DID YOU KNOW
Punkin Center, Devils Gulch and other places in Colorado where Halloween sounds at home
Punkin Center, in Lincoln County, was named for its pumpkin-orange-colored general store and gas station.
There are at least five streams named Deadman Creek and at least three places called Deadman Canyon. It may be in some cases that the name referred to a “deadman,” a log that serves as an anchor and was used to raise or lower loaded wagons.
Within the Mummy Range in Rocky Mountain National Park are several features with mysterious names like Stormy Peaks Pass, Lost Lake and Devils Gulch Road. The Mummy Range was named because it was said that the range resembled an Egyptian mummy lying on its back.
And in addition to the nearly 300 ghost towns in the state, there’s a Ghost Lake in Mineral County and a Ghost Mine in Saguache County.
Sources: “1001 Colorado Place Names,” by Maxine Benson; “Colorado Place Names,” by William Bright; U.S. Geological Survey; U.S. Census Bureau; Estes Park On-Line (estes.on-line.com/rmnp/rmnp-trl.html)
REGIONAL NOTES
LAKEWOOD
Petitions suffice for land-swap vote
City Clerk Margy Greer ruled Thursday that there is a sufficient number of valid signatures to require a special election on a land swap.
The election, which will be Jan. 2, was prompted by petitioners who objected to the city’s trading 22 acres of land in Iron Spring Park for 22 acres of undeveloped privately owned land in Rooney Valley.
Six citizens contested the validity of petitions protesting the trade. Greer held a hearing Oct. 19 on their challenges to signatures.
To force the election, 2,687 signatures were needed. Greer determined the petitions have 2,917 valid signatures.
AURORA
Sale features pottery and quilts
The Aurora Potters’ Guild pottery and quilt sale is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Aurora Senior Center, 30 Del Mar Circle.
The sale features pottery created by numerous local potters in the Aurora Potters’ Guild, including vases, bowls, chalices, platters and more. Quilts designed by the Aurora Senior Center Quilters Bee will also be on sale.
For more information, call 303-739-7950.
WELLINGTON
Activities abound at corn maze
The Harvest Farm Corn Maze, 4240 E. Larimer County Road 66 in Wellington, offers no-fright fun this Halloween. It’s open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday; and 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Halloween.
The maze is open on weekends until Nov. 19. Activities include a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, hay rides, barrel train, hay-bale maze, roping steers, fishing pool and food concessions.
For more information, go to harvestfarm.net.
