SUNDAY FEATURE: Rolling out the red carpet

City of Montrose celebrates 125th anniversary

Elaine Hale Jones

Daily Press Staff Writer

Montrose came a long way in a short period of time from its pioneer roots as a dusty outpost on Colorado’s Western slope. Early-day resident Alice E. Garrett captured the progressive town spirit in a 1905 souvenir booklet of Montrose County. “As a rule our eastern cousins regard society in a small western town as synonymous with card playing, dancing, horse racing, cow punching, roundups and holdups; and some even think that an Indian massacre breaks in upon the monotony of this once in a while. Such things are of the past. Montrose has emerged from this chaotic state into an orderly city, boasting of fine schools, churches, a growing library, electric lights, telephones and automobiles. This should certainly prove that the west is entirely civilized, and not a ‘wild and woolly wilderness,’ and that to cross the range and drop into the Uncompahgre Valley does not mean to be scalped by the redman, held up by the highwayman or fall victim to grizzly bears and mountains lions.”

Sept. 23, 1909 ... Dedication of Gunnison Tunnel opening

One of the most memorable celebrations in Montrose's history took place at the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel irrigation project in 1909. Members of the Gunnison Tunnel Opening Committee planned for a grandiose one-day celebration including events in Montrose and a dedication ceremony by the President of the United States at the West Portal of the tunnel (town of Lujane). The day-long program featured a parade, band concerts, product exhibitions, speeches, receptions, train rides to the West Portal for the dedication, a balloon ascension, girls relay race on bucking broncos, parachute leaps and a large parade. A huge "Welcome Arch" was constructed over Main Street with pictures of President Taft and a listing of agricultural products of the area; how much had been grown during the past year; and what the completion of the Gunnison Tunnel meant for agriculture in 1910.

The day of the celebration, Friday, Sept. 23, 1909, arrived along with thousands of sightseers from all over the Western Slope. Visitors came by train from outlying areas. The town of Ouray brought a pack train showing the means of transportation to and from the mines of the San Juan Mountains, and a motorcade from Delta featured occupants carrying red and white umbrellas. At approximately 2:30 p.m., President Taft arrived in Montrose aboard a special five coach train, escorted by sheriffs of western Colorado wearing their traditional ten gallon hats, bandannas, blue flannel shirts and corduroy pants, each carrying a Colt .45 in a holster. Nearly 10,000 people had gathered at the Montrose County fairgrounds to greet the President. After a welcoming address and presentation of the key to the city by the mayor, the festivities moved to the West Portal for the official dedication of the Gunnison Tunnel. On a platform 75 feet above the tunnel entrance, President Taft tapped a bell of pure gold, releasing the flow of water through the six-mile long tunnel at 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 4, 1931... 50th anniversary and jubilee celebration

It was said that on this date, Sept. 4, 1931, there were more old timers in Montrose than on any previous occasion. The date was the 50th Anniversary and Jubilee celebration in honor of 50 years of development in the Uncompahgre Valley. The anniversary committee handed out 175 badges to pioneers who gathered here from all over the Western Slope, and the supply was exhausted while others clamored for badges showing they had been here for many years.

The day's celebration started with a mile and a half long parade featuring floats from Ouray and Norwood as well as Montrose and Olathe. The parade formed at Johnson school (the original school was located on site of the East Main McDonalds) and moved west on Main Street to the railroad tracks, then counter marched back up Main Street to the starting point and featured a variety of floats —"Jackie's Place" representing an old time saloon with a crowd drinking and playing cards; the town's first cabin, first schoolhouse etc. A pageant was held in front of the grand stand and was narrated by Rev. Mark T. Warner. The first scene depicted the Ute Indians; the second, the Spanish era; the third, a typical street scene in an early-day mining town; the fourth, a covered wagon carrying a family of settlers; and the fifth scene highlighted the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel.

(Note: Sept. 4, 1931 corresponded to the Ute Indians leaving the Uncompahgre Valley, not the town's actual founding).

May 1982 — Montrose turns 100

On May 17, 1982, Gov. Richard D. Lamm signed a proclamation in recognition of Montrose's 100th birthday. "Montrose became a home rule city in 1914, one of the first in Colorado to obtain such a charter, as well as one of the first to initiate the council-manager form of government. Today, Montrose has a population of about 10,000 and claims agriculture as its basic economy, even though its role as a center of trade, tourism, manufacturing and government and energy-related offices has increased greatly," Gov. Lamm stated.

A group of over 100 residents, under the Greater Montrose Centennial Committee, organized "special days" and events throughout the week of May 14-May 22, 1982. Some of the special days included: Merchants Day, Religious Heritage Day, Sports and Recreation Day, Ag Day, Montrose Youth Day etc.

One of the highlights of the celebration was a re-creation of the historic Gunnison Tunnel Arch. While the original arch spanned the width of Main Street in 1909, its replica was built on the city's new "Centennial Plaza." In addition to original art posters and souvenir belt buckles, the city also published a souvenir booklet with articles by local writers covering the early history of Montrose.

May 2 & 5, 2007 — Montrose to celebrate 125th anniversary

The City of Montrose will celebrate its 125th anniversary with events on Wednesday, May 2 and Saturday, May 5. A special program will be held Wednesday, May 2 starting at 6 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion. The program will include a historic review of Montrose, presentation of the governor's proclamation to the mayor, performances by the Sweet Adelines and Paul Nystrom and desserts from local restaurants. Admission is free, however tickets are required and can be picked up at the Montrose Chamber of Commerce.

On Saturday, May 5, the party will continue in downtown Montrose with events scheduled at Centennial Plaza, along Main Street, North Uncompahgre and the fire station. Breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. in the plaza, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by the Chamber Redcoats, and dinner by Cinco de Mayo will be held from 4 to 7 p.m.

Dancers and singers will perform throughout the day in addition to kids’ games, a quilt show and historic displays, a car show, sheep display, craft fair, and parade at noon. The Montrose Fire District will host an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. A mayor's reception will follow at 4 p.m. at the plaza.

There will also be guided walking tours from downtown to the Montrose Historical Society Museum. Horse and carriage rides will be available, and the Wells Fargo stagecoach will be on hand. Additional events include: book signings and sales, historic prints of the United Methodist Church in Montrose, a quilt raffle and the special sales of the pin created for the 125th anniversary.

There will be free admission to the Museum of the Mountain West from 2 to 4 p.m. and free admission to the Ute Indian Museum from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5.

For more information, contact the chamber of commerce at 249-5000.