The Colors of Christmas, 1800s

The colors green and red have centuries of myths and traditions. Before the Christian Era, Pagans worshiped trees, particularly evergreen trees, that did not shed their leaves. They cut some down to take inside during winter. Outside, they used trees for bonfires to celebrate the winter solstice by bringing light to the darkest days ofContinue reading "The Colors of Christmas, 1800s"

Stagecoaches in the 1800s

Stagecoaches were a popular form of transportation until networks of railroads slowly replaced them. They appeared in America as early as the mid-1700s when they were little more than a wagon with a simple covering to keep passengers and goods out of the weather. The ride, frequently over narrow, rocky trails, was bone-jarring. They wereContinue reading "Stagecoaches in the 1800s"

HENRY DOHERTY AND DENVER’S EARLY UTILITY

In researching and writing about Denver Gas and Electric Company many years ago, I developed a lifelong fascination with entrepreneurs and inventors. The first was Henry Latham Doherty, one of Colorado’s influential leaders and shapers of Denver’s early gas and electric industry. Brash, bold, and innovative—the quintessential entrepreneur—came to Denver in 1900 to organize theContinue reading "HENRY DOHERTY AND DENVER’S EARLY UTILITY"