׉?ׁB!בCט  (u׉׉	 7cassandra://IeZToBAiJCvmX1a2XSySEGLIi3jFjRdXaSgDsqDSNNo `׉	 7cassandra://A9-G4PwCFDF-Qy2CNiCfNzXfKRfeKmxTkCaol1JiwOIz`s׉	 7cassandra://lkj5dactUJhcasNCmfJ7_ryBUobr0DKX1PELSVo4D9Q*` ׉	 7cassandra://ZT4bBXD51c3ijFq8aFr1FIWb_rfloNegts0NYryM_yw 7V͠]]CC#c/ט   (u׈         ׈E]CC#c/׉E Museletter
IGNITE your curiosity. DISCOVER your story.
OCTOBER 2019
CHEYENNE SCHOOL
SEWING CLASS
H.L. STANDLEY photograph 1915
׉	 7cassandra://lkj5dactUJhcasNCmfJ7_ryBUobr0DKX1PELSVo4D9Q*` ]CC#c/]CC#c/(בCט   (u׉׉	 7cassandra://361QTckqcONCFt-O0-mxSqxBXde6etIUOnX9NwFdnrY `iq׉	 7cassandra://NxSD1ri83eWjV-5-n22-lz2zK_YiqNflS-MO4I0ENXM >`׉	 7cassandra://ZeK80qdC_isKkWEx6ggchxNCUOVKSoVy4Q33lELigM0Ww` ׉	 7cassandra://OQRqecQWzlRaHSZ1CSueX4MTka4AdySquFeczqoJed4 0̸͠
]CC#c/נ]CC#c0  i,}9ׁH ,http://www.cde.state.co.us/cosocialstudies).ׁׁЈ׉EPHOTOS:
Students with Judi at CSPM.
School Programs
BY MEG POOLE, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
When I look back on my days as
an elementary student, it’s easy to
remember that feeling of joy when
the teacher announced that the
class would be going on a field trip.
I would carefully collect the field trip
permission slip and place it neatly
in my backpack. I couldn’t wait to
show my mom and tell her about the
adventures to come! Even though
my school days are gone, as the
museum’s Program Coordinator I still
have the privilege of experiencing the
joy and curiosity that those two words
instantly evoke: field trip!
Jeanie with students
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 2
AT CSPM
׉	 7cassandra://ZeK80qdC_isKkWEx6ggchxNCUOVKSoVy4Q33lELigM0Ww` ]CC#c/׉E	Each school year, the museum welcomes over
5,000 K-12 students to explore our exhibits, connect
with the past, and gain new understandings.
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
views social studies as an avenue for students
to develop “the knowledge and skills to make
sound judgments, understand historical and
contemporary experiences/events, analyze
interpersonal and global tensions, and actively
participate in the complex world in which they
live.” (www.cde.state.co.us/cosocialstudies). The
museum supports regional educators with these
lofty goals. Schools can choose from a variety
of field trip options that will work best for their
students. We align our activities with the CDE
standards to ensure students have not only a fun,
but impactful visit.
Recently, a group of 60 4th graders visited our new
Evidence exhibit that explores the life of our city’s
founder, General William Jackson Palmer. Students
were introduced to how a team of archaeologists
excavated Palmer’s trash and learned a great
deal from their findings. In small teams, students looked through their own “dig” box and had
to discuss what stories the items told. With very little information, they drew conclusions about
the ages of the occupants of Glen Eyrie (Palmer’s home near Garden of the Gods), ideas
about what they ate, and even the family’s class. Hands-on activities like these challenge
the students to utilize their inquiry skills and take the learning into their own hands.
Students participating in the “Trailblazers” station
with Makaela Worden, Education Assistant
I am fortunate to have an incredible team that supports these program offerings. Makaela
Worden, Education Assistant, supervises program set-up and student introductions. Our team
of volunteers train to lead specific exhibit stations, and work diligently to not only teach,
but inspire and engage visiting students. We are all driven by the “ah ha!” moments where
students truly connect to exhibit
content. Students also have a
unique way of reminding us how
special this museum building
and its collections are. I love
observing and listening to their
comments when they first enter
the building, “Wow!” “Is this a
castle!?” “I love this place!” We
are truly a museum for everyone,
and are thrilled when the big
yellow buses pull up each week!
Meg Poole, Program Coordinator with students at the
“History Detective” station in the new Palmer exhibit
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 3
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]CC#c0נ]CC#c0 9ׁHhttp://www.cspm.org/rsvpׁׁЈ׉ElUPCOMING EVENTS
NOW OPEN: EVIDENCE: FINDING THE FACTS ABOUT
GENERAL WILLIAM JACKSON PALMER
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tues – Sat (regular museum hours)
CHILDREN’S HISTORY HOUR: Can You Dig It?
Wednesday, October 16
10:00 – 11:00 am
RSVP required
HALLOWEEN HISTORY HUNT
Saturday, October 26
10:00 am – Noon | for kids ages 2 - 12
RSVP required
FOOD TRUCK TUESDAYS!
Every Tuesday through October 29
11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Enjoy a tasty lunch from local food truck vendors on the west
lawn of CSPM every Tuesday. Also enjoy live music while you dine
and then, drop in the museum for a free History in 10 short and
informative storytelling session!
PIKES PEAK REGIONAL HISTORY LECTURE SERIES
Indigenous In Plain Sight
Presented by Gregg Deal
Saturday, November 9
2:00 – 3:00 pm
RSVP for events at:
www.cspm.org/rsvp-for-an-event or
Call 719-385-5990
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 4
׉	 7cassandra://y5spXVs8gF1kMHFM1d8e15sh2U3JnZCAUaMP-IqAm9gC` ]CC#c/׉E)MUSEUM STORE
While touring the museum’s
wonderful exhibits, make sure to
navigate through our Museum
Store for a delightful array of
books and unique regional gifts!
All proceeds from the Museum Store support the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 5
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]CC#c0׉E
DID YOU KNOW?
INTERNATIONAL BOXING MATCH ARENA COLLAPSE, 1916 ON WEST COLORADO AVENUE
By Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History
Among the CSPM’s hundreds of boxes and thousands of folders storing our
large photograph collection is a single image titled, “International Boxing
Match Arena Collapse, 1916 on West Colorado Avenue.” The grainy
image was donated by local historian Wanetta Draper in 1971, and is a
prime example of a small object that can tell a big story.
In the sunny days of early September 1916, Colorado Springs was the
center of the boxing universe. Freddie Welsh, Lightweight Champion of
the World was slated to take on challenger Charley White in a 20 round
bout. Both men arrived a few weeks earlier to train for the match, with
Welsh hosting public practices at the Temple Theater on North Nevada
Avenue. According to promoters, “…tickets were selling like hot cakes,”
and a hastily constructed outdoor arena was built on West Huerfano
Street to accommodate up to 15,000 fans. To ensure public safety,
Colorado Springs Chief of Police Howard Stark posted detectives several
days prior at train stations and throughout the arena the day of the event
to round up pickpockets and other troublemakers. Little did local authorities know, trouble would
be of a different kind…Freddie Welsh, known as the “Welsh Wizard,” was born in Pontypridd,
Wales in 1886. His father was a coal miner and the family lived in poverty. The young man turned
to boxing as a way to escape his father’s fate. Freddie immigrated to America, becoming a
professional boxer in Philadelphia in 1905. He won the lightweight title in 1914, and was wellknown
for his “healthy living” philosophy of not smoking and following a vegetarian diet. He was
also wealthy. Organizers of the Colorado Springs match guaranteed him a prize of $13,500 or 50%
of the gross gate receipts, and 51% of moving picture revenues – whichever amount was larger.
CHARLES ANCHOWITZ
On the other hand, they offered challenger Charley White a $4,000 flat fee whether he won or
lost. Charley’s real last name was Anchowitz. He was born in Liverpool, England in 1891, the child
of Russian Jewish parents. A tailor by trade, Charley’s father moved the family to Chicago where
they settled in a largely Jewish, working-class neighborhood on Chicago’s west-side. Living in
crowded urban conditions, Charley contracted tuberculosis at age 13. To build strength in his
son’s weakened lungs, his father sent him to the famous O’Connell’s Sports Club. There Charley
took up boxing and 18 months later was declared free of disease. At age 15 he changed his
name to White and joined brothers Jack and Billy as professional boxers.
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 6
׉	 7cassandra://l6cG59ciVUXyHGRyRGbQFzZZpp498hbO036B48KCxBoX` ]CC#c/׉EATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP CARD - TJ FISHER
The championship bout was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Labor
Day, Monday, September 4, 1916. Gates opened at 10 a.m.
and people arrived early to purchase $3 general admission
tickets for bleacher seats. Reserved seats varied in price
from $5, $7.50, $10, and $15 box seats. Promoted around the
country, people were arriving in droves to attend. The newly
constructed wooden arena took up the better part of a
vacant city block and was bordered on the north and south
by Pikes Peak Avenue and Huerfano Streets (now known
as Colorado Avenue) and on the east and west by Spruce
and Walnut Streets. Today that block is home to City Glass,
Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, Deep Rock Water, Ormao Dance Company and ProCycling.
The newly organized Colorado Springs Athletic Club organized the match, hoping positive press
attention would draw tourists, along with future residents and businesses. The members of CSAA
were among the richest, most powerful men in town and included many familiar names such
as: Penrose, Shove, Shoup, Howbert, Hayes Davis, Sharp, Carpenter, Hefley, Robbins, Tutt, Taylor,
Lennox, Kaufman and Giddings. They hired local architect Charles E. Thomas of MacLaren &;
Thomas to draw up plans, with Contractor William Farnsworth and Foreman W.E. Soley, both of
Denver to oversee construction. Unfortunately, it was later revealed that Farnsworth set aside
Thomas’ plans as too complicated and expensive. They instructed workers to take short cuts – after
all the structure was not meant to be permanent. Local carpenter A.R. Hyde later testified that
Farnsworth and Soley insisted on using poor lumber, two few nails and told workers to, “put it up
(the arena) any way to get it up.”
It is not hard to imagine what happened next. As 10,000 spectators filled the arena, small cracking
noises were heard as the bleachers in the south section began to sway. As people moved down
from the highest rows, the entire section collapsed. Over 500 men, women and children plunged
20 feet to the ground in a tangled mass. Authorities and bystanders moved quickly to remove
bodies from the pile of rubble. All seven ambulances in the city and dozens of private automobiles
began transporting victims to local hospitals. Injuries ranged from bumps and scrapes to broken
bones, internal hemorrhaging and head wounds. St. Francis Hospital
took in nearly a hundred patients with Beth El and Glockner a dozen
or two each. At least 100 others were treated on the scene or taken to
local homes. After several days, officials determined that 288 spectators
suffered significant injuries.
Tragically, in the weeks following the arena collapse, three spectators
succumbed to their injuries: Albert A. Nostrum of Colorado City, Thomas
Allen of Colorado Springs and George P. Rhea of Porter, Oklahoma.
District Attorney M.W. Purcell pursued the initial investigation which
soon turned into a Coroner’s Inquest. Dozens of witnesses testified and
multiple parties were found negligent. Architect Charles E. Thomas was
exonerated as his plans for the arena were never used. Most of the
blame was placed on the contractor and foreman for their shoddy
work. Members of the Colorado Springs Athletic Association quietly
disbanded their organization and went largely unnamed in the local
papers. Interestingly, outraged residents demanded enhanced building
code enforcement and mandatory inspection of temporary buildings
to prevent future tragedies. By the way, the champion won the bout by
points after twenty rounds.
FREDDIE WELSH
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 7
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]CC#c0׉E^VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Tom Keenan
Our front desk volunteers set the
tone for visitor’s experiences with the
museum. We often receive feedback
from the public that our front desk
team makes them feel welcome and
valued. For the month of October we’d
like to recognize Tom Keenan who has
supported the front desk for the past
year. Jim Wahl, CSPM Security Officer,
relies on the front desk volunteers to
provide great customer service for our
guests, “Tom has been an absolute
pleasure to work with. He has gone out
of his way to help fill vacant front desk
openings on multiple occasions. His
greatest asset is his friendly and upbeat
greeting to guests.”
We asked Tom to share what inspired him to join CSPM, “I enjoyed my first visit
and was impressed with the museum.” His interest in U.S. history also made him
think that it might be a good fit. Tom interacts
with hundreds of guests each day, “The thing
I most enjoy about the museum is meeting
all the different people that come in and
having conversations with them, sometimes
local history and other times just related to my
background or where they are from.” While
Tom has learned a great deal about local
history, his favorite story was hearing about
how the community worked to save the El Paso
County Courthouse from destruction.
We often receive
feedback from the
public that our front
desk team makes
them feel welcome
and valued.
In his retirement Tom stays busy with a variety of volunteer roles and keeping up
with his favorite hobbies of reading and working in his yard.
Thank you Tom for supporting the front desk!
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 8
׉	 7cassandra://o9ii4EnuQyrMYy1ubos-0Ai2lNtGMle-qnZ1C-uXTFAX$` ]CC#c/׉EXMUSUEM SPOTLIGHT
Welcome to CSPM, Steve Winters
Maintenance Technician II
As a native of Colorado Springs, Steve has a long
history in the region. His grandparents were original
“health-seekers” and came to Colorado due to
his Grandmother’s asthma in 1931. Steve has an
extensive background in building construction, floor
covering, and building maintenance. He worked 10
years with the Colorado Springs Utilities Wastewater
Division as an Industrial Waste Technician, and later
as Industrial Waste Field Operations Supervisor.
Steve also had 21 years with the Colorado Springs
Fire Department from which he recently retired.
Steve went to Wasson High School and graduated
from Pikes Peak Community College with an Associate Degree in Fire Science.
He enjoys building and restoring classic cars in his spare time as well as visiting
wineries in different states with his wife on their motorcycle.
Thank you Carol Denning
Matt Mayberry presenting framed
print to Carol Denning
After twenty-one years of overseeing the CSPM’s
Museum Store, Carol Denning is retiring to spend
more time with her family—especially with her
new grandchild. After retiring as a nurse for
Penrose Hospital, she came to the Colorado
Springs Pioneers Museum to manage the Museum
store in 1998. She was instrumental in featuring
local artists, and helping visitors take a little bit of
Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region back
home with them. Through her leadership and
commitment, the museum store has provided a
critical visitor amenity while contributing financial
support for museum operations.“Carol was a
wonderful boss and an even greater friend. She
will be sorely missed by her volunteers,” said
Barbara Knox, Museum Store Volunteer. From all
of us at CSPM, we cannot thank Carol enough for
her dedication to the Museum and wish her all the
best!
MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2019| PG 9
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]CC#c0
נ]CC#c0	 ہ G9׉Hhttp://cspm.orgGׁׁrנ]CC#c0 	 -9ׁHhttp://WWW.CSPM.ORGׁׁЈ׉E CSPM
HAPPENINGS
Makaela Worden instructs
volunteer group
Become a member of
the CSPM Volunteer
Program today…we’d
be history without you!
Volunteers Trevor & Darryl
practice their delivery
MUSELETTER AUGUST 2019| PG 9
Connect with CSPM!
׉	 7cassandra://2Cm_hrE7TFvc-zaD3BOnRuj9BePw2PoYFkPOTwdJaaQA` ]CC#c/׉E lGeneral Palmer Lecture
September 22, 2019
Shield 66 filming commercial in
Division 1 Courtroom
WWW.CSPM.ORG
]CC#c/]CC#c/(,OCT 2019 Museletter]Cz^