Grand Junction, CO: A Piece of Family History

We left Salt Lake City on 9-11. American flags, flying at half-mast along our route, sadly reminded us of that horrible, unbelievable day seven years ago when we were leading an Airstream caravan (15 rigs) on remote Manitoulan Island in Ontario, Canada. We did not know how many days it would take on our return to get our caravan past the stepped up security at the U.S. Border. It turned out that we had few problems getting back as scheduled a few days later. We will never forget our emotions surrounding that terrible attack on our nation.

Back in December 1995, Jerry and a couple of our children and their spouses stopped in Grand Junction to see the old rail depot on their way to Moab, UT. That station, built in 1906, has special meaning to Jerry. His parents stopped there in 1918 on the way to their 160-acre homestead near La Sal, UT south of Moab. They had begun their long journey from their native Ohio and changed trains in Chicago. When they arrived in Grand Junction, Jerry’s mother could not wait to see if her dog was OK in the baggage car. They then transferred to a narrow gauge train on the Denver & Rio Grand line, traveled to Thompson Springs, UT and were taken from there to Moab on a wagon by Jerry’s Uncle Merl. The dog made the trip just fine. The train they rode on is of the same vintage as the restored one in the above photo. These cars are still operating on Denver & Rio Grand scenic tours in Colorado, but not in Grand Junction. We hope they enjoyed a sumptuous meal at the old railway restaurant as we did on this trip. One can enjoy the best biscuits in the world there. The chef was allegedly offered $50,000 for the recipe. Jerry had been told during his visit in 1995 that an entrepreneur had a grant and was restoring the historic, old station. We discovered on this trip that the ornate, nostalgic building is still in a sad state of repair and is for sale. There is still an Amtrak ticket office in one wing, and the restaurant appears to be prosperous.

Jerry's parents would return to Grand Junction from time to time before they finally returned to Ohio in 1932, victims of the Great Depression. Grand Juction was nearly 100 miles from their ranch and sawmill, but it was the nearest city of substance for supplies, and it housed their nearest doctor. At one point Dad traveled there to purchase a new Model T with mother's turkey money. With it's solid rubber tires, it was the car of choice for rough mountain roads. However, Dad, being a sporty guy, decided to purchase a new Star touring car with balloon times. He had multiple flats on the way home to La Sal, and Star soon went out of business. Mother never let him forget it.

The historic district of Grand Junction contains many fine shops. There is also a small historical museum, which we toured. We were disturbed that there was no mention of the lovely old train station and reminded the ladies who worked there that without the railroad, Grand Junction would probably not even be on the map. Maybe the historical society will do something, as the station is on the historical register.

The best tourist attraction near Grand Junction is the Colorado National Monument managed by the National Park Service. John Otto discovered the canyon in 1906 and campaigned tirelessly to have it designated as a national park. Some thought he was a bit wacky. He lived alone in the canyon and built many trails and paths virtually on his own until the early 1930s in order to help visitors appreciate the magnificent landscape. In 1911, the canyon was designated a national monument. Otto was rewarded by being named caretaker for the park and earned $1.00 per year for his efforts until 1927. The 23-mile, scenic, Rim Rock Drive was built by the CCC boys during the Great Depression. It offers breathtaking views and fascinating insights into our geologic past. There is a fine visitor center, museum, and over a dozen viewpoints. The drive is supposed to take about an hour, but we took four hours with many stops for taking photos and reading nearly every plaque. America’s economy may be sour, but our history and landscape are rich.