Dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Park County, Colorado

Park County Historical Society
Merchandise

New Publications

$15 each   Click on image to order directly from publisher

DVD

Poker Alice
by Liz Duckworth

$15


Poker Alice Tubbs, a lady gambler, lived and played in mining boomtowns across Colorado, South Dakota, and the west. Her stories of adventure, risk, and reward take a fresh look at mining towns like Creede, Leadville, and Central City in Colorado, Silver City in New Mexico, and Sturgis and Deadwood in South Dakota.

Liz brings Poker Alice’s story to life — wearing Victorian costume and speaking in first person. Liz is the author of Poker Alice Tubbs: The Straight Story, a book that debunks myths and tells the truth about a legendary lady who smoked cigars and won her way in a man’s world.

DVD

Como Railroad History
by Bob Schoppe

$15

DVD Como Railroad History

Como, Colorado has a long railroading history and is coming back to life.

Few know more about the railroading history of Como than Bob Schoppe.

Bob has been a “rail-fan” since childhood and has been a member of the Denver South Park & Pacific Historical Society since its founding in 1998, serving as president since 2012.  Bob moved to Fairplay, Park County, in 1998 and has been involved in the restoration efforts in Como since 2008.

This presentation details the past, present and future of the Como Rail Yard and Roundhouse. (1 hr. 25 min.)

Need more than one copy for family, friends or retail?

We offer substantial discounts for multiple copies.

5 copies 10% discount
10 copies 25% discount

DVD

Christ of the Rockies
by Larry Bell

$15

We have all seen it.  We have driven by it countless times.  But, what do you really know about it?

Travel through Park County's past and dive into the history of the 285 corridor's most iconic landmark.

Learn about the ambitious project and the engineering it took to create what is known as "Christ of the Rockies"

There is no one who knows more about the "Who, what, when, where, why, and how" than Larry Bell, whose great-grandfather, John A. Bell, was the contractor who managed the conversion of Cassells to Santa Maria, and whose grandparents, Edward and Harriet Bell, were the camp's first caretakers.

DVD

The Colorado & Southern in Eastern Park County
by Tom Klinger

$15.00

An educational and entertaining journey back in time.  Retrace the tracks of the long gone Colorado & Southern with one of the best railroad historians, Tom Klinger.

Railroad Slang Ditty

We were bucking snow with a beartrap and butterfly on the engine.

We were about to die on the lull with our double header, when we saw that the snowbirds had gone to bears, where one was riding the cushions in the caboose who was deadheading.

But, the brakee was tying down when I big-holed the engine and joined the birds.

We were on the ground and it took a dead man to get us up.

With all that, I pulled the pin and went to the barn.

There was a jack train on the mountain. I saw the fisher rail joint on the ground.

DVD

King City, Colorado - A Token Tells A Tale
by Brian Heber

$15.00

Brian Heber brings us more history and artifacts about King City and the King Coal Mine than I have seen from anyone. Brian spent hundreds of hours combing through the topsoil at the remains of King City.  Then he took his findings and researched them in libraries, archives, newspapers, and on-line searches to bring those artifacts to life.  His display tells the story of the dangerous work mining coal was. Coal was the fuel than ran locomotives and processed ore.

Brian's research includes the history of the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad, the owners, the store clerks, the coal business, the bosses, the workers, and those that lost their lives there. The busy city has mostly disappeared or turned into dirt and all the players have passed on. Brian takes a simple token he finds in the dirt and takes us back to the harsh life of a hundred and thirty years ago.

This DVD gives you a glimpse of what he has found.  When you are ready to dig deeper, Brian's soon-to-be published book on King City will include even more detail.  -Jim Glenn

DVD

The Old Colorado & Southern and Engine No. 9

$20.00

In 1937 a narrow gauge railway locomotive pulls two passenger cars up the steep slope of the Rockies on it's last ever journey from Denver to Breckenridge.  See the train pass through several small towns along the South Platte, including Strontia Springs, Buffalo Creek, and Pine.  Hear colorful tales of small town and mountain life, stories of the train's crew and passengers.  See ice cutters on the Maxwell Lakes at Shawnee, a Depression era Fourth of July celebration in Bailey, the roundhouse in Como, and much more.

The Old Colorado & Southern and Engine No. 9 was filmed by school teacher (later Marine Major) Helen McGraw Tatum, between 1933 and 1937, and originally shown for the local movie night.  In 1954 Helen and Thomas G. Tatum recorded a sound track with narration by Helen.  They recorded sound effects from The Denver and Rio Grande locomotive at Knotts Berry Farm in California.  Later copies of the film were restored by Alexander Film Services, of Colorado Springs. Mrs. Tatum transferred the film to videocassettes in the 1980s.

The Park County Historical Society presents The Old Colorado & Southern Engine No. 9 for the first time on DVD, with enhanced audio, from the best source materials available from both original film and VHS versions.  Photos provided by the Park County Local History Archives. www.parkcoarchives.org

Black and White. 43 Minutes.

Feature film & audio copyright © 1954 Helen McGraw Tatum. All additional materials copyright © 2011 Park County Historical Society.

Book

The Life and Times of
Elizabeth Entriken and Joseph Barnett

$15.00

Elizabeth Entriken travelled from Wisconsin to the Bailey area in 1864 with her sister and brother-in-law, Ann and William Bailey.  William Bailey and Reverend John Dyer, Elizabeth's and Ann's brother, built the cabin and established Bailey's Ranch.
 
Elizabeth lived in the cabin from 1864 until shortly before her death in 1922. The Entriken Cabin is the only remaining structure from the original town of Bailey.  It was moved to its present location the McGraw Memorial Park in 1973.

Joseph Barnett was the first school teacher of Platte Canon who taught the three R’s to the children of the first settlers in a little school house that he built long before the coming of the railroad in the 1878. Joseph lived in a log cabin that remains today in its original location in Bailey.

Elizabeth Entriken travelled from Wisconsin to the Bailey area in 1864 with her sister and brother-in-law, Ann and William Bailey.  William Bailey and Reverend John Dyer, Elizabeth's and Ann's brother, built the cabin and established Bailey's Ranch.
 
Elizabeth lived in the cabin from 1864 until shortly before her death in 1922. The Entriken Cabin is the only remaining structure from the original town of Bailey.  It was moved to its present location the McGraw Memorial Park in 1973.

Joseph Barnett was the first school teacher of Platte Canon who taught the three R’s to the children of the first settlers in a little school house that he built long before the coming of the railroad in the 1878. Joseph lived in a log cabin that remains today in its original location in Bailey.

DVD

Cassell's Among the Pines
by Larry Bell

$15.00

For over fifty years, from 1878 until 1930, Cassells flourished as "the oldest and grandest of the Platte Canyon Resorts. This presentation details its complete history, from the origins as a homestead, through the growth, glory days, survival after a devastating fire, eventual decline and closure. This is the first time this material has been presented in Park County.

Larry Bell is proud of being a fourth generation native of Colorado and passionate about preserving its rich history. Larry is a member of the Park County Historical Society and a member of the Park County Local History Archives Board of Directors.

DVD

The Last Cattle Drive
of the Jess Fitzsimmons Herd

$15.00

The Fitzsimmons Ranch was originally included in a few land parcels, including the original Slaught's Ranch, and part of the Debernardi Ranch. The eastern end of the ranch was originally the Maddox Ice Company which produced ice from the frozen lakes across from the Platte Canyon High School. Jess Fitzsimmons/ X Brand Ranch.  Jess's family had pioneered in the Bailey area, building the Mt. Vernon Hotel.

The Last Cattle Drive was filmed by KWGN Channel 2 in Denver in 1965 to show with additional material and audio from one of their programs.  They presented the silent film by itself to the Park County Historical Society.  The film was later narrated by Fitzsimmons' step-son, Steve Hickel.

Temporarily Unavailable

DVD

The Roberts Tunnel 

Interviews with Kenn Hicks and Clyde Johnson

$15.00

Book

Bits and Pieces of History
 Along the 285 Corridor


$20.00

Book

Burros

by Linda Bjorklund

$10.00

Book

Tarryall Road Tour Guide

by Park County Local History Archives

$15.00