May 2015

Castle Rock Historical Society
and Museum

Admission is Always FREE!!

Forward

- Exhibits and Events

6th Annual Trolley Tour

Saturday May 16, 2015

This years focus will be 1965 flood of Castle Rock and the bridges that were washed out. Meet at the Castle Rock Museum to board the trolley. Tour times are at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Please call or email the museum for reservations as seating is limited. Museum@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org, (303) 814-3164

Visit the Newest Exhibit to the Museum

In 1965 Castle Rock was cut off from the rest of Colorado when Plum Creek and Sellar's Gulch flooded the city and washed out the bridges. Come in to the museum to find out what bridge this was and how much water rushed through Castle Rock before flowing into the Platte river and flooding Denver.

On Display for a Limited Time...

A Survey From Russellville

In the 1990's the Russellville Archaeological Project became a historical survey of the public and private land in Russellville. Using metal detectors archaeologists discovered over 3,000 items, it has been said that they may have been used by Confederate's during the civil war, and that some items could have been used in the mining of gold in Russellville in 1859. Stop in the museum and see if you can identify any of these.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

This June 16, 2015 will be the 50th anniversary of the 1965 flood that wreaked a great deal of damage along the banks of both East and West Plum Creeks in Douglas County. In memory of this catastrophe the Castle Rock Museum is planning an exhibit on the flood. We are reaching out to anyone who might have any type of artifact related to this particular flood.

Flood artifacts are of course relatively rare but if someone maybe held on to something that they may have rescued from the raging waters of the Plum Creek, or know someone who did, we would like to hear from you. We can be reached at museum@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org or by phone at (303) 814-3164.

May's Presentation Program

May 14, 2015
Refreshments at 6:45 pm, Presentation at 7:00 pm
Philip S. Miller Library
100 S. Wilcox St. Castle Rock, Co. 80104
Join us for a presentation from Mary Taylor Young on the 100th anniversary of Rocky Mountain National Park. For more information contact the Castle Rock Museum (303) 814-3164, museum@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org, www.castlerockhistoricalsociety.org. Admission is free.

May's Calendar

May 14, 2015 - Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum's Monthly Presentation
May 16, 2015 - The 6th Annual Trolley Tour

Coming in June

June 11, 2015 - A presentation on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 flood of Castle Rock
June 27, 2015 - Heritage Walking Tour of Downtown Castle Rock!! Call or email the museum for bike or group tours. (303) 814-3164, museum@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org

Visit castlerockhistoricalsociety.org for future exhibits and events.

- THE 5 W's

Do you know about this present day historical location?
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
Come into the museum for the answers to these questions.

Last months photo was of the present day Smells Good store. Also known as the Inspiration House or the Bible Book Store in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

- History Corner

County High School Law, what is that?

In 1899 Castle Rock had one school that serviced all children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Even being the largest city in Douglas County, Castle Rock could not afford to fund a high school. Two men, Frank Ball, the County Superintendent in Douglas County and Cole Briscoe, a member of the House of Representatives from Douglas County, drew up a bill requiring all counties in Colorado to establish and support a high school in their county. The funding would come from an annual tax of not more than one mill and admission would be free to every resident in the county. In 1900 the County High School Law passed and a high school committee for Douglas County was formed. Douglas County High School met on the top floor of the Cantril School, and in 1902 Louisa Holcomb and Cornelia Ball made up the first graduating class of Douglas County High School.

- Historical Society News

Castle Rock Historical Society Board

President - Dorothy Kelly
Vice President - Shaun Boyd
Secretery - Fleta Nockels
Education - Guy Mordeaux
Fundraising - Sandy Schenecker

Treasurer - Jim Allamian

-In Our Community

Where were you on June 16, 1965?

The Douglas County History Research Center, in the Philip S. Miller library, is hosting oral history interviews with persons that lived, worked or were in Castle Rock on June 16, 1965. On this day southern Douglas County received 14 inches of rain in four hours causing Plum Creek and Sellars' Gulch to flood the small town of Castle Rock. These interviews will last 30-45 minutes and time slots are available every Wednesday, April 8 through May 27 between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. To sign up please contact the DCHRC at (303) 688-7730.

Commemorative Brick Courtyard

The courtyard at the Castle Rock Museum is continuing to expand, stop by and purchase your own commemorative brick for yourself, a loved one, a business, or even your most cherished animal companion.

- In the Gift Shop

Looking for unique gift? Come down to the Castle Rock Museum's gift shop for all your historic Castle Rock and Douglas County gifts. We are stocked in 2015 calendars, Robert L. Lowenberg's book "CASTLE ROCK: A Grass Roots History," a handful of children's railroad themed toys, and a limited number of local Castle Rock postcards.

New to the gift shop at the Castle Rock Museum

"Chronicles of Douglas County Colorado"

Join the Castle Rock Writers for a journey through the history of this land and the diverse legacy left behind by those who made it their home.

Along with these popular titles...

You can now support CRHS by shopping on Amazon!!

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Recycle - Save those aluminum cans!! A HUGE thank you to those who have been donating cans!!

The museum collects and recycles aluminum cans to raise money for matching grants. Bring those cans to the museum and use the green container next to the bathroom. Aluminum cans only please. Anything else will be removed by the recycling company. Help the environment and raise a little money for the museum.

Lionel Oberlin, the first Director of the Castle Rock Museum, has moved to Seattle to be near his daughter, Wendy. You can send all letters through his daughter Wendy at,
4015 Wallingford Ave N.
Seattle, Wa. 98103-8218
I am sure he would love to get a card from his many old friends.

Mission: The Castle Rock Historical Society operates the Castle Rock museum, celebrates, educates, and brings together people interested in the preservation of the heritage of the Castle Rock, Colorado area.

Support the Castle Rock Historical Society. Join as a member, make a donation, or sell an item on eBay.

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Association of Northern Front Range Museums

Opportunities to Contribute

You know we need you!! Thank you to those who help with hands, time and money. Whatever your skill is, it can help the community in your historical little town of Castle Rock.
To find out how you can help email president@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org .