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Honoring Garry O'Hara: 09/23/2023

10/7/2023

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   Honoring his “dedication, diligence, and love of history, making it available to all,” the Daughters and Children of the American Revolution and Cherry Creek Valley Historical Society honored past CCVHS President Garry O’Hara in a ceremony at Franktown Fire Department Station 181, on Saturday morning, September 23, 2023 with the dedication of four cemetery reference books to local libraries and archives, award of a pin from the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution, the commitment of markers at each of the “mile houses” along the Smoky Hill Trail, and a plaque from the Cherry Creek Valley Historical Society.
     Carole Taylor, President of the Running Creek Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who organized the event, described O’Hara’s “thoroughness” and commitment to scholarship in describing the books, covering the Franktown Cemetery, the Castle Rock Cedar hill Cemetery, the J.S. Parker Cemetery, and the Bear Canon Cemetery, explaining that copies will be donated to libraries, particularly the Douglas County Archives and Library in Castle Rock, where they will be available for researchers and students. “Garry has been instrumental in leading the research through the cemeteries,” Taylor explained, “and his work is unequalled. It’s an honor to make these copies available for everyone to see.”
     Lee Whiteley, who has written extensively on the trails and geography of the Colorado Plains, congratulated O’Hara on his ability to bring many disparate groups together “all in the name and interest of History.”
     Denice Kline Dirks, Senior State President, and Jarrett Dirks, State President of the Colorado State Society of the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution (CAR), spoke of O’Hara’s commitment to scholarship and citizenship and awarded him a pin from the organization in recognition of his service. Ms. Dirks then continued to describe a program spearheaded by the CAR marking “the Mile Houses” along the trail to Denver, including the sites where there were no buildings left. She also praised O’Hara for his work in helping establish the “Franktown Museum,” which has been in the fire house for a number of years.
     Honoring O’Hara’s “commitment and dedication,” Charles Kastens, CCVHS President, presented a plaque which reads, “Your effort, support, and contributions will be remembered for generations to come.” He thanked O’Hara for the privilege of serving as his vice-president and the opportunity to learn from him. Echoing Lee Whiteley’s words, Kastens spoke of the welcoming and participatory atmosphere that CCVHS always had, largely because of Garry O’Hara.
     Those who also attended the celebration: Hannah Bawden, Douglas County Archives and Library; Catherine Traffis, Parker Historical Society; Steve and Suzann Smith, Smoky Hill Trail DAR; Debra Jacobs and Hyla Tryon Jenks, Running Creek DAR; Susie Trumble, Franktown Fire and 17 Mile House Preservation Board; Jane and Lee Whiteley, Smoky Hill Historical Society;  Beverly Noe and Danna Hamling, Larkspur Historical Society; and Shirley Miller, 
Susan Knapp, Bill Thomas, Christine Kastens, Karen and Kevin Sear, Gary and Sherrie Wolf of the Cherry Creek Valley Historical Society.
      “The most wonderful thing, I think,” Susan Knapp remarked after the ceremony, “Is recognition of the many tours of historical sites that Garry organized and spearheaded. This celebration is in appreciation of that.”

Written by William Thomas, CCVHS Co-Secretary
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In Memoriam

1/4/2023

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LaVern Johnson died on May 14, 2022; she was 94 years old and a lifelong resident of the town of Lyons.  A newspaper obituary called her a powerful advocate for her community; as a member of the Lyons Historical Society snd CCVHS she advocated many civic projects of benefit to Lyons.  She worked diligently to spare the old schoolhouse that is now the Lyons  Redstone Museum.  In May 2016 the town renamed Meadow Park the LaVern M. Johnson Park in her honor.   The land surrounding her house predates the 1881 founding of the town and was homesteaded by her great-grandfather.  (In case you”re interested, LaVern”s husband was also named LaVern.)  

We are also sad to report the death of CCVHS member Bev Blotter who passed away on November 24 at the age of 76.  Bev worked tirelessly to map accurately the Colorado half of the Smoky Hill Trail and its current owners.  Under the name of Tales of the Trail, she and several fellow history buffs drew up  a series of forms for exhaustively documenting the trail from Kansas to Denver and actually walking parts of the trail.  

On May 14 Eugene X. Tepper died at his home in Pojoaque New Mexico.  He was 101 years old and was preceded in death by Shari Tepper, his wife of 51 years.  The Teppers were CCVHS members until their move to New Mexico in the 1990s when they managed a guest ranch near Santa Fe and a farm for endangered breeds of animals.  In World War II Gene enlisted in the  Merchant Marine and witnessed first-hand the build-up of troops and supplies to Europe.  Shari was a prolific writer who authored 23 mystery books. 
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