinle, Hank Alderfer and Bud Weare to do a tag-team presentation on the history of the Marshdale area.
• Celebrate the 100th Birthday of the Model T when Hiwan Homestead Museum showcases several vintage cars on Saturday, June 21. Check out these classics and chat with their owners.
• Three authors have agreed to present their exciting new works at our second annual book-and-author event,"Reflections/Colorado Authors, Colorado Stories", scheduled for October 4, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the beautiful Mount Vernon Country Club. Our authors are:
  • Jan Murray: Outlaw Tales of Colorado and Mysteries and Legends of Colorado. Jan grew up in Evergreen and is excited about doing our program to benefit Heritage Grove.
  • Roger Baker: Clara is the story of an ex-slave in gold rush Colorado and Blackhawk. Roger is a former Gilpin County Librarian and Clerk & Recorder.
  • Nancy Larner: A Mouse in the RabbiÕs Study. Yes, this is our very own JCHS member who will be presenting her first book, a delightful childrenÕs story with incredible illustrations.
  Diane Fuchs is once again heading up this event and she passes on this message from Tom Noel, "Mr. Colorado". A schedule conflict prevented him from joining us this year but he said, "Thanks for thinking of me. I am aware of the good work of the JCHS...." Of course Diane made sure he had our website link in her response.