Ginger Jar
Evan Hunt
This is a story of the Ginger Jar. The Ginger Jar was built in 1914. It was a warehouse for the train. Curt Carlson owned it as a Trading Post in the 1930's to 1960's. There are brands still on the wall from Curt Carlson. Ginger owns the Ginger Jar now. She is Curt Carlson's granddaughter. The Ginger Jar has definitely been used for lots of things.
The Galloping Goose
Riley Proctor
The Galloping Goose was a cool truck on tracks. It traveled to Ridgway, Telluride and Rico. In Dolores it was a help because it carried passengers to nearby towns. It carried cargo too. A GMC engine was in the Goose. Also, the truck had 15 windows in it. The seven Galloping Geese were cool. But one of the trains was scrapped to make cars. The field trip was the best because I love trains.
The Rio Grande Southern
Levi Fuller
The Rio Grande Southern is one of the best hotels in Dolores, Colorado. It was built a very long time ago in 1893. It's still in business today. Teddy Roosevelt and Lane Gray slept in the Rio Grande Southern. Teddy Roosevelt was a president and Lane Gray was a writer. It was the first hotel in Dolores. The Rio Grande Southern was built for miners so they had a place to eat and sleep. In fact, the Rio Grande Southern is one of the best hotels I know.
The Town Hall
Jerzei Felts
Last month our class went to the Dolores Town Hall. I shook the Mayor's hand. His name is Val Truelson and he has been the Mayor for a long time. The town of Dolores was established in 1905. They moved the town from where it was in Big Bend. The town moved closer to the train. The train moved people from town to town. But one day they had to pull up the train tracks because they didn't have enough money to keep the train running. I love learning about our community and the train.
Frank Lopez
Katelyn Carpenter
At our grandparents visit June Head came. June lived in Cortez 83 years. She grew up in Cortez and still lives there. June did different things for fun when she was a child. She enjoyed riding her bike, spinning tops, walking around town, and jumping rope. She had different chores as well. She had to take care of chickens, do homework, take care of the billygoats, help her mom, and do dishes. Her parents had interesting jobs. Her mom worked at the courthouse and her dad was a sheriff. June Head was an amazing person to interview.
The Baptist Church
Jacob Presnell
My class went to the Baptist Church. The Baptist Church was built in 1898. The Baptist Church was built so people could come and pray for good things. The Baptist Church didn't have money for stained glass windows. They didn't have enough money so they got regular windows. Rev. Collier got struck by lighting and it blinded him. It was my fourth favorite church I've been to.
EMT's
Peyton Hill
My class went to the Emergency Medical Technicians. Gina taught us many things. There is 20% oxygen in the air in Dolores. That's not a lot of oxygen compared to sea level. So, if you're in need of oxygen she will put a tube up your nose that will help you breath. Did you know that there is a special shot to stop you when you're throwing up? So, say that you fell off the top of the house, Gina will help you. Gina took our heart rate and tested our oxygen level. A machine checked to see if it was healthy. The machine was amazing because you just put a clamp on your finger. I learned a lot about emergency medical technicians because of Gina.
Sheriff Department
Roland Miller
If we have troubles we can call the sheriff's department. We met Sergeant Alcon and Deputy Barry. Deputy Barry is our SRO, school resource officer. He is the deputy for Dolores. The sheriffs department helps us feel safe in our community. They can help us if we are in trouble. They are just a phone call away. They drive around to make sure laws are being followed, and to catch bad guys. Tazors, guns, handcuffs, radios, billy-clubs and flashlights are some of the equipment that they use. Radios are used to contact other officers and other people. Dolores sheriff's department works hard to keep our school and community safe.
Galloping Goose
Michael Skinner
I went on a field trip with my class to learn about the Galloping Goose. The Galloping Goose went to Durango and some other towns nearby. It traveled on railroad tracks because it is a train. Miners would wait at the train station and it would take them to the mines. When the engineer honks the horn, it means something. There are different meanings for the honks. When he honks the horn three times it means reverse. Two honks means stop. When the horn sounds low and short, it means warning. The field trip to the Galloping Goose was interesting and I had lots to learn about.
Frank Lopez
Katelyn Carpenter
We invited Frank Lopez to come and talk about growing up in Dolores. When he was young, his address was 303 Riverside. All he said about where he lives now was Dolores. We asked for the address but he said he won't tell us because he doesn't want pesky third graders coming to his house and haunting him! He did some fun things growing up, and some interesting chores. For fun he played with frogs and caught them. He would race chickens also. His chores were splitting wood and feeding the rabbits and chickens. His school was different than ours. If they got into trouble they got hit with a paddle. He got spanked with the paddle three times! First, he went down the slide backwards. Then, he punched a guy's tooth out. Last, he jumped out of the swing. His favorite subject was science because he liked to fix things. Frank Lopez was sure fun to interview.
Dolores Town Hall
Landon Thompson
Learning about the town hall was fun! We met the nice mayor of the town hall whose name is Val Truelson. The town manager is Ryan Mahoney. The told us that Dolores became a town in 1905. The town had wooden water pipes in 1952. In 1980 they put in new water pipes made out of plastic. The town hall also has dog tags for our dogs. This helps keep dogs safe. The town hall is definitely helpful to everyone.
Dolores Fire Department
Josh Ricca
This is about the time our class went to the Dolores Fire Department. The people that work there are volunteers. If you want to volunteer you have to be 21 years old and you have to take classes to train for it. One of the people we met was the chief, Mike Zion. He watches over the department. The fire trucks can hold 1,000 gallons of water. The trucks don't freeze because they park them inside a heated garage. There are different kinds of fires like structure fires, wildfires, and hazardous material fires. If there is a fire by a pond or water they will suck the water out of the ponds using stiff hoses. They sometimes use helicopters and planes to get the water on the fire. I am definitely glad that we have a fire department in Dolores.
Val Truelson
Savannah Story
One day I had the pleasure to interview Val Truelson. Val has lived in Dolores for 40 years but he grew up in San Diego. Growing up, Val went fishing, hunting, and horseback riding. He did all of this for fun. In 1950, Val rode on the Galloping Goose in Dolores. He didn't tell me what that was like, but I'll bet it was fantastic! And Val, if you're reading this, I want to tell you, you're an amazing person.
June Head
Annabel Baldwin
At our Community Tea we interviewed people who grew up near Dolores. One of these people was June Head. June never lived in Dolores but she still knows a lot about Dolores. She grew up in Cortez right where McDonalds is now. When she was in third grade 40 people were in her class with one teacher. When someone got in trouble they had to stand in front of the whole school and tell what they did. Something that she loved was visiting Nehi. Nehi was a trained pet. A lot of kids liked to watch him as he drank soda pop from the can! When I talked to June at the tea, I learned all about her.
The Ginger Jar
Tyler Soden
Last month our class went to the Ginger Jar. The building the Ginger Jar is in was built in 1904 and was a warehouse. Crops from Dolores farms and cows from ranches were kept there. There were corrals in the back for livestock. When the train came to the Ginger Jar it carried honey, apples, and cows to Durango. Now you can get your hair and your nails done at the Ginger Jar. Once my mom and I got our nails done there and I recommend it! I love to learn about our community.
Chuck Melvin
Josh Ricca and Ben Shafer
Our class invited people who grew up in Dolores to let us interview them. One of them was Chuck Melvin. He has lived in Dolores for 67 years. His family has owned their farm since 1901. Chuck has a lot of chores when he was a kid. After he was done with chores he would have fun riding horses, playing in the dirt and reading! Also, he was in 4-H. His Dad was a farmer and welder while his mom was a Mom. Chuck's favorite subjects in school were math, science, and reading. He won at state fair with his insect collection. He brought in some interesting old things to show us. My favorite thing was the coffee grinder. I think it was about 100 years old. He used to use it, until it lost a part. We definitely think Chuck is a friendly and interesting guy.
Rio Grande Southern
John Dicicco
Hi, my class and me went to the historical Rio Grande Southern on March 14, 2013. We went there for a field trip. It was fun. We had a tour guide. You might have seen us on that day walking. It was built in 1893. It was used for all the people that rode the train and the Galloping Goose as a bed and breakfast or hotel. When you woke up there, you might have eaten a breakfast like pancakes! E.I. Wilber built the Rio Grande Southern. Now it is 2013, and it is still standing. My mom worked there so I got to make the covers on the bed that Teddy Roosevelt, the president, slept on back then! That is my story of the Rio Grande Southern. Bye ladies and gentlemen.
Del Rio
Tari Hutchison
Hello, my name is Tari and I am writing this so you will be able to know about the Del Rio in Dolores, Colorado. One fact is that Billy Brumley built it and it was first used by others in 1931. The Del Rio was a hotel, ballroom, and restaurant all at the same time. Many famous people stayed here. One was Clara Bow, the famous silent movie star! Some people say it is haunted but it isn't. They might say that because of the fire that happened there that makes it look the way that it does today. After the fire it never reopened. Some people want to open it and fix it up again. If I lived there, I'd be very happy. I think I will open it when I grow up!
Dolores State Bank
Kamri Willbanks
I need some money here! My class was at the Dolores State Bank not long ago, and here is what I found out. The old Dolores State Bank was made in 1952. The new bank was built in 2011. It has an elevator. Also, it has an ATM and a lot more. My mom even works there as a bookkeeper. They have loans, wires, online banking, checking, savings accounts, internet banking, debit cards, and ATM cards. Those are the services that they offer. The jobs that you can have here are loan officers, bookkeepers, tellers, customer service representatives, loan clerks, processors, complaint officers, and even a president. The bank has steel pennies from long ago. You should go see this beautiful new bank. I am still waiting for that money.
Baptist Church
Morgan Waggoner
Have you seen the Baptist Church in Dolores? My class went there to learn about it, and I've even been in it. The church was built in 1898. It was built by regular community members and people that wanted it built. It has always been a church, it has never changed, and never will. The church used to be facing south, but then citizens wanted it facing east. So it was picked up with something like a crane and turned it with a mighty turn and made the entrance face east. Citizens are picky. It has 5 rooms, a kitchen, a big closet, a meeting room, a bathroom, and a beautiful sanctuary. I've been inside for my 4-H meeting (I thought you might be wondering). I love this place. You should look inside too. It is an important place in our community for a lot of people.
Post Office
Coya Johnson
Hello my name is Coya. Have you ever been to the Dolores Post Office? I'll tell you about it. It has four mail carriers, two trucks that carry mail, and they have stamps. One stamp costs forty-six cents. Wow, that much! That's not very much money to get letters really far away. So did I tell you who works there? Well, I should have in the beginning of this. The man who showed us around was named Jeff. He was fun and wacky. He did us a special favor and let us come in the back of the post office. It looks really different in the back. You can even see people getting in their mail boxes getting their mail! The services that they provide are passports, signature mail, and merchandise. I really had fun at our post office. I hope to go there again sometime.
Colorado State Parks and Wildlife Office
Hollis Bourque
I have a question for you! What elevation do deer change into elk? Ha Ha! That is a question that Scot Elder was asked while working as a ranger one day. His office is on Main Street (Railroad Avenue) in Dolores. The sign outside says "Colorado State Parks and Wildlife." He works as a Park Manager at Lone Mesa and Mancos State Parks. You can get hunting and fishing licenses at the office. You will never guess how many acres there are at Lone Mesa. There are 12,000. Wow! That is a lot! At Mancos State Park there is boating, fishing, camping, and hiking. To be a beginning ranger like Scot started out being, you have to get your college degree. If you want to be a ranger, stay in school! Scot is the only one that works there full time all year 'round. There is a woman named Karen who works at the office computer and helps people that come in. There are people who work and help only in the summer at Mancos too. If you want to visit a great office with lots of fun things to see, go visit the Lone Mesa and Mancos State Park office here in our town.
Del Rio
Kris Quintana
I would like to tell you about the Del Rio. It was a restaurant and hotel with a dance floor. It was built in 1931. A lot of people used to stay at the Del Rio, even some famous people. It was abandoned in 1945. It has busted windows because people threw rocks at it. Also, when the Del Rio first opened, a family said they saw a shadow. Then rumors started about this and that. When that family said they saw a shadow, it was actually a vacuum! The governor stayed at the Del Rio. He probably danced, sang, stayed, then left. This place got a lot of attention. There was a fire here in 1955. The owner of the Del Rio was Steven Woods. That is all ladies and gentlemen, thank you for reading my story about an important piece of Dolores history.
Karen Andrews
Jillian Koerber
Do you know where I went on my field trip? I will tell you. We went to the Dolores Schools District Office. Karen Andrews works there with Scott Cooper, our superintendent. Karen keeps track of all of our school's money. She handles $10,000,000 a year for our schools. The art work at the district office she puts up is from the high schoolers. They must like her. Karen works a lot of hours. Most days she works from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. She even gave us all a quarter when we visited from her own money. That was for us to remember what her job is. The quarters were from different states. Do you know what's important? Karen's job is important to our town because she helps with our town's schools.
Dolores Public Schools District Office
Bradon Morehead
Our class went to the Dolores Public Schools District Office. Who do you think Lori Arnette is? She work there and sorts every student from kindergarten through twelfth grades. She is the superintendent's secretary. Scott Cooper, our superintendent works there too. Too awesome! He is the boss of the principals at our schools. Karen Andrews works in the district office also. She keeps track of $10,000,000 for our school. I learned a lot and was excited when I went to the district office!
General Store
Jeremy Strong
Hi, I'm Jeremy! What do you know about the General Store in Dolores? I will tell you about this place. It started with a guy named AA Rust. He was the one that built it in 1913. It was a lumber store first. After the lumber was cut way up the hill, he hauled it down the mountain sometimes himself and sometimes with the help of his horses! In 1940 it became a Chevy dealer. In the 1990's is became the General Store. It sells hardware and lumber still today. Over the years, this place has been many different things in our town.
Colorado State Parks and Wildlife Office
Tyler Spore
I know a lot about Colorado State Parks. Let me tell you about it. First, the Dolores State Parks office in Dolores was opened in 2001. The areas that they help are Lone Mesa State Park and Mancos State Parks. Do you want to know a fact about Lone Mesa State Park? You can hunt up there if you have a special use permit. Scot Elder works there as a park manager. He used to be a ranger. Park rangers carry weapons. They only use them in deadly situations. At the office, Scot and Karen help with registrations for boats, RV's, and Rangers. Also, they sell hunting and fishing licenses and a good fishing report. It was fun to go to the Colorado State Parks and Wildlife office because we got to hear about all sorts of cool things. What a cool job! Maybe you should go there sometime and maybe you would have fun too.
Mike and Karen Welch
Tyler Nowlin
I get to write to tell you about my grandparents! When they were little they lived across from the school. Dolores was the town they lived in. They live in Cortez now. My grandpa had two brothers. For fun they ice skated, just like some people do today. Of course, they had many chores. They had to haul coal and mow the lawn. My great granddad worked at a local garage. I was hoping that they used to ride the Galloping Goose, but they didn't. My grandparents are awesome and I wouldn't trade them for anything!
The Dolores State Bank
Andy Dunston
I learned a bunch of new things when our class visited the Dolores State Bank. Their money is popular! The bank's workroom has a lot of pipes. In the safety deposit box room, I found out that it is fireproof. That is because it is surrounded on all sides by cement! We went in the computer room where they have so many wires. Their elevator is the only one in Dolores at a business. I got to ride on the new elevator. The new Dolores State Bank was built in 2011. The bank sends money through their computers sometimes. People also go through the drive through at the bank too. The bank can do many things for us.
K-9 Search and Rescue
Hunter Hite
Let us go search and rescue when people get lost. The K-9 unit here in Dolores started in 1984. The Doghouse has nine dogs and 22 workers. K-90 units are in 12 states in America. One guy that works at the Doghouse, and that I know, is Chuck Melvin. He has a new dog Kevlar. Kevlar only understands German commands. There are three kinds of search dogs: number 1 is a tracker, number 2 are trailers, and number 3 are air scent. Chuck's old dog Axle got hit by a horse and had to be put down. My dad did most of the radio work in the Doghouse. Now you know about the K-9 in Dolores. My dad, Brent Hite knows a lot about being in the doghouse.my mom Debbie sends him there a lot!
Dolores Public Schools
Aiden Arnett
I went to the Dolores School District Office. Laurie Arnett is the superintendent, Scott Cooper's secretary, but she's also my grandma (Namaw). My Namaw sorts papers for the state and schools. So, she does something very important. The papers that she keeps track of are names of students, rules of the school, and our report cards. She knows when we are absent and when we are here. She knows when we are sick. Without my Namaw, the school would not be as good, in my opinion. My Namaw knows how many people are in our school. We have 318 in the elementary, 167 in our middle school, 231 in the high school, and 68 at the Teddy Bear Preschool. She must be really good at math. Laurie Arnette brightens this place up.
Everett Williford
Cody Farias
So Everett Williford, tell me some facts about you. "Well, I lived in Dolores for 50 years. I also had to milk cows because I lived on a farm. I had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. When I was young I walked around and I went fishing. I also had to collect eggs for food. He had rabbits and chickens and pigs plus cow. My dad was a bricklayer and my mom was a waitress. There were many businesses in Dolores like a grocery store, bars, a brick company and restaurants. Math was my favorite subject in school. I love third grade because my teacher was really fun. I have never ever ridden the Galloping Goose. I have broken my arm plus my leg. One time I was catching fish so fast I had fish coming out of my ears." WOW! Everett you had an amazing life. "Yes, yes I did."
Gary Lewis
Morgan Waggoner
Gary Lewis is an interesting man. He has lived in Dolores for 63 years. Mr. Lewis lived on a farm growing up with 2 brothers and 1 sister. He sang, played a trumpet, rode a horse, and rode a tractor for fun. Mr. Lewis had many chores and still does. Gary had to feed the horse, chickens, and pigs. He also had to help his mother with housework and house keeping. Gary's mom and dad also had interesting jobs. His dad was a farmer and his mom stayed home and watched his sister and little brother. He said that 3rd grade was fun, exciting, and full of surprises. Gary also rode the Galloping Goose! He said it was very short, but fun. The job Gary had for a long time was right here at our elementary school as a music teacher! Everyone loved him here. It was fun interviewing Mr. Lewis. I hope you enjoyed hearing about him too.
Montezuma County Sheriff's Department
Alyssa Hope Alcon
I have a special connection to the Montezuma County Sheriff's Department. Adam Alcon, my dad, has worked for them for 13 years. He started when I was a baby. The sheriffs keep our community safe because they don't want people hurt. Our school has an officer that works at our schools. His name is officer Chris Barry. He has worked for our department for 2½ years. It is nice to have him in the neighborhood. My dad had to use his Taser once. It gives a whole lot of volts! Our community is better with all of these people helping out!
Through the eyesof third-graders
Dolores Elementary School third-graders in the classrooms of Meg Neeley and Brooke Elder learn about their community ever year as part of the social studies curriculum. Some of the learning includes community services.
They visit Town Hall, the post office, the water treatment plant and many other places, and they talk to people about their jobs. Shirley Dennison conducts a historical walk to teach about several buildings in town. The students interview local people who have grown up in this area.
As a final project, the students write paragraphs describing their experiences. This week and last week, the Dolores Star has published those paragraphs.
