One of my favorite features in The Gazette is the daily “Back Pages” column on Page 2.
Often, the items offer a sense of history and perspective. Consider that the 100-year-ago items likely were read by Gen. William Jackson Palmer, the founder of the city. In 1908 Palmer was alive but ailing, having been paralyzed in fall from his horse while riding in the Garden of the Gods.
The April 30 “Back Pages” item was about a boarding house owner angry about a nearby laundry’s steam whistle. Here is the story as it appeared in 1908:
“Colorado Springs Gazette – Thursday, April 30, 1908
“Headline: Objects To Steam Whistle
“Rooming House Mistress Says Laundryman Raised Disturbance
“Mrs. Nellie Stevens, owner of the rooming house over 628 Colorado avenue, had George M. Demetropolis, proprietor of the Model laundry, arrested yesterday morning on the charge of disturbance.
“Mrs. Stevens claims that the laundryman intentionally makes disturbing noises by blowing the laundry whistle. She says that this has lessened the value of her rooms as her lodgers complain that they are kept awake by the noises.
“Mrs. Stevens has made several complaints to the city council on account of the laundry, but the council has refused to take a hand in the matter. Mrs. Stevens has also been instrumental in the getting up of a petition signed by 50 residents and presented to the council protesting against the laundry.
“The case was brought before Justice J. D. Faulkner yesterday afternoon. The judge dismissed the case on lack of convicting evidence.”
As a connoisseur of neighborhood conflict, I was intrigued. Growth has produced similar conflicts throughout the history of Colorado Springs and it reminded me of the story of the Sinton Dairy.
At the same time Nellie Stevens was protesting the laundry whistle, the Sinton brothers were milking cows and getting similar complaints from neighbors. In fact, they were repeatedly forced to move to accommodate the growing city. They went from their original barn at Corona Street and Willamette Avenue in 1880 to a new pasture, barn and processing plant near Prospect Lake. The plant and barn opened in 1887 in what is now the Hillside neighborhood. Here’s a map from www.FlashEarth.com.
To learn more, check out the dairy’s Web site at www.SintonDairy.com and click on the tab “Our History” where you will find another tab of “Old Photos.” There you will see this story and photo and more:
GROWTH CONFLICT – a century-old issue in the Springs is a post from: Side Streets