Blog
Traditions of New Year’s Past
New Year’s gifts were popular during the 1870-90 era in Greeley, and some were elaborate or unusual.
Things I Learned while Looking Up Something Else
Historian Carol Rein Shwayder began researching her family genealogy in the 1970s. She was “dismayed, and shocked” to find there was no book written for Weld County history. In 1983, Shwayder self-published Weld County Old & New: History of Weld County, Colorado, Vol. I, Chronology 1836-1983. It is described by the author as “A chronological compendium of interesting, useful, and hard-to-find facts and information about the history and development of Weld County, Colorado. Herein follows a sampling of excerpted entries.
Out of the Cold
Keeping warm was a priority in the winter months of Greeley’s early days. During the 1870s, The Greeley Tribune reported many incidents of people who had frozen their feet and hands while working on the plains in severe weather conditions.
Fort Jackson and the Fur Trade
Fort Jackson was established in 1837 on the South Platte River. It was well-stocked with trade goods and quickly shut down the local small operations in the region.
Oasis on the Plains: Mapping Through Weld County’s Water Rights
Cartography, or mapmaking, has been an important part of human history, even since ancient civilizations. Whether you use them to explain and navigate the world, or to make decisions about where to go, maps are critical tools that have endless capabilities.
Wedding Customs of the Late 19th Century
The social “dos and don’ts” of wedding etiquette can be perplexing and they continue to change with time. The wedding ceremony of Rozene Meeker, daughter of Greeley’s founder Nathan Meeker, gives us a glimpse of what a typical wedding was like in the 1880s.
Knights of the Roaring Wheels
In 1938, motorcycling had a dramatic comeback in Greeley with the organization of the “Knights of the Roaring Wheels”, a motorcycle club emphasizing safety.
Archiving the Camp Family Collections
A Reflection by Katalyn Lutkin, City of Greeley Museums Archives Assistant I started processing the Camp Family Collections in July of 2016. At that time, there was only one donation with several more on the way. In the last 3 years, I have processed 13 collections...
Innovation with the Fascination
Explore over 100 years of photographic history of Northern Colorado through the work of father and son photographers Lew and Denny Dakan.
April Fools: A Bad Joke for a Good Cause
In 1918, the citizens of Greeley were doing all they could to contribute to the war effort. Those at home made a difference through rationing, fundraising, and a bad joke.
Menthology was published by the Mentholatum Company, makers of health care products since 1889, as “A pocket magazine to be read at leisure moments.” The contents included “short items of interest to the retailer, a little fun, and some good common sense." Shown on the front cover: "Ammunition for the Druggist & Clerk. Sales helps, Advertising suggestions, Wit & Humor."