Cobweb Express

IN THE WINTERTIME
by Mel McFarland

The past few years have brought some big changes to Fountain. How about a look at a Winter day over sixty years ago, or so. Some of these things have not changed, but many are now faded memories. Our population stood just above 600. Main Street still was home for Fountain Flour and Feed, Fountain Hardware and Implement, Fountain Herald, Arapahoe Food Market, Martin’s Grocery and Market, and a few small stores, but the town’s center of attention was either Art’s Cafe, Lettie Keys’ beauty shop, or Clare Peebles’ barber shop. Those places felt the real pulse of the community.

The old red school house and the new high school were a’buzz with thoughts of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and mid year exams. A few children played on the grounds, but most were either at home, or somewhere inside. Some days are nice enough to be out, but others, forget it!

The years as a “farm town” were just starting to fade. Agriculture was still the area’s primary interest, even though Camp Carson’s influence was starting to be felt, however, there were rumors of it already being closed down. The fort was busy during the War, but after that it was getting rather quiet. Fountain was still served by four or five passenger trains a day: Two or three north bound and south bound, however the War’s troop trains were a thing of the past. The recruits arriving at Camp Carson had declined, but a few came through on the bus that still stopped at the stop on Santa Fe. The stops carried a few young men in tan uniforms, mainly on their way home from the war. George Kerr’s pool hall saw its share of soldiers.
There might be a few trucks on Main street, some might be picking up hay or feed. The hay had been stockpiled for the winter, but there were a few procrastinators. They might even drop of their wives for some shopping while they handled business. You might see George Marshal heading out to a job out on one of the area farms.

The Colorado Springs, Denver and Pueblo. radio stations could be heard coming from many homes in the morning. The stock reports were still the main subject for the ranchers to tune into. A frost was of no major concern, but a storm could blow up and make things difficult. Bad weather was just to be expected, but it might be nice soon after. Some things like that do not change.

CONTACT THE WRITER • MCMIDLAND@YAHOO.COM

MEL'S ARCHIVES
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