Shortly after the turn of the century, early settlers from as far away as Montrose and Grand Junction, Colorado, came to Hotchkiss, Colorado, for a much-heralded spring racing meet, generally held during the end of May.
Another well attended even at Hotchkiss during those years was in the fall when families traveled great distances to and from the County Fair celebration. These were the years that Buffalo Bill brought his Wild West show to Grand Junction.
Horse shows, racing and games highlighted by family picnics, formed the bulk of annual celebrations. Entertainment the rest of the year consisted of dancing, housewarming, box socials, charivaries, taffy pulls and the inevitable fishing and hunting, the latter two serving a dual purpose-for fun and for food.
Two of the first organized groups around 1882 were a Grand Army Post and a Woman’s Relief Corps.
Three years later, in 1885, a Literary Society was organized and people from all over the North Fork Valley attended the sessions. Amateur theatricals were among the events that highlighted the gatherings.
Pioneers provided their own entertainment most of the time—good old-fashioned homemade fun.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
