Sunday, August 26, 2018

Aspen: An Unexpected Ride with Hunter S. Thompson

Theatre Aspen Lobby viewed from
John Denver Sanctuary
Through the centuries, the human race has been inclined to categorize and stratify itself: the rich and the poor, the conquerors and the natives, the inner circle and the oddballs.  The list could go on.  Unexpectedly, the impact of such labels came home to me in a number of ways during our recent visit with #1 Daughter (#1D) during her summer stint at Theatre Aspen.




Kinda deep for a vacation, right?  How could this theme develop when I was surrounded by John Denver's Rocky Mountains, or lapping up the last drips of a summer ice cream?


It began with a visit to the Wheeler-Stallard Museum.  Jerome B. Wheeler built this Queen Anne style Victorian in 1888 for his family.  Situated on an entire city block, the home was one of many stately properties in Aspen's West End neighborhood.  Despite his plans, his wife Harriet Macy Valentine Wheeler refused to leave their mansion in Manitou Springs, Colorado and the family never lived in the house.  Edgar and Mary Ella Stallard moved in during 1905, eventually purchasing the home in 1917.  The family lived here for 40 years.  The house last served as a residence of the Aspen Institute's president before the Aspen Historical Society purchased it in 1969.  The first floor of the Museum is interpreted as a Victorian Aspen home and the second floor gallery features rotating exhibitions to explore area history.

It is the second floor gallery - that's what got me.  As we entered the house, the docent on the front desk that day asked "Do you know about Hunter Thompson?"  Without thinking, I said "Yes".  How many Hunter Thompsons could there be?  It must be the same Hunter Thompson that penned our family motto (see previous post).
Hunter Thompson

Spousal Unit was not so quick to claim the man.  "Do you mean Hunter S. Thompson?" he asked.  She replied, "I mean the Hunter Thompson that ran for sheriff in Pitkin County - the exhibit upstairs is about his campaign."  Well, that threw me - perhaps I did not know as much about this man as I should have before I chose his quote as a guiding principle for the last 10 years.  It was time to get educated.

Under the label of "Freak Power", Hunter Thompson's 1970 campaign for sheriff started as a political stunt to upset local conservatives, but morphed into a viable bid.  He hoped to expand the role of the office to address social reforms.  Rampant real estate development, draconian law enforcement, harassment of hippies, downtown traffic congestion and protection for the local environment were all issues that he aspired to tackle.

A few things struck me: How little has changed, almost 50 years later - we are still grappling with many of the same problems, even if the labels (hippies minorities) may have changed.  How Thompson advocated for the disillusioned, disenfranchised and disinterested to rise up and use their power through voting.  How a word like 'freak' can evoke such emotion as to lose potential voters.  In the official count, Thompson lost the "Battle of Aspen" by a small margin.

For us, not all was lost - our entrance fee to the house also bought us admission to the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum, just a 15-minute walk from the house  The area's mining boom started in the early 1880's and Aspen quickly became one of the largest producers of silver in the country.  

Originally sprawling over 22 acres, the Holden Works boasted state-of-the-art technology used to extract silver from low-grade ore.  The stoutly built 'sampling' building held large, heavy machinery that pulverized the ore; that building now houses the museum and is the only structure that remains of the original complex.  

In the fall of 1893, just 14 months after the new plant opened, the US Congress repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act and sent the Holden Works into bankruptcy.  The plant fell into disrepair as residents cannibalized the buildings for materials during Aspen's leaner years.  Mike Marolt bought the property for $1 in 1940.  The Marolts combined it with the Midland Ranch on which they raised sheep and cattle and planted potatoes.  By the late 1950s, the family started to sell off parcels.  The almighty dollar was stronger than any commitment to continue grazing sheep or raising cattle on this land.
Upper left: examples of the "Devil's Rope" - barbed wire;  Upper right: Oliver "Red River Special" Thresher
Lower left: barbed wire on the bottom is the most familiar style and is called Glidden's Winner
Lower right: Mining frame
That evening, we attended a performance of Ragtime at Theatre Aspen; #1D was the Rehearsal Production Assistant for the show, which deserved its standing ovation.  (We were delighted to be joined by my brother, his wife, their two sons and the girlfriend of one of the boys.)  Ragtime tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early 20th century: African Americans, represented by Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a Harlem musician; upper-class suburbanites, represented by Mother, the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; and Eastern European immigrants, represented by Tateh, a Jewish immigrant from Latvia.  I found my mouth open during much of the performance; so many of its themes resonate with today's issues - the ongoing struggle for minorities, women and immigrants to be seen for their talents and not for any other characteristic.  After the show, we asked ourselves about the timing of the writing - imagine our surprise that it was based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow.  We have not come far.

OK, lest this whole post become a bummer, let me talk about redemption.  I observed several examples of 'open spaces' that have been generously preserved by the early Aspen families and the community.

We toured the John Denver Sanctuary, and discovered that it is aptly named.  An oasis in the city … a garden in which you can imagine that the issues of the day CAN be solved .. a place where all labels and divisions fade away …. He died too young, but his spirit and his words will continue to inspire those who grew up with his music, as well as those new to his legacy.

Strolling the aspen-lined streets of the town, I was like a bee to the honey with the bountiful flowers - in pots, on fences, in front yards.  Even the shops had gardens.  Something about growing things, and the desire of the human race to be surrounded by such beauty, helps to restore my faith in humanity.  (#1D, Spousal Unit and I were mesmerized by this hummingbird moth.)


We thoroughly enjoyed a performance of Godspell at Theatre Aspen (also attended by my brother and his wife); #1D served as Assistant Stage Manager for the production (thank you, my dear, for bringing back cherished memories of my time on light crew for our high school Godspell run).  The lyrics to Light of the World struck a chord with me (pun intended).



You are the light of the world
You are the light of the world
But if that light's under a bushel,
Brrr, it's lost something kind of crucial
You got to stay bright to the light of the world



You are the salt of the earth
You are the salt of the earth
But if that salt has lost its flavor
It ain't got much in its favor
You can't have that fault and be the salt of the earth!



So let your light so shine before men
Let your light so shine
So that they might know some kindness again
We all need help to feel fine (let's have some wine!)



You are the city of God
You are the city of God
But if that city's on a hill
It's kinda hard to hide it well
You've got to stay pretty in the city of God

So let your light so shine before men
Let your light so shine
So that they might know some kindness again
We all need help to feel fine (let's have some wine!)



You are the light of the world
You are the light of the world
But the tallest candlestick 
Ain't much good without a wick
You've got to live right to be the light of the world




On our last day, we hiked the popular route to the Maroon Bells.  Dozens of people completed the 3.8 mile trek out and back - tall, short, runners, walkers, seasoned folks, young'uns, those with boots and those in sandals.  Despite our differences, we had a common goal.  Isn't that what it should be about?  Everything should be about?

P.S. As I was getting ready to publish this morning, Spousal Unit read me this Barack Obama tweet - it says it all.

Linking to:

All Seasons


Floral Friday Foto
Copy this image and its link to place on your blog

Mosaic Monday


Nature Notes

Our World Tuesday
Our World Tuesday Graphic

Saturday's Critters

Sharon's Photo Souvenirs

Wandering Camera
Wandering Camera Photo Linky Party

Wednesday Around the World





45 comments:

  1. ...this oddball would be a fish out of water is no hippies are allowed.

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  2. I loved John Denver. Loved seeing Aspen through your eyes -- the more history the better! have a great week!

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  3. What a fun trip! I saw the show Godspell at the Schubert theater. What a great show. :) Kit

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  4. Thank you and your husband first of all for posting President Obama's beautiful tweet in honor of a real hero. Remember when the President was a real class act... not so long ago. And Senator McCain also was what a politician should be.

    Beautiful Colorado flowers and scenery ... and how wonderful to watch the musicals your daughter worked on in her own theater! The Museums were so interesting and did inspire deep thoughts which I'm glad you shared. Our Colorado family took us to Aspen (during the off season) on one of our first trips to visit them ... we need to go back! With theater tickets!!

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  5. I think I will re-blog the quote. Your message is strong and I love it's brightness. The song with pictures was so stirring. Thank you.

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  6. So glad that you got to visit me!! It was wonderful to re-live your visit through your words. Love, #1 Daughter

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  7. I enjoyed your post, Angie. I like reading local history and wandering around historic sites. Thanks, too, for posting the tweet. I hadn't seen it. When President Obama speaks, I feel hope. I bet that if we went back to the beginning of time, there are people who need to be extreme leader so use divide and conquer tactics to get people to fight each other.

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  8. What a beautiful scene, fabulous. I do love the first one, the garden with a steam running beside the house, pretty Angie.

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  9. Nice to meet you on Monday - Wish you a very fine Week!

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  10. A beautiful post, Angie, on so many different levels. I so enjoyed visiting Aspen with you especially the JD gardens which I hope I get to see for myself one day. Until then your wonderfully narrated guided tour will have to suffice. Love that #1 Daughter has left a comment, too!
    Happy MM.

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  11. Thank you for that great read and lovely photos Angie. There is so much in there – history, natural history, philosophy, music and even a touch of politics. I was a great fan of John Denver and his songs about Aspen but sadly, I never hear his songs on the radio nowadays. I was hoping that towards the end of your post you might You Tube us with “Rocky Mountain High.”

    Here’s an interesting (or not) tale of barbed wire. A picture posted on the Internet featured a very rare bird to the UK (the species is very occasionally blown across the Atlantic in autumn) was supposed to have been found by the poster of the picture. Finding a rare bird is great kudos in the UK. When the picture was examined by doubters it was found that the barbed wire the bird posed on was of a type only manufactured in the US, so the claimant of the rarity find was exposed as a fraud!

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  12. The ultimate human stratification is being attempted by your vile and noxious president as he attempts to segregate and vilify anyone who is not a mirror image of himself. Thank you for reproducing the tribute from Barack Obama, displaying the grace and dignity he always portrayed, and his great command of the English language. Trump, in his ongoing refusal to acknowledge in any way the contribution that John McCajn made to his country is simply reinforcing the fact that he is an odious troll of the most despicable kind. It still staggers me that so many Americans voted for him and continue to support him.

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  13. I've wanted to explore Colorado for years but have never made it. John Denver was a beautiful soul - I thank you for taking me to Aspen on a little tour of the sights.

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  14. What an interesting place to visit. I enjoyed John Denver's songs. I would like to see the ranching museum. Obama tweet for Senator McCain was heartfelt and appropriate. McCain will be missed. I hope his wife takes his place in Congress. Enjoy your day and the new week ahead. Thanks for linking up and sharing your post.

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  15. a true lesson in history and a beautiful place to explore!!

    i felt true sadness at mccains passing, i learned so much about him that i never knew. obamas tweet was well written and so heartfelt!!

    the hummingbird moth is such a rare sighting around here. i have only seen one once, and was lucky enough to get pictures!!!

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  16. What a wonderful trip you had. The ranching museum sounds like a great place to visit. Wonderful photos and thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed this post. Have a wonderful new week!

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  17. Thanks for taking us there. Your mosaics are lovely. Mr Moose is so cute, holding on to his salt and pepper

    Happy Monday

    Much😊love

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  18. What a beautiful area! I like the old wooden building.

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  19. Really nice post. Very interesting to read about these places. I think I would enjoy the John Denver santuary, I love his music.

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  20. What a wonderful post! I see all kinds of quotes I would like to put in my journal today, especially the one about nature by John Muir. Thanks for sharing so much of your beauty! Hugs!

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  21. Oh wonderful series of beautiful photos of Aspen ~ loved skiing there!

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores

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  22. A thoughtful and thought-provoking post, Angie. It's so true that we humans deal over and over with the same issues throughout the generations, although they may look different at times. Aspen looks like a wonderful place to visit.
    President Obama's words about John McCain are beautiful and represent the very best of collaboration and working together for the good of your country.

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  23. What a great post. I might have to think about going to Aspen again. I was last there, oh, about 44 years ago. Things might have changed!!

    I love the Obama quote at the end.

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  24. Hi Angie awesome post ,love your pics,what a lovely place to visit,hope your week is awesome my friend xx

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  25. I enjoyed your message, beautiful photos and collage.
    The video of the hummingbird butterfly is really great.
    The grave of John Denver is beautiful, I loved his music.
    Best regards, Irma

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  26. What great encounters and opportunities to learn! John Denver is one of my all-time favorite singers.

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  27. I grew up & raised my family in Colorado before retiring to the Texas coast...your post was like going 'home'

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  28. My goodness, you got to see and do so many interesting things. We sure enjoying going along!

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  29. Hello, Angie -- before I forget, let me thank you for coming over to The Marmelade Gypsy. I loved your comment and so delighted it brought me here.

    What a trip. I've only been to Denver/Boulder and never really been able to explore. I loved your observations -- yes, the more things change, the more they stay the same, and that isn't always a good thing. I love "Ragtime" (and "Godspell," too, for that matter) and you are so right about it being a topical play for this time as well as when it was written. I was lucky to see it on Broadway and found it so compelling. The garden, the home, the mining museum -- all wonderful reasons to visit this beautiful spot.

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  30. interesting place. Lots to see and learn :)

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  31. What an informative post. I hadn't heard of either Thompson, but then I'm Canadian.
    I am still shocked that in this day and age they elect Sheriffs. With DNA, fingerprinting, internet issues, it's a whole lot more complex.
    In Ontario we have the OPP, and they select from candidates, with job postings. Big cities have police forces, but rural folks like us have the Ontario Provincial Police. In other parts of Canada we have the RCMP.
    The flowers are lovely.
    John Denver, I adored!

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  32. You really did Aspen proud. Wow...can you imagine living in a home that takes up a block. How sad that Mrs. refused to live there. Ain't much good without a wick...I love that.

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  33. Quite a series of reflections in such a beautiful place.

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  34. Gosh your visit and your photos are quite beautiful, what a joy to read and talk about a big ending. I had not read Obama's quote both men are Inspirational with a capital I. I loved that rock with the quote :)
    Wren x

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  35. An eclectic and fascinating post! And I agree - Despite our differences, we had a common goal.
    Enjoy the rest of your week and thank you for stopping by my blog this week.

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  36. I never thought about different styles of barbed wire. Sharp!

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  37. You have the most interesting adventures...Yes, even Bush came out with a good eulogy today and all were pointedly against 45...Michelle

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  38. Love this post, Angie! I watched the entire McCain funeral in DC and thought what a great man he was in so many ways, serving his country all his life and even in the end making sure it was a bi-partisan effort! I amy not have agreed with all his political but I respected the man.
    I loved the novel Ragtime and if you have not read it treat yourself to its pages! It must have been nice to see you daughter at work at the productions.
    Aspen is such a pretty place and hard to believe in this day and age that it was a struggling town long ago. The house and mining museum are great historical saves and I was fascinated by the sheriff's story.

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  39. Such a beautiful post, Angie, evoking beautiful thoughts of the wonderful things of this world. Gorgeous place is Aspen. It looks as if you had a fabulous holiday. Down here in Australia we have seen much of the life of John McCain these past days....a truly remarkable and honourable man.

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  40. Wonderful post, you have visited some wonderful places. As Kim says we have seen much about John McCain over the last week both here in Aus and over in NZ also. Enjoyed your beautiful photos.

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  41. So sorry for the delayed comment. I have been sick. What a fascinating story. I really enjoyed reading it and looking at all the photos. Gorgeous place!

    Thank you so much for sharing this lovely post on Wandering Camera!

    -Soma

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