Chapter 1 History
Spruce Creek, Woody Creek, Sherwood
Denver, Sherwood and Gypsum
______Notes on Chapter 1 at the end of Chapter 1.
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1
DIARY
and
HISTORY
of
John J. Flynn
LIFE
Events as they
occurred
While walking
down the trail
of time
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2
?-Events
3-Pleasures
2-Happiness
8-Accidents
6-Failures
4-Luck
5-Surprises
7-Dangers
1-Health
etc.
are told as near as
possible on the
pages of this book
J.J.F.
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3
(Homes) PLACES (Homes)
IMPORTANT
Spruce Creek, Colo.
Garfield County
Woody Creek, Colo.
Pitkin County
Sherwood, Colo.
Eagle County
Denver, Colo.
Denver County
Kent (Sherwood), Colo.
Eagle County
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4
-DATES-
Born:December 23rd, 1897
Spruce Creek, Colorado
Miss Katie Flynn
Born:August 25th, 1899
Spruce Creek, Colorado
Miss Mary Flynn
Born:January 2nd,1901
Spruce Creek, Colorado
Moved to Woody Creek, Colorado
February, 1902
School DaysMarch, 1903
Mr. Jimmie Flynn
Born: October 7th, 1903
Woody Creek, Colorado
Moved to Sherwood, Eagle County,
ColoradoNovember 5th, 1904
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5
-DATES-
continued
Father's Death
March 3rd, 1905
To Denver, Colorado
September 18th, 1910
Returned to Sherwood, Colorado
April 11th, 1911
Graduated from Grade School
July 8th, 1913
Miss Mary's Death
February 10th, 1914
Graduated from High School
E.C.H.S., Gypsum, Colorado
May 16th, 1917
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6
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December 23rd, 1897
On this greatest of all days my Mother and Father received a "Christmas Present" too great to be valued. The beginning of a life with untold fortunes and adventures made into problems that no one but the "Unit of Time" can solve. In this stage of civilization thanks to the "Guiding Hand" we are able to exchange pictures of "Ideas" or "The Life" as we see it through the arts of "Speaking and "Writing". Although "Telling" about
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8
"Something" is not like "Seeing" with your own "Eyes". But this "Life" the "Ruler" loaned me is mine and I must see what there is in it through the "Events" that time reveals. With an "Instinct" always for the "Better" and "Climbing" to the top this is the trail I took. On the pages of this book you will find a "Copy" of the "Footprints" that I leave on the "Sands of Time". (Not great but average.)
John Joseph Flynn
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9
Thursday, December 23rd, 1897
to
February 1902
My "brain" being in proportion to my body, small of course, I could not remember or realize what occurred. Therefore I take the word of the "Seniors" that Miss Katie was born at Spruce Creek(1) on August 25, 1899. Miss Mary was born at Spruce Creek on January 2nd, 1901. Father was injured by engine on October 1900. A trip to Salida, Colorado. Some attempts at fishing in the Grand River(2) with Nora, Willie and Dan. Preparations to move to Woody Creek on account of school.
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10
February 1902
to
Tuesday, November 1st, 1904
The new house. So they say I lived and grew like a weed. My first school days in the Spring of 1903. Summer spent catching butterflies and picking the beautiful flowers. The first automobile. Jimmie Flynn born in Woody Creek on October 7th, 1903. Another attempt at going to school. Miss. M. F. Haurrich as teacher. Unsuccessful. Summer of 1904 spent "mining' in the ditch bank. Willie and the cats. "Molly" fell in the well.
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11
BEGINNING
of
SCHOOL DAYS
Woody School Dist. No. 5
Pitkin County
1902 - 1903
Miss Clara C. Oberdorfer
Teacher
School Officers
Pres. Mr. Gerbaz
Sect. Mr. Steinberg
Treas. Mrs. Gagnon
Students
Bellore VagneurLewis Vagneur
Percis Gavin Henry Clavel
Ben VagneurSullivan Vagneur
Fred GagnonSam Vevey
Charles GavinEd Johnson
Frank VeveyLewis Clavel
Ray GavinDuncan McLean
Auzel GerbazDan McLean
Olize GerbazWm Flynn
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12
Dan FlynnJack Hatch
Hester Gerbaz
Hope AshbyMyrtle Gavin
Eva BourgNettie Dolan
Mary VeveyCassie Cerise
Stata DolanMay Gagnon
Hattie ClavelJulia Usel
Virginia UselAnna McLean
Angnus McLeanNora Flynn
and
Last but not leastJack Flynn
Events
On the ponds rafting. Putting spikes and nails on the rail. At the old deserted house while picnicking in the meadows. At Gannon's ranch. In the water tank. Etc. Ha Ha.
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13
Tuesday, November 1st, 1904
to
Monday, January 1st, 1906
Left school at Woody Creek under teacher, Miss Lal Bourg. Arrived Sherwood, Eagle County, Colorado, November 5th, 1904. First sight of famous Wolcott town. Future. Winter with its "fury". Father injured with a "spike" in February. Went to Salida and (died) passed away on Friday, March 3rd, 1905
"Gone but not forgotten."
Started to school under Miss Blanche Mahoney in grade 0. Summer spent climbing the hills and fishing. Started to school under Miss Ida Chamberlain as teacher.
-continued-
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14
-continued-
Willie stabbed in knee with knife by Bob Smith. One real heavy snow. Cousin "Ted" and Uncle "Jim" arrive in Aug. Panic in Fall of 1905.
Monday, January 1st, 1906
to
Tuesday, January 1st, 1907
Awful heavy snow 4 ft. Willie takes sick and goes to Salida for an operation for appendicitis - 17 days. I took sick three days after Bill left. (Latter part of January and was in bed 21 days with pleurisy.) Willie or I did not attend school that spring. Nora's last year at school. Summer spent in pleasure. Aunt "Mary" Hartigan (1) arrives in July. School. Miss Louise K. Stein.
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August 1905
A strike proclaimed by the track men. A genuine tie up of every thing except trains. John Osborne goes to work for Morris on Sherwood ranch. Wm. Foley goes over on the first division and gets into a shooting scrape. Returns home. Jim Hartigan and cousin Ted arrive from Canada. Jim goes to Denver and "Ted" stays with us and goes to school. John Osborn goes back to work on track also a number of other men - strike called off. Mike Creeden as Road Master.
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Spring and Summer of 1906
Willie and I take life easy after being sick. "Nora's" last term at school. Miss Thelma Morris as a playmate. Mr. Morris as a great fisherman. A visit extended by "Twenty" dollar Frenchy. Aunt Mary comes on a visit for a while and returns to Denver taking Ted along with her. Cousin "Denny" comes on a fishing trip. The invention of "Knuckles" and "Nosy". Also arguments concerning England and America. The underground railroad Ha Ha.
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Tuesday, January 1st, 1907
to
Wednesday, January 1st, 1908
Attended school part of Fall and Spring. Absent on account of effects of pleurisy. John Osborne leaves Sherwood in March. Nora attends school in Denver at St. Mercy. She returned June, 1907. A fish story about catching a 5 1/4 pound mountain trout. Fishing. School beginning September with Miss Agnes Quinlan. Glen Moore goes to Rifle. Willie, Dan, Katie, Mary and I attend school. Christmas program and how we liked it. A great deal of arguing going and coming. Nora as boss and Willie as straw- boss.
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Wednesday, January 1st, 1908
to
Friday, January 1st, 1909
Made two grades during the term - 2nd and 3rd. "Some class". Ha. A glorious picnic - end - Dan and I play hookey. Willie as a real man begins work with Foley. "Dennis" comes out for a vacation and visit. The Flynns have their picture snapped by Frank McCarum. First in history. (Katie has the picture at present.) Mother goes to Denver with Willie and "Dennis" and returns with "Ted". Then on taking Dan to school and returning with "Ted" I went along on the trip. "A cry baby" I will say. School again. Miss Lili Cole.
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Friday, January 1st, 1909
to
Saturday, January 1st, 1910
Jimmie just big "enuff" to navigate real good. Counting the days until school would be out. Dan and Willie return home from Denver in June - some class. Willie returns to Denver and started work at postal job. The big "wash out" in August. School began early but lasted only three months. Miss Bovel as teacher. Winter spent sliding off the hill and under the fence - racing with death but we beat him. Hunting "cotton tails" and "jack rabbits" for sport - just began to realize. -
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Saturday, January 1st, 1910
to
Sunday, September 18th, 1911
Nothing to do but eat, sleep and build air castles. The real locomotive and the manufacture of cars - the babbitt metal "blow up" and how "Jack" looked (1). Wait a minute - school again. Miss Bovel as teacher. Nora goes to Denver. Three months of school - June, July and August. A picnic - Dan and I play hookey. Nora and Willie come home - summer vacation. Mother decides to move to Denver. "Boss" sold to Watson's. Austin's take the house. A visit to Mrs. Hauscome's. Left on train No. 16 September 18th. Morrises moves to Glenwood. Watsons take the ranch.
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Sunday, September 18th, 1910
to
Saturday, April 8th, 1911
A glorious trip with such a crowd of kids as the Flynns numbered. A few days spent at Hartigan's until the household goods arrive. The new home at 850 Jason St. A small store - candies and ice cream. Attended the Evan's school. Moving a country chap into the city - quarrels and fights every day. Tried to put a finish touch on a plate glass with a brick - cowardly. The first aeroplanes. Molly takes sick with the measles. Decided to move to Mariposa St.
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New residence at 1359 Mariposa St.. A visit by Glen Moore and also Mr. Yates. The first event to fall down the cellar - good I called it. Our friends next door - the Blake family - Herbert as my pal. Lincoln park where most of leisure time was spent. Jimmie and Mollie get over the measles fine. Attend Franklin school. Hartigans move to next house near the school. Yes and I went to church at St. Leo. Dan taken by typhoid pneumonia and nearly goes to heaven - in bed for 9 weeks. Doctor advises Mother to move from Denver. Back to Sherwood. (By luck.)
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Sunday, April 9th, 1911
to
Monday, January 1st 1912
Arrived at Eagle Sunday morning and camped at Thomas Collins's for a few days until the household goods arrived. Nora as a convoy goes to Sherwood and returns. Thomas C. brought us home sweet Sherwood. Foley still here on Sec. 12. Watsons on the ranch. "Boss" the cow still tame. Visiting old familiar places and meet familiar faces. School June, July and August under Miss Turney - 6th grade. Concrete bridge built in Fall - Taylor, Mac Agee and Fritz Glazier - Lester and Leon Watson run the Big-4. Mr. and Mrs. Day's and also Jim's first appearance. Gill as road master when we returned.
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Monday, January 1st, 1912
to
Wednesday, January 1st, 1913
Willie working for J. McGann. Goes to Glenwood and works on Aspen branch. He returns later and relieves J. McG. - Sec. 13. Dan goes to work. P. Kilgallon Earnest Cooks and Kilfoy. (1913 A visit by Mrs. Kilfoy and Harry. Harry's greatest pleasure was to fall into Milk Creek.) School under Miss May Bedell during May, June, July, August and September - Katie, Mary, Jimmie and I. Hamscome's as a feed and water spot especially during strawberry time. Foley returns. First "job" under Foley - Sec. 12. First grouse hunt.
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Wednesday, January 1st, 1913
to
Thursday, January 1st, 1914
"School right off the bat" under Miss Josie Cunningham - January, February, March, April, May, June. The final year and finished the 8th grade. Diploma received July 8, 1913. Decided to go to high school at Gypsum, Colorado. Mrs. Kilfoy and Harry Kilfoy extend a visit. Katie, Mary and I make our First Communion during Easter time. Stayed Kilfoy's. Miss Lucy Copper makes her appearance. George Collette makes love. Keen. "Mollie" goes to Glenwood for two months - July and August. A start in high school. Mr. and Mrs. Kilgallon(1) first acquaintances. Meeting of my "pal", Bill McHatton, on a trip to Glenwood.
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Thursday, January 1st, 1914
to
Friday, January 1st, 1915
Gee what a awful job it was to overcome a part of the awkwardness. Miss Ella Harris, Florine Zactman and "Joe" Schyrack also Leo Carey at the Strouse's hotel. Katie, Mary and Jimmie going to school at Wolcott - Miss Eva Forest. Miss Mary Flynn returns her life to the loaner and leaves this world behind -
Tuesday, February 10th, 1914
"Gone but not forgotten."
Summer vacation spent at home working. Returned to high school with a little more knowledge. School life with Sinclair. The real class of 1917.
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High School
Eagle County High School
Gypsum, Colorado
First Term 1913-1914
Mr. Archibald Taylor
Principal
Miss Eujene Auld
Ass't Principal
Miss Wolfe
Com Teacher
Events
Football team(1) takes a trip to Glenwood. (I as center.) Meeting of "Bill" McHatton. Miss Florine Zartman has a row with Miss Wolfe and leaves school. The awful time I had at the Strouse's hotel. A "flag" fight and Walter Spangler burns at the stake. Miss Ella Harris about to commit "murder" on L. Casey. Seniors - Freshies and Sophmores - Juniors.
-Finis-
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Life On Attending E.C.H.S.
Second Term 1914-1915
Mr. Sinclair
Principal
Miss Eujene Auld
Ass't Principal
Miss Myrtle Camp
Com Teacher
Events
A "nut" of a principal - truth. "Bill" swipes the lunch from the Noble boy. Athletics a failure. A petition to kick the "old" boy out unsuccessful. A fire scare at Sinclair's house. The plug hat. "Walter Spangler" runs the "old" scout wild around the school. "Bill" and "Walter start west. The weenie fry in the meadow. The track and field meet at Rifle. Name of Sherwoood changed to Kent.
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Life In The E.C.H.S.
Third Term 1915-1916
Mr. A. Johnson
Principal
Miss Maude Chamberlain
Ass't Principal
Mrs. Myrtle Allen
Com Teacher
Events
The break in 1917 class. The S.M.F.s at their climax. Basketball invented. A Literacy Society acquired. (1916 The trips to Leadville, Carbondale and Buena Vista.) A play "The School Mam". Tennis (invented). A number of marshmallow toasts and weenie fries. "George" and Ivts love affair. Stanley and I camp in the hay stack on spying for the colors. A real flag fight.
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30
Life As A Senior E.C.H.S.
4th Term 1916-1917
Mr. A. C. Johnson
Principal
Miss Maude Chamberlain
Ass't Principal
Mr. R. C. Staley
Com Teacher
Events
Tuning our voices daily. A quarrel with the bachelor. Climbing porch posts at 5 am. Studious with stereoptican slides and playing hookey. Coasting on Stein's hill. A boycott on Lundgren's store - account of words - false. Marshmallow toast. Playing music in the dark - E.C.H.S.. Preparation for commencement exercise. Graduates - Miss Ruth Anderson, Harriet Nelson, William McHatton and John Flynn.
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Friday, January 1st, 1915
to
Saturday, January 1st, 1916
Sinclair gets worse instead of better. The "trio" Fritz Borah, Bill McHatton, Walter Spangler -two of them start for California. The first "Track Meet". A real auto ride through the Grand River Canyon. Vacation spent working on the farm and "jumping counters" for Simpson at Hugus store Wolcott, Colorado. September calls around. Prospects for a better year - A. C. Johnson, principal. The 1917 class is about ready to break in to halves. Starting of basketball. Moved to Staup Hotel. Miss Nora Changes her name to Mrs. Debaud November 7th. Willie gets canned. Goes to Eagle.
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Saturday, January 1st, 1916
to
Monday, January 1st, 1917
The real scrap between members of 1917 class.
Miss Clarine Tracy's death.
(1) Quit reigned over all until training for Track and Field meet - a trip to Rifle also Glenwood. Vacation spent working for Simpson at Hugus store. Fourth of July celebration at Eagle - Herman Stein. A. C. Johnson again principal at E.C.H.S.. The final and best year began with high spirits. Basketball one of the main points. The "Famous Four" class of 1917 - Ruth, Harriet, Bill and I.
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Monday, January 1st, 1917
to
Tuesday, January 1st, 1918
Preparations for the end of a good thing. Training for "Track Meet" at its glory. A great haul at Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The Final Touches.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1917
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Summer spent working at Hugus store also riding in a "ford" with Roy and J. McDougal(1) to every dance in the country as well as in town. "Keen". Miss Esther Baley gleams up during this period. A visit or two to Gypsum to see Miss Helen Wells. Ditched. Never to be forgotten. E.W.'s meeting at Avon dance. Bill McHatton enlists. A keen Fall for weather.
DECLARATION OF WAR.
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Tuesday, January 1st, 1918
to
Sunday, September 29th, 1918
Worked at Hugus and Co. at Wolcott under G. C. Cannarn until January 15th then went to Glenwood Springs, Colorado and worked as cashier at the Freight Depot under F. W. Drake. Miss Katie attends school and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Whitney. A glorious summer. Spent half of the time swimming in the pool. Hundreds of pretty girls. Registered on September 11th. Decided to move and try to enter army - September 27th. At home hunting grouse the 28th and 29th. A visit by Bill McHatton on a furlough.
Chapter 1 Notes and Sources
9-1 The only picture of Mr. William Flynn known to the family to exit was taken of Mr. Flynn when he was in the hospital shortly before his leg was cut off in an effort to save his life. This picture was lost. The Frontier Historical Museum in Glenwood Springs has pictures of men working to clear an avalanche that occurred in the Glenwood Canyon just east of Shoshone on Wednesday evening, February 1, 1899. This avalanche and an additional avalanche which occurred while men were trying to clear away the debris from the first avalanche blocked railway traffic from Wednesday to Saturday. Mr. Flynn was railroad section foreman and living in the section foreman's house at Spruce Creek in the Glenwood Canyon at this time. Since Spruce Creek is only approximately 6 miles from the avalanche site surely Mr. Flynn was called to help clear the site. It is not possible to identify individuals in the pictures but perhaps one of the men pictured is Mr. William Flynn.