Berthoud Weekly Surveyor February 6, 2014 Page 5
A LOOK AT BERTHOUD
First Fordson tractor in Colorado was shipped to Berthoud
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he first Fordson tractor that came to Colorado was shipped to Berthoud’s Bashor & Wray Ford Agency. When the tractor arrived in 1918, Emery Bashor and Ed Wray operated a thriving business in a building they had constructed three years earlier at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Mountain Avenue. Bashor, a savvy businessman, and Surveyor Wray, an inventor and expert mechanic, Columnist brought complimentary talents to their partnership. Their Berthoud business flourished to the extent that the men eventually opened branches in the towns of Mead, Johnstown and Akron. The delivery of the first Fordson to Berthoud failed to meet the mark as front page news in The Berthoud Bulletin. Not only was Bashor & Wray the first dealership in Colorado to receive the new, mass-produced tractor, but the tractor was Mark newsworthy in its own right because it was French developed by Henry Ford who planned to change the world of farming by selling it to farmers at an affordable cost. At the time the first Fordson tractor was delivered to Berthoud in 1918 the community’s newspaper had more important news to report. Most significantly, the United States was pouring all its resources — including its young men — into the effort to win WWI. As a result The Berthoud Bulletin filled its pages with letters from local men who were fighting in Europe, draft notices, and reports on the sales of war bonds. The tabloid also noted that mass meetings were being held by German-speaking members of the community who felt that their patriotism was in question, even though they had sons fighting in the war. The question of these citizens’ patriotism arose because many recent German-from-Russia immigrants to the Berthoud area
were members of an older generation who had spoken German while living in Russia and also considered themselves either too old or unable to learn English while they lived out their years in America. For that reason, in 1918 The Berthoud Bulletin recounted their efforts to fit into the community in spite of the fact that their sons were in the United States Army. Ironically two of Berthoud’s three WWI casualties, Louie Drieth and Adam Schleiger, had German-from-Russia heritages. As 1918 drew to a close The Berthoud Bulletin also focused its attention on the mysterious Spanish Influenza that was spreading across the nation. The flu first claimed Drieth and Schleiger after they had been hospitalized for treatment of war wounds and then also stole the life of local boy, Milton Salomonson, who caught the flu while stationed at Mare Island near San Francisco. After Drieth’s death The Berthoud Bulletin published a letter from his father that revealed Drieth had been refused military honors at his funeral in Loveland because the family requested that part of the sermon be preached in German so the boy’s grandmother could understand what was being said. At year’s end the local newspaper was dominated by accounts of quarantines, reports that several local citizens had died from the flu, and a notice that the town’s school had been closed to slow the spread of influenza. Even though Berthoud was the agricultural hub of southern Larimer County in 1918 it is still not known how Bashor & Wray came to be the first agency in the state to obtain a Fordson tractor. It is a fact, however, that in the early months of 1919 the Hall Garage in Fort Collins also sold the Fordson tractor that they claimed was powerful enough to pull two 14-inch plows, drive a threshing machine, or pull 2,500 pounds in low gear. In March of that year the Hall Garage offered a new Fordson tractor equipped with a two-bottom plow at a cost of $984.80. The photograph that accompanies this article was donated to the Berthoud Historical Society by the late Gene Bashor who
games as he could. He enjoyed taking drives in the country, looking at the night sky, and listening to music. He loved aniLeslie Shawn Baird mals. He also enjoyed just spending time June 14, 1971 — Feb. 1, 2014 with his family (especially his parents and his niece and nephews). Leslie Shawn Baird, 42, of Berthoud, Shawn is survived by his father, Gary Colo., passed suddenly Saturday Baird, his mother Katie Baird; Feb. 1, 2014. He was born June brothers, Brad (Dina) Baird and 14, 1971, in Greeley, Colo., to Chris Baird; his niece Faith Gary and Katherine (Katie) Baird; nephews, Beck and Sam Baird. He attended schools in Baird and all of Berthoud. He Loveland and Johnstown. is also survived by numerous Shawn lived his whole life in aunts, uncles and cousins. the Northern Colorado area. He A sister, Kimmie Baird, prefaced many challenges in life and ceded him in death. never complained about any of Shawn touched many lives his burdens. Shawn was a strong Shawn Baird with his kind heart and gentle and proud man and he loved his way and he will be deeply family deeply. His favorite times missed. were spent going fishing and camping at Cremation has been conducted and a Glendo Reservoir and attending as many memorial will be held later in the spring. of his nephews Beck and Sam’s football Condolences can be left for the family at
OBITUARIES
www.viegutfuneralhome.com. Dale Holzmeister Nov. 11, 1946 — Jan. 30, 2014 Dale Francis Holzmeister, 67, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. He was born on Nov. 11, 1946, in Greeley, Colo., to Mary and Dick Holzmeister. Dale grew up in Berthoud, Colo., and moved to Greeley, Colo., where he attended school. There he met Vicki Victorson and they were married in 1978. Dale and Vicki Dale Holzmeister moved to Ketchikan, Alaska where they started a family and he had his own signmaking company. Dale loved fishing, hunting and the outdoors.
Bright Lights and Big Cities Progressive Dinner
By May Soricelli The Surveyor This Valentine’s Day weekend Berthoud’s Mountain Avenue will be bustling with life and fun dining for those interested in participating in this year’s Berthoud High School After Prom Event (APE) Progressive Dinner Fundraiser. The progressive dinner will be held Feb. 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. This event has been skillfully coordinated by After Prom Event chair members Laura Decker and Gina Archuleta, and committee member Marilyn Pechin, in efforts to continue the high school’s well-received After Prom tradition. This year’s fund-
raiser is an event that encompasses Berthoud’s local restaurants and provides participants with a charmingly unique “all about town” dining experience. Local restaurants and other generous local businesses have teamed up to help raise money for this beneficial cause. “It is so exciting to see so many area businesses join our efforts in doing what we can to help keep our kids safe on prom night. Through the donations of food and drinks from each participating business, APE is able to receive 100 percent of the profits through ticket sales,” said Decker. Ticket holders will have the op-
portunity to enjoy a sangria (or a non-alcoholic beverage) from Mi Cocina, a drink and appetizer at City Star Brewing (appetizers provided by Origins Catering), soup and dinner rolls at The Whistle Stop (rolls provided by Brick Oven Pizza), lasagna and salad at Trailhead Cafe (formerly Lighthouse Cafe), and dessert and coffee at Da Bean (dessert provided by Sweet European Treats). Guests can look forward to reserved seating for lasagna at either the 5-7 p.m. seating time or the 7-9 p.m. seating time. In addition to the parade of local restaurants, participants will enjoy later business hours at Berthoud’s local businesses and boutiques. Another evening pleasure will be the performance of Berthoud High School’s (BHS) own Bridge-Between Show Choir around the town. “It’s a great event that is fun for everyone and will benefit our high school kids. So we’ll see you on Feb. 15 on the streets of Berthoud,” said Archuleta. Looking ahead, prom will take place April 26, and students will have the opportunity to attend the annual free After Prom Event held at BHS from 11 p.m.-3 a.m. “APE first started in 1994 at BHS. The ultimate mission has been to provide a fun night for the students and do all we can to draw the kids in and reduce or eliminate the potential tragic loss,” said Decker. Some of the festivities the students have to look forward to are music, games — such as human foosball — door prizes (iPads, appliances, cash, gift cards), food — candy buffet, street cart food — and a relaxing, safe environment. All of these efforts are made by parents and students of the junior class and are able to be made due to the community’s efforts to give the high school students a safe after-prom alternative. The APE committee is grateful for the town’s support and the donations of funds, goods and services, and volunteering for this cause. “APE is funded 100 percent through donations and fundraising efforts. Our goal is to raise $10,000 so we can create a fun, safe and substance-free environment for the kids. The progressive dinner is one way to help APE reach its fundraising goal. We hope to sell 100 tickets, which could potentially bring in about $5,000,” said Decker. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. Tickets can be purchased at BHS or via email at bhsape@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of the Gene Bashor Collection, Berthoud Historical Society
In 1918 Berthoud’s Bashor & Wray Ford agency received the first Fordson tractor to be shipped to Colorado. Emery Bashor (seated on tractor) and Ed Wray (standing in front of tractor with hands on hips) gathered with a group of interested men on Third Street north of the C&S depot to survey the tractor that automobile maker Henry Ford hoped would change the world of farming with its affordability.
was the son of Bashor & Wray partner Emery Bashor. The elder Bashor may be seen sitting in the tractor’s seat after it was unloaded at a location north of the Colorado & Southern depot on Third Street in Berthoud. Wray, his business partner, stood with hands on hips at the front end of the tractor. Notably absent from the photograph are the young farmers who normally would have attended such an event. They were away from home and fighting in a war.
He moved back to Berthoud in 1992 and started farming. Dale is preceded in death by his two brothers, his mother and father. He is survived by two children, son Benjamin Holzmeister (Helen) and daughter Sarah Holzmeister, sister Virginia Haugen (Robert), two grandchil-
Jupiter is king of the night throughout February
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upiter is high in the eastern sky, in the constellation Gemini, the Twins, as evening twilight darkens. Shining at a bright magnitude of -2.4, Jupiter Eye on the Sky will be the brightest “star” Surveyor in this part of Columnist the sky. This month is the best time to view Jupiter through a telescope. With the availability of telescopes at the public events at Chamberlin, SommersMike Bausch Hotka and Little Thompson Observatories, you will be able to see the red and white cloud bands on the planet’s surface, as well as its four largest moons. Venus, Mars and Saturn are found in the morning sky this month. Venus is low in the southeastern sky just before morning twilight begins. Shining brilliantly at a magnitude of -4.9, Venus is easy to find. On the morning of Feb. 26, find a slender crescent Moon near and to the lower left of Venus. Mars continues to brighten this month, as the distance between Earth and Mars shrinks, reaching a magnitude of -0.4. Mars rises about 11 p.m. as the month begins and about 9:30 p.m. at the end of the month, where you will find it high overhead in the morning sky as morning twilight begins. Its brilliant red-orange color is unmistakable as it spends the month in the constellation Virgo, the Maiden. The golden glow of Saturn rises in the eastern sky at 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 1
dren Jesse and Narina, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial service will be on Saturday Feb. 8, 2014, 12 noon at the L.D.S. church in Berthoud.
and almost two hours earlier on Feb. 28. Saturn is found in the constellation Libra, the Scales, this month. As morning twilight begins, Saturn will be high in the southern sky, making it easy to spot. The Little Thompson Observatory is having their monthly open house event on Feb. 21. The evening starts out at 7 p.m. with Dr. Paul Lightsey of Ball Aerospace talking about the James Web Space Telescope, the replacement for the Hubble Space Telescope. Telescope observing follows the talk, weather permitting. The observatory is at the northeast edge of Berthoud High School. More information can be found at starkids.org or by calling 970-613-7793. The Denver Astronomical Society will be hosting its monthly open house on Feb. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., at DU’s historic Chamberlin Observatory, located near the Denver University campus at 2930 East Warren Ave. Telescope viewing through the 20-inch Alvan Clark refracting telescope will also be available, along with several smaller telescopes on the lawn of the observatory, weather permitting. Call 303-871-5172 for more information. Every Friday night of February, on the CU Boulder campus, the Fiske Planetarium and the Sommers-Bausch Observatory will be open to the public. On Feb. 7, the planetarium show is called “Dynamic Earth.” On Feb. 14 the show is called “The Other Side of Infinity: Black Holes.” On Feb. 21, the show will be “Dynamic Earth” again. And on Feb. 28, CU astronomer Dr. John Bally will give a live talk about “Voyage Into Our Galactic Origins.” All planetarium shows start at 7 p.m. After the Fiske show, hosts at the SommersBausch Observatory will guide you while you view celestial objects through their 16-inch and 18-inch telescopes. For more information, call 303-492-5002. A magnitude 1 star is about 2.5 times brighter than a magnitude 2 star. A magnitude 0 star is about 2.5 times brighter than a magnitude 1 star. The Sun shines at about magnitude -26 and a Full Moon shines at about magnitude -12. The Hubble Space Telescope can look at objects that are as faint as 31st magnitude. Magnitude numbers range from -26 through zero, then 1 through the largest number that current instruments can detect, which is 31.