James Neton

Feb 15, 2024 | craigdailypress.com | James Neton

Harnessed to our frail bodies, we humans are driven to find ways to live better and longer. At the turn of the 20th century in Northwest Colorado, this search took the form of an array of direct, blush-inducing and somewhat hilarious newspaper advertisements extolling dubious products that promised to remedy wide-ranging and extremely sensitive health problems. Manly-man strength and virility, or the lack thereof, was the target of an ad featuring Dr. Sanden’s Electric Belt and Suspensory.

Jan 25, 2024 | craigdailypress.com | James Neton

As homesteaders and ranchers arrived in the area in the late 19th and early 20th century, they quickly eyeballed the accessible and rich veins of coal as an opportunity for hard cash. Small independently owned “wagon mines” soon emerged. In exchange for this wealth, miners offered up their strength and willpower in a stubborn and reluctant struggle.  This labor toughened the muscles and minds of the miners.

Dec 7, 2023 | craigdailypress.com | James Neton

On a dark Thursday night in September 1924, a fleet of trucks loaded with oil drilling equipment and men from the Midwest Oil Company rolled up to the gate of a ranch roughly 2.5 miles southeast of Isles Grove, which is just south of Hamilton on Colorado Highway 13. As the men paused to open the gate and roll forward to the drill site, they were confronted by a stout and angry woman in her mid 40s pointing a revolver at the lead truck. “Stop!” she ordered.

Oct 12, 2023 | craigdailypress.com | James Neton

The history of Northwest Colorado spotlights more than its fair share of flashy, dangerous, shady and outlandish characters. However, the overall collective identity of our community was forged by the many lesser known individuals who quietly worked, survived, overcame and lived life to the fullest. Mary Wiley Humphrey is just one individual who did her share of the heavy work of molding the character of Craig in its early years.

Sep 14, 2023 | craigdailypress.com | James Neton

The bright lights of the big top circus tent were home to Lucia Zora, one of America’s premiere celebrity circus performers of the early 20th century. Her dangerous acts with lions, tigers and elephants catapulted her to fame.