June 22, 2023

Episode 139 - Beneath the Rockies Part 2: Visiting Colorado's Historic Cemeteries

In this episode Jennie and Dianne continue their exploration of Colorado cemeteries that will be visited by members of the Association for Gravestone Studies during their week-long conference in Denver, Colorado. First they take members to the tranquil grounds of Evergreen and Fairview Cemeteries in Colorado Springs. Nestled beneath the majestic beauty of Pike's Peak, these hallowed grounds showcase the difference between the wealthy and the working class of Colorado Springs and its surrounding communities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From Colorado springs, they venture back through Denver to head west into the mountains where Colorado's Gold Rush truly began in the communities of Central City and Black Hawk and to visit the many cemeteries in Gilpin county. These cemeteries are full of the love and loyalty of family and tradition even if those buried in them had little material wealth in life, families still found ways to memorialize their loved ones in stone.

Show Notes

For more information on the Association for Gravestone Studies visit their website at: https://www.gravestonestudies.org/

Resources used to research this episode include:

"Evergreen and Fairview Cemeteries ." https://coloradosprings.gov. coloradosprings.gov/cemeteries. Accessed 11 June 2023.

Binkowski, Karah. "Who Was Charles Aiken?." https://www.aikenaudubon.com. 22 Oct. 2022. www.aikenaudubon.com/about-aiken-audubon-2/who-was-charles-aiken/. Accessed 11 June 2023.

Britton, Tanja. "Charles Aiken." https://www.cspm.org. www.cspm.org/cos-150-story/charles-aiken/. Accessed 11 June 2023.

Mayfield , Dennis. No Wealth for Levinia. Dennis Mayfield , 2013, pp. 1-250.

Leslie, Darlene, et al. Central City: The Richest Square Mile on Earth, edited by William MacKenzie. TB Publishing , 1990, pp. 3-80

MacKell Collins, Jan. "Laura Bell McDaniel: Queen of the Colorado City Tenderloin ." https://janmackellcollins.wordpress.com. 22 June 2018. janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2018/06/06/laura-bell-mcdaniel-queen-of-the-colorado-city-tenderloin/. Accessed 11 June 2023.

Schrock, Jaclyn. "The Bald Mountain Cemetery Crawl." https://wrcnews.net. 24 Aug. 2021. wrcnews.net/the-bald-mountain-cemetery-crawl/education/postmaster/209844/. Accessed 11 June 2023.