Roamin' the Range, Summer 2013

Hooray for summer. There’s so much to enjoy along the Front Range during these warm sunny months.

Parades!
Both Wellington and Fort Collins are planning parades, fireworks and an array of family activities on the Fourth of July. Watch for details in our July issue and also in the calendar of events.

Wellington in the Summer
Shop for all kinds of goodies and trade in a few of your own at Wellington’s town-wide annual garage sale scheduled for 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8. To join in and have your home placed on the map apply by May 31. Cost: $5. Booths at Leeper Center and sale items all around town. In the evening of June 8 bring along some lawn chairs and enjoy a free movie in Centennial Park downtown. Cartoons at 8 p.m., followed byHere Comes the Boom at 8:30 p.m. Popcorn and drinks provided.
Don’t miss Wellington’s Fourth of July parade, “America: Yesterday, Today and Forever,” that lines up at Wellington Boulevard and Cleveland Avenue between 7 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Judging of three categories: floats, autos (motorized) and walking, begins at 8:30 a.m. First, second and third trophies based on originality, creativity, workmanship and overall appearance.
Other family fun festivities include a pancake breakfast, craft fair, car show, drag races, and for a finale, fireworks.

Virginia Dale Celebration
A gala two-day celebration to honor the historical significance of the Virginia Dale Stage Station, the only remaining overland stage station still standing in its original location, is scheduled for June 7 and 8. To commemorate the station’s 151st birthday, an “Abe Lincoln and the Civil War” theme will be observed.
Festivities kick off with a western dance featuring the popular local band, “Barely Getting By” from 7-11 p.m. on Friday night, June 7 at the stage station. An old-fashioned pie auction will be held at intermission.
This year’s celebration takes on added significance as restoration on the building began April 1, 2013 under the direction of restoration expert Bill Bailey of Historical Associates, Inc. and Paul Matosky, field engineer. Volunteer labor, in-kind and monetary donations, plus the generosity of the American Society of Engineers who chose the stage station as its community service project for 2012, reduced the estimated cost for the work from $326,000 to $135,000.
Built in 1862 by the notorious Jack Slade as an overnight station on the Overland Trail, the building is located four miles south of the Wyoming border on U.S. Hwy. 287. It has been in use by Virginia Dale ranching families and friends as a community center ever since and has been designated a national historical site.
Today, along with the adjoining Hurzeler house, built in 1909, the station is owned by the Virginia Dale Community Club. This group is spearheading repairs and restoration so that generations to come will be able to enjoy its unique heritage.
Members of the community club have planned the open house and celebration to include a quilt raffle, craft show, and bake sale which will be attended by Honest Abe himself, played by Bruce Spear.
Joan Day will appear as Virginia, Jack Slade’s wife, Eva Sue Littleton will bring Lady Moon to life, and will share the stage with Wayne Sundberg, (Mr. History Fort Collins), Stephen Hyatt, Civil War expert, Susan and Duane Kniebes (Graves of Virginia Dale) and Dick Hart, cowboy poet. Also participating: National Freight Wagon and Stagecoach Association, Oregon California Trails Association, the American Tapestry Acappella Choir, Rocky Mountain High School bivouac re-enactors, and the Model A Ford Club.
In addition to the wares of local artisans, there will be food, games for all ages, animals, spinning demonstrations by Esther Nance-Beck, Kaye Collins and Helen Hart, a silent auction, and a general store. The Virginia Dale Community Club will begin filling a time capsule with memories. In 2012, 500 people attended the celebration.
Admission is free and all proceeds go to toward the restoration and maintenance of the stage station. To reach the station turn onto County Road 43F at the memorial plaque placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The station is one mile down the road.
For more information visit www.virginiadalecommunityclub.org or call Sylvia Garafalo, 970-495-1828 or Marcie Wells, 970-568-7646.

Chapel in the Pines Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration
Fifty years ago a diverse group of Christians from multiple denominations who wanted to share Christian fellowship and worship together while visiting and/or living in the Red Feather Lakes area founded a chapel. At 1 p.m. on July 20 a free barbecue, ice cream social and outdoor live music will celebrate the occasion. Open to the public. Worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. 23947 CR 74E (Red Feather Lakes Road). Info: Jon West 970-566-7206.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
This wonderful new museum offers six week-long summer camps for students. Upper Boxelder Schoolhouse, Science Explorers, CSI: Crime Scene Insects, Space Camp, Archaeology Field Camp, and Architecture Field Camp. Tuition waivers for in-need children. Call education director Treloar Tredennick Bower at 970-416-2705 for information. See session dates, costs, age ranges on the museum’s website, www.fcmod.org.

Fort Collins Museum of Art features Syd Mead retrospective
Syd Mead-Progressions, a remarkble retrospective of 50 years of original artwork by Syd Mead, one of the world’s most sought-after artists for visionary transportation, landscape and film designs is at the Fort Collins Museum of Art through July 21. Mead is best known for his work on films such as Blade Runner, Star Trek:The Motion Picture, Short Circuit, Aliens and soon-to-be-released sci-fi thriller, Elysium. Get in on family free day, June 15, noon-5 p.m. For more information: ftcma.org.