Though the kids who attend this eastern Colorado school have already kissed their books off for the summer, Denver Newspaper Agency state circulation manager Rick Charbonneau still got a kick out of this warning sign. Where was it taken, and what does it mean? Put it all in a note to coloradosunday@denverpost.com, and include a digital photo of yourself (and tell us where you live). We’ll pick at least one story to share next week. The best wins a $50 gas card.
How’d you know?
Last week: Miner Mike statue, Walsenburg
THE WINNER: Randy Jacobs, Pueblo
The photo is the life-size statue of a coal miner. It is a tribute to the extensive coal-mining heritage of southern Colorado.
Every time I drive by it I am reminded of my grandfather, who spent over 30 years working in the mines. My grandparents came to Walsenburg in 1925 from eastern Kentucky to join thousands of others from Europe and Mexico to labor in the many CF&I coal mines that provided fuel for the steel mill blast furnaces in Pueblo. My grandfather worked in the Alamo mine north of Walsenburg. My mother was born there in 1927.
I wonder what my grandparents would think about Huerfano County today. All that remains of the Alamo coal camp is a huge heap of mine tailings next to the concrete foundations of houses that families were raised in. It is now part of a development of 40-acre ranchettes.
WEATHERED: David Tesitor, Walsenburg
The picture is of a copy of the original statue that over time succumbed to the weather. This version was carved by the prisoners of the Corrections Corp. of America in Walsenburg.
The statue, however, probably was not of a true miner as the full beard shown on the statue was not something coal miners would wear, because the coal dust would settle in the facial hair and cause breathing and hygiene problems.
The picture I included was taken in front of our other miner statue, that of “Mr. Miner,” a bronze that was dedicated to the miners of the county on May 21. This one is in front of the mining museum, located in the county’s old jailhouse, which was built in 1896.
FROM THE ARTIST’S MOUTH: Bob Winters, Walsenburg
I am the artist who handcarved Miner Mike back in the summer of 2000, from a 4-foot by 10-foot “log” brought into the Huerfano County Correctional Center by the state of Colorado. It took about 200 hours to complete. You will notice on the bottom of the lunch bucket my name, J. Robert Winters, Aug. 2000 and a scripture reference, Exodus 31: 3-6, which is an artist’s prayer. The statue was donated by HCCC to the city of Walsenburg to replace an old, decayed statue.
OLD & NEW: Margie Simansky Jordan, Erie
Your miner is carved of wood, with a clear finish. It was originally larger, but was getting in bad shape. (The new statue) has a pick in his hand and a new miner’s bucket, also. I lived in Walsenburg about 63 years ago when my father worked in the coal mines there.
