Charlie Glass's Grave

Local History Thursday: The Legend of Charlie Glass

According to an article written by Katie Nodjimbadem for Smithsonian.com, “Few images embody the spirit of the American West as well as the trailblazing, sharpshooting, horseback-riding cowboy of American lore. And though African-American cowboys don’t play a part in the popular narrative, historians estimate that one in four cowboys were black.” One such man was Charlie […]

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Graphic: Mesa County Libraries logo

The Women in the Castle

A dramatic, engrossing historical novel, set primarily in post-WWII Germany, The Women in the Castle, by Jessica Shattuck, tells the intertwined stories of three widows whose husbands were involved in a failed conspiracy to assassinate Adolph Hitler. The aristocratic Marianne promised her husband that she would find and help the other wives of conspirators, so […]

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Local History Thursday: M.L. Allison and His Daughter’s Handwritten Notes From the Early 20th Century

In addition to being a mayor of Grand Junction, Monroe (M.L.) Allison was an influential and connected person, at the very least he was well regarded by the town founder, George Crawford. Along with C.B. Rich, he was named an executor and trustee of Crawford’s will and estate. The Delta County Independent issue from February […]

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Read a banned classic

This week is Banned Books Week, and it’s a fine time to explore the classics that have been banned or challenged throughout the decades. Some reasons for banning and challenging books: offensive language and vulgarity sexual content contempt for religion, family, and marriage pro-Communist views morbid and depressing themes criticism of Islam Banned classics include:

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Local History Thursday: Candy Man Chet Enstrom

People in the Grand Valley know Chet Enstrom for his delicious almond toffee, still sold by Enstrom Candies. But did you know that he started his career as an ice cream maker? In his interview with the Mesa County Oral History Project, Enstrom describes how he became involved in the ice cream business. When Enstrom […]

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