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COMMUNITY |
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1880s The first structure in town in 1881 was the Town Company office. A log cabin at 2nd and Ute, it was built from cottonwood trees growing near the river. The residents were Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Mobley. R. D. Mobley was the first postmaster. |
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1890s As a small town, Grand Junction had two unpaid volunteer firefighting groups. Volunteers were considered brave benefactors of the town, and had social esteem. They would run to fires, pulling equipment. Hose cart races were run on Main Street between the local and other town teams. In 1895, Grand Junction volunteers held state and world records for speed. |
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1900s Churches were organized in early Grand Junction and the first small buildings soon were outgrown. Typical was the 1890 Congregational Church. By 1904 the burgeoning congregation rebuilt at the corner of 6th and Rood. They installed the first pipe organ in town, a Kimball Hydraulic Pneumatic Duplex concert instrument. In addition to worship, some churches also were used for musical and literary performances. |
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1910s World War I was a world-wide conflict during 1914-1918, and the United States was a combatant 1917-1918. Naval forces were engaged on the Atlantic, and land forces were mainly in battles in France. These Mesa County recruits, ready to leave for military service, boarded a car on the Midland Railroad which served Grand Junction from 1890 to 1918. (Dean Photo, The Daily Sentinel) |
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1920s When Franklin High School was razed at 6th and Rood, the site was used for the new Mesa County Courthouse. Construction began in 1922 on the limestone, neoclassical structure and it was built to high standards. Hallways had marble wainscoting and terrazzo floors, court rooms were outfitted in golden oak. The front doors of brass had ornate grilles. It was dedicated in 1924. (Dean Studio Photo) |
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1930s
Radio was expanding rapidly across
the nation. Grand Junction�s first station was on the air January 13, l931
as Rex Howell established KFXJ, which later became KREX. It was the first
station of a radio and TV network called the Western Slope Broadcasting.
Company. His television station was the first in town in 1954. The
following decades saw multiple radio and television stations here, as well
as cable TV. |
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1940s The attack on America at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941,plunged the nation into World War II. Mesa County�s James Massey and Harold Wood were among the fatalities on that first day. Many hundreds of our Grand Junction men and women were soon in all the military branches, serving around the world. |
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1950s Uranium mining and milling became a large industry on the Colorado Plateau. The Grand Junction Operations Office of the United States Atomic Energy Commission was headquarters for the enterprise, and bought all the uranium produced. Grand Junction also was home base for as many as 35 mining companies, including area offices of major mining corporations. (The Daily Sentinel, U.S. Department of Energy) |
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1960s Main Street in Grand Junction was becoming congested with traffic, and streets and walks were aging. In the spring of 1962 Operation Foresight began reconstruction of the infrastructure, and also expanded the parking available. In May 1963 the project was completed, including extensive landscaping. The city was awarded All America City recognition by Look magazine for the innovative and successful downtown shopping park. (Perry Studio Photo) |
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1970s Banks, and savings and loans needed to expand to new and larger quarters. Valley Federal Savings and Loan chose to erect a tall building with offices for lease on the upper floors. Opening day was November 25, 1974. The building at 5th and Rood is now the Alpine Bank. Mesa Federal Savings & Loan, and Modern Savings and Loan also had handsome new buildings. (Jerry Van Wyngarden photo) |
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1980s Art on the Corner is an outdoor display of sculpture which originated in 1984. New selections are installed in the Downtown Shopping Park for a year, and a number of them have been bought for the permanent collection. The first purchase was Chrome on the Range II, a shiny metal buffalo which is a popular favorite, by sculptor Lou Wille. (John Hedrick Photo) |
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1990s
St. Mary�s Hospital and Medical
Center was founded in 1896. It has grown to be a major Colorado hospital
which serves a wide area of Western Colorado
and Eastern Utah.
Air transport
ambulances are on call. There is comprehensive medical care, all the way to
complex surgeries. Other modern facilities here are the Veterans�
Administration and the Community hospitals. |
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2000 & Beyond Mesa County courts built a new Justice Center which was inaugurated in 2001. It is at West Main and Spruce Streets, and is connected to the City/County Jail and Sheriff�s Department by a secure tunnel. Transportation of detainees to court hearings by armed vans had been complicated. Detention and courts now are conveniently close. (John Hedrick Photo) |
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