Many varieties of fruit soon became prime crops. The Grand Valley has a long growing season, warm days and cool nights, and irrigation which allows water to be applied exactly as needed. These factors all contribute to growing fruit of extraordinary quality. This scale was owned by John Hines, an orchard owner who was one of the area's first black residents..

The 1890s
 

PEOPLE

Dr. Heman R. Bull moved west as a young doctor. He came to Grand Junction in 1887, and practiced here until his death in 1934. Dr. Bull was a promoter of St. Mary�s Hospital when it began in 1896, and a founder of the Mesa County Medical Society. He delivered thousands of babies.
(Dean Photo)

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COMMUNITY

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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BUSINESS

The first newspaper in town was the Grand Junction News, with a first edition October 28, l882. Edwin Price was the editor and publisher. Other papers came and went. In 1893, Isaac Newton Bunting (pictured) and Howard Lee established The Daily Sentinel, which is still published. Its first edition was November 30, 1893.
(Dean Photo)

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EDUCATION

The Franklin Building (Grand Junction High School) was built in 1891 and cost $11,000. This spacious brick building with twelve rooms was at 6th and Rood, where the current courthouse is located. First a three year high school, it became a four year school in 1894, the year it graduated its first four graduates.
(Dean Photo)

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AGRICULTURE

Sugar beets grown in the Grand Valley were found to have a high sugar content and they became a major crop. In 1899 the Colorado Sugar Manufacturing Company built a large brick factory at 12th Street and Struthers Avenue, the first in the state. After sugar extraction, unpleasant-smelling beet pulp was fed to sheep and cattle as they were fattened for market.
(Dean Photo)

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TRANSPORTATION

William and Susan Carpenter bought two large coal mines at the base of the Bookcliffs, north of Grand Junction. To bring the coal to market, they also built the Little Book Cliff Railway which was finished in 1891. The railroad also transported building stone from an adjacent quarry, and bottled water from a spring.

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CULTURE

The Grand Junction Indian School educated Native Americans from 1886 - 1911. It was informally called the Teller Institute for Congressman Henry M. Teller, who promoted the enabling legislation in Congress. This scene is a string band of mandolin and guitar players. The students had various bands, orchestras, and athletic teams. These students are wearing fashionable blouses called shirtwaists, and summer weight skirts of white with eyelets.

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RECREATION

Skating on canals and on rivers was popular. This scene in 1892 shows a skating group, with the Fifth Street bridge across the Colorado River in the background. Built in 1886, it was the first bridge in Colorado which was financed by the state, and was 740 feet long.
(Frank McClintock Photo)

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