Just who is Timmie Nath-O'Saur?

It’s a great honor to introduce to you Timmie Nath-O’Saur, a youthful member of a very venerable old family, a species long believed extinct, perhaps even mythical (that means imaginary). However, Timmie is alive and well, and living in Timnath. But where, exactly?

Some locals claim to have observed Timmie splashing around in Timnath Reservoir, kinda like Nessie in Loch Ness, Scotland’s famous monsterized lake. Unlike Nessie, Timmie observes the rules of the water and always dons a personal flotation device before jumping in.

Old Town Timnath residents rejoice to see their pre-historic fellow, especially when he’s protecting youngsters making their way to Timnath Elementary School on Main Street.

Those with a keen eye presume Timmie’s ancient ancestors are the inspiration for Bill Swets’ iron creatures at Swetsville Zoo on East Harmony Road. If so, did artist Swets actually meet them? After all, he’s lived and worked in the Timnath area a long time, arriving there at age 10 months in 1942. Is it true that he rode one of Timmie’s many-greats-ago grandparents to school? (Probably just rumors.)

Timnath newcomers, embracing growth, might recognize young Nath-O’Saur playing around earth-moving equipment in flourishing neighborhoods like Timnath Ranch. “Go, Timmie, go!” they cheer him on. (He just thinks big-jawed excavators are fun-loving, distant cousins!)

What does Timmie look like? Well, since no one has proof one way or the other, he’s quite the handsome fellow. Rather resembling a wild pony that once freely roamed the west, he sports a spiky mane and long, thick tail. But no hooves on this dynamic boy; instead, large, webbed feet fast enough to keep pace with progress, and for good traction on newly-paved roads. Beneath his stellar exterior, Timmie has a heart big enough to welcome everyone to his town.

But let’s get one thing straight: Timmie Nath-O’Saur is no dusty, dry, dead-bones dinosaur, but rather an animated bundle of energy and ideas vigorously looking forward as well as back, thereby celebrating the best of both worlds.

Looking back, one of Timnath’s earliest recorded human interest stories involved a white fur trapper named Thomas Fitzpatrick and an Arapaho with two names. His Indian name was Warshinun. But, as a small boy, he’d somehow become separated from his tribe. In May 1831, Fitzpatrick found the child, named him for that day, adopted him, and took Friday Fitzpatrick to St. Louis, where the boy received an English education. He eventually returned to his tribe where he assimilated, but was the only Arapahoe of his day who spoke fluent English. Chief Friday and his band avoided hostilities between whites and area tribes as best they could and befriended many settlers. They nevertheless suffered from results of the aggression and sometimes feared retaliation from whites and Indians alike.

In coming months, Timmie will share more interesting bits of Timnath’s rich history, current events and future plans.
•
Have you seen Timmie Nath-O’Saur or have a notion of what Timmie looks like? We’d love to see your version — sorry, limited to kids and young adults up to age 18. We’ll print as many entries we can fit in the August edition of Timnath News. The best submission will receive a $50 gift certificate to Jax Mercantile.

E-mail your drawing of Timmie to [email protected] or mail it to Timnath News, PO Box 424, Timnath, CO 80547. Deadline is July 18.