History Center changes up annual holiday-season event
 At the first-time Haunted Histories event, organized by the Old Colorado City Historical Society at Fairview Cemetery after dark Sept. 26... Roberta Hardy (as madam Laura Bell McDaniel) and Leo Knudson (as preacher Duncan Lamont). Westside Pioneer photo
|
After 20 years, the volunteer nonprofit's annual, Christmas-themed, fundraising tour of historic buildings is being replaced by a new event, free and open to the public.
The Holiday Open House Saturday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be held inside the History Center itself, 1 S. 24th St., focusing on its museum displays.
Contributing to this effort will be historically garbed characters hosting various exhibits. Atop the display cases will be small holiday trees “decorated to reflect the history of Colorado City,” according to the November edition of the OCCHS newsletter, West Word.
The intent is to “thank the members and non-members for a great year,” the release continues. “We want to share the holiday with Colorado Springs.”
 At the first-time Haunted Histories event, organized by the Old Colorado City Historical Society at Fairview Cemetery after dark Sept. 26... Johnie Jackson, holding weapons from the 1800s, played Sgt. John Ingersoll, a Civil War quartermaster who later moved to Colorado City. Westside Pioneer photo
|
The previous event, which had different names but was most recently known as the Holiday Tour, was started 20 years ago by a consortium of privately owned Westside bed-and-breakfast businesses. Because most operated in restored Victorian homes, the B&B owners saw it as a way to fundraise for the History Center while letting the public become more familiar with their offerings.
Over time, B&B's from a broader area were added (mainly the downtown, Cheyenne area and Manitou Springs) and, most recently, historic buildings in general, including churches and retail businesses.
According to Sharon Swint, a former OCCHS president who now handles the group's publicity, the decision this year was based in part on an increasing difficulty to find new venues for the tour, “and that affects attendance.”
The society is not abandoning the original concept. Instead, consideration is being given to holding such an event every two or three years. That strategy is working well for the Estemeer tours in Palmer Lake and the Marigreen Pines up Ute Pass, Swint explained.
Earlier this year, the OCCHS transformed the 17-year-old Cemetery Crawl fundraiser with costumed characters into the “Haunted Histories.”
The new offering was similar, by featuring people reenacting Westside figures buried in Fairview. But the new event was held at night, with candles at the gravestones while the actors portrayed the characters as ghosts while still imparting historical knowledge.
According to OCCHS board members, “Histories” proved popular, with tours almost completely sold out in advance.
World War II program
Coming up at the History Center Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. will be a program timed for Veterans Day, titled “World War II Stories: Pearl Harbor and the Dolittle Raid.”
Presenter has studied the Pacific Theater of World War II as a hobby for more than 30 years, including trips to Asia.
Including video clips, Ken Valles' presentation will discuss how the desperate April 1942 bombing run by American pilots - who had no way to return to base - was in response to the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack Dec. 7, 1941.
Admission is free to OCCHS members, $5 for non-members.
For more information, call 636-1225 or go to occhs.org.
Westside Pioneer article