Mesa County Oral History Project

The Mesa County Oral History Project began as a joint project of the Museums of Western Colorado and Mesa County Libraries (MCL) in 1975. The Oral History Project collected tape-recorded interviews with pioneers of Mesa County and surrounding areas, and interviews with the children of pioneers. The Central Library housed the duplicate audio cassettes and provided patron access to the histories. The Museum stored the master tapes and kept files and transcripts related to the oral history collection. The Mesa County Historical Society also contributed significantly to the Oral History Project by collaborating with the library and museum to select interviewees, and by providing interviewers and other volunteers. Mesa County Libraries no longer partner with the Museum in housing duplicate copies of tapes. But the library now works with the Museum to digitize interviews from the Mesa County Oral History Project and to provide online access to the interviews through Pika, the library catalog. The Museum continues to house the original audio cassettes, interview transcripts, and other source material for the project. The Library and the Museums of Western Colorado still record oral histories with residents who have important knowledge of the area’s history. Please note that some interviews contain language that listeners or readers may consider offensive. Mesa County Libraries does not condone such language, but has included interviews in their entirety in the interest of preserving history.

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Interview with John Bible "J.B." Wooten Jr.
J.B. Wooten, a longtime teacher in Grand Junction, Colorado, talks about aspects of life in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Mesa County in the 1930’s. Wooten, who began working for the CCC as a Lead Man in 1932, describes both the regular CCC camp and the transient-labor CCC camp that existed on the Colorado National Monument during that time. He speaks about working conditions, hazards, accidents, and fatalities in work that CCC members conducted He reflects on projects that they conducted, including the construction of the Coke Ovens Trail on the Monument. He remembers his work as a Camp Steward, helping to keep CCC men out of jail for drunkenness, diffusing tensions between local CCC men and those from elsewhere, and being a camp leader. He describes the purpose of the CCC as a source of income for the men and their families during the Great Depression, as a job training program, and as a producer of public projects. He talks about Thomas Secrest, the head engineer on the project, about winters on the Monument, and food served in the camps. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with John Brach
John Brach, the son of Italian immigrants, talks about his family moving from Aguilar, Colorado to Loma so that they could work in agriculture instead of the coal mines. He speaks about relying on ditch water for drinking water, using carbide lights, and a coal stove. He remembers people who came to Loma as part of a Federal resettlement program during the Dust Bowl, including the De Kruger, Bittle and Beede families. He recalls other residents and institutions of Loma. He reminisces about working on the family farm with his brother, irrigating and working on horseback, and farming wheat and bringing it to mills in Grand Junction. He talks about traveling by horse and by rail between towns. He speaks about growing potatoes, shipping them by rail and selling them in Denver, and about the beginning of the Potato Growers Association. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with John E. Taylor
John Taylor talks about his early life in Vancouver, Washington, his entrance into the US Naval Reserves at the age of seventeen, and his service as a radioman aboard the U.S.S. Spinax, a submarine. He remembers fun times during his down time in various countries, including Hong Kong. He recalls a hazing/ceremonial event he took part in when his ship crossed the equator. He describes his survival and prisoner-of-war training prior to his service as a radioman aboard a river patrol boat in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where he had extensive combat experience as part of the Mobile Riverine Force. He recalls the Tet Offensive in 1968. He discusses the armaments and people aboard the boat, opposing Viet Cong forces, and working with the US 5th Marines on missions. He speaks about honors he received, such as the Navy Achievement with a Combat V and a Purple Heart. He talks about returning home to the United States in 1968 and his next duty in a communications station in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He describes leaving and then rejoining the Navy, where he became a lifer with duty stations in Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Washington State, and Grand Junction, Colorado. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with John Fulton Emerson
John Emerson, a mining engineer, talks about his education and early career in mining prior to his involvement in the Manhattan Project. He speaks about his move to Mesa County, Colorado in 1943 and his work with the Union Mines Development Corporation, researching and developing uranium for use in the first atomic bombs. He describes the corporations, locations, and processes involved in vanadium and uranium mining and processing, including Uravan and the Climax Uranium Mill in Grand Junction. He discusses the geology of rock formations where uranium is found. He talks about the formation of the Atomic Energy Commission and its role in overseeing uranium mining. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Photograph from the 1938 Colorado School of Mines annual
Interview with John Groves and Olive (Mann) Groves
John and Olive Groves discuss the political history of Mesa County, and the formation of the Grand Valley Drainage District. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with John Sylvester Long
John Sylvester Long discusses the religious life and customs in the Church of the Brethren, and the early Twentieth century history of Fruita and Loma, Colorado. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Joseph Elder "Joe" Williams
Joe Williams talks about his life just before being drafted into service during the Vietnam War. He addresses his doubts about the purpose of the war, his misgivings about going to Vietnam as part of the US Army’s infantry, and his general disillusionment with the war. He remembers his impressions of the Vietnamese people. He speaks about general aspects of life in the US Army during war time. He remembers being assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade, 3rd Squadron, 17th Air, and what his tour in an Air Cav Unit was like. He talks about the portrayal of the Vietnam War in the media, the Kent State Massacre, antiwar protests in the United States, and their effect on the morale of soldiers. He recalls the widespread use of heroin, marijuana and other drugs by U.S. soldiers. He speaks about the reaction of family, friends, and civilians to his return to the United States, and about his pride in having served. He talks about his life since the Vietnam War and the lasting effects of the war on his life. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Joseph P. "Joe" Fox
Joe Fox talks about his early life as a cowboy after running away from home at the age of twelve, and about serving in the US Army's Second Division during World War I. He then discusses ranching in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Josephine (Schneible) Rader
Early Palisade resident Josephine (Schneible) Rader discusses her experience nursing to patients during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918. She also talks about her job as a registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Josephine (Taylor) Dickey and Eileen Butler
Eileen Butler, Josephine Dickey and John Dickey discuss the Handy Chapel and the history of the African-American community in Grand Junction, Colorado. The Interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Julius E. Johnson Jr.
Julius Johnson talks about the history of his family in Colorado and about his friendship with both Al Look Jr. and Al Look Sr. He speaks about hiking the entire Colorado portion of the Continental Divide Trail with a friend. He also discusses his long career at Dow Chemical. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Karl and Nellie Linn
Karl and Nellie Linn discuss the history of their pioneer family in Plateau Valley, cattle ranching in the area, and local people. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.

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