Technically speaking, I am not a resident of Nederland, nor have I ever been. But in many ways, Nederland is my second home.
I’ve lived in Coal Creek with my parents for my entire life. Initially, my parents sent me to Coal Creek Elementary for my schooling. After a couple of days, they felt the school was not the right fit for me and decided to take me to Nederland Elementary instead.
I can only imagine how nervous my parents must have been for my first day of preschool. As my mom recalls, I was absolutely distraught as I watched her walk away. Primary teacher Irene Pritsak picked me up and held me, and I settled right down. It was then that my mom knew I would be in safe hands at that school.
I spent the rest of my schooling at Nederland, staying at the elementary school until fifth grade and transitioning into the middle-senior high school from sixth grade all the way through graduation. It’s where I discovered a love for acting and met my wonderful theater teacher Liz Evans, who has enjoyed a 40-year career in town.
I still have a job in the community, having worked for The Mountain-Ear since the end of April 2019, and I love feeling like I still contribute to the community that raised me.
Since I started working for the paper, I’ve learned more about how the town has developed. I’ve become fascinated by digging into various aspects of the town’s history, particularly certain figures that have influenced the town. Learning about the people behind the paper I work for, including the first editor Kay Turnbaugh, has been immensely gratifying. I want to be able to pay tribute to the people who have ultimately contributed to how I got here in the first place, including people who have unfortunately passed on.
This includes my first bus driver Ralph “Skip” Greene, who deeply cared about the passengers he took to school every day. It includes Sharon Ferguson, who I was fortunate enough to interview for the paper’s companion podcast months before she passed away, and who made plenty of contributions to the town far before she started working at the visitors center. It includes Barbara Lawlor, who dedicated an enormous amount of time to covering as many events in the town as she possibly could for the paper, even as her health was deteriorating. It even includes prominent columnist Liz Caile, who I never had the opportunity to know but who I am still personally connected to because of her partnership with Ralph.
With the celebration of Nederland’s 150th anniversary — the town is two years older than Colorado’s statehood — I find myself drawn even more to its legacy. I hope to uncover more stories from the various musicians who recorded at the legendary Caribou Ranch, the history of which expands far beyond the radius of this small town and into the cultural history of the United States as a country. There are many ways that the reach of Nederland has expanded beyond its border: the celebration of Frozen Dead Guy Days, the Carousel of Happiness and the settling of a steam shovel used in the creation of the Panama Canal.
For now, I’ll put my efforts into exploring the town’s history for Mountain-Ear readers. That’s how I’ll celebrate this anniversary: by preserving the memories I can. — Jamie Lammers
____________________________________________
A Poetic Ode to Ned
In Nederland, where mountains rise,
And snowflakes dance from winter skies,
A town that’s perched on rocky crest,
A hidden gem, a place of rest.
The pine trees whisper ancient tales,
Of miners’ dreams and rugged trails,
Where creeks run clear and wildlife roams,
This mountain town, our cherished home.
In summer’s bloom, the wildflowers blaze,
A tapestry of vibrant praise,
Hiking paths through forest green,
Where nature’s touch is always seen.
Come winter’s breath, the world turns white,
With frosted peaks in morning light,
The skiers glide on powdery slopes,
Embracing cold with hearts of hope.
The town’s alive with music’s sound,
In every bar, in every round,
From folk to rock, the rhythms blend,
In Nederland, where voices mend.
Community, a woven thread,
In every heart, in words unsaid,
We stand as one through thick and thin,
In mountains’ arms, we always win.
Sustainability’s our creed,
In simple ways, we plant the seed,
Of living lightly, honoring land,
Together here, we make our stand.
Though life up here can test the soul,
With heavy snows and winds that roll,
The beauty of each day’s anew,
In Nederland, where skies are blue.
So let the seasons come and go,
With sunlit days and moonlit glow,
For in this town, our spirits soar,
In Nederland, forevermore.
— Joshua Davis