Welcoming change

Issue No. 167 — Scandinavian grocer holds Georgetown memories ☼ The power of Indigenous art ☼ “Dying to Ride” horses

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Dec 22, 2024 - 10:00
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Welcoming change
Colorado Sunday issue no. 167: "Welcoming change"

Good morning, Colorado Sunday friends.

The holidays have arrived in what feels like such a rush that I’ve barely had time to think about the lovely Christmas traditions that my mom and grandparents always made sure we observed as kids. One that likely will stick with me forever is our visits to the Christmas Market in Georgetown. It was always cold. There were always a bewildering number of things to look at, outdoor shop stalls, maybe cocoa, definitely caroling and always a spectacular St. Nicholas. I get the feels just thinking about it.

After reading Jason Blevins’ cover story about the Kneisel & Anderson store, started long ago by a German baker, I can imagine that many people in Georgetown are experiencing a similar surge of emotions wondering if this nostalgic anchor in their town might soon be lost.

A Computing Scale and other relics of the past are stored in the hardware shop at Kneisel & Anderson Store in Georgetown. (Tri Duong, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Smoky Anderson remembers hauling coal up from the basement to the pot-bellied stove in the back of his folks’ downtown Georgetown grocery. His sister Wendy recalls long days sweeping and stocking shelves. Their oldest sister, Coralue, spent nearly three decades working at the store, after working as a teacher for more than 20 years in the mountain town.

Their dad ran the store before them. Their grandfather and great-grandfather built the place, designing bins and shelves just so for the Kneisel & Anderson grocery store they opened in 1883. An Anderson has always been behind the marble counters at the grocery that has evolved into a must-stop for anyone needing hard-to-find Scandinavian cheeses, pickled fish and hard breads.

But with the recent death of Coralue last month, on her 87th birthday, Smoky and Wendy are planning a change. They are looking for a history-appreciating buyer to take over the store and building.

The brother and sister get quiet as the words of change drift through the store that has anchored not just generations of Andersons for more than 140 years, but the historical integrity of Georgetown.

“We have tried to maintain the store as long as we could,” Wendy says.

READ THIS WEEK’S COLORADO SUNDAY FEATURE

People make the place in Colorado. Here are a few of our favorite recent images of people at work and play.

Todd Inglee, brand commissioner for Colorado’s Board of Stock Inspection stands for a picture inside cattle pens located on the Montrose County Fairgrounds on Wednesday. (William Woody, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Eddie Pendleton, left, Barbara Lawrence and Jill Whitney, right, are part of a growing group of residents and community members concerned about the El Rancho redevelopment. They gathered Tuesday in Evergreen. (Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun)
A tattoo on the forearm of Sage Yazzie pays respect to his Diné clan Tuesday in Gunnison. Yazzie, a recent graduate of Western Colorado University, is the founder of Native Nature LLC, specializing in marketing of outdoor products, mainly fly fishing gear, and outdoor storytelling through video and still photography. (Dean Krakel, Special to The Colorado Sun)
The Grinch was in the stands at Mile High during the Denver Broncos’ win against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 15. But his kind of mischief was more evident Thursday night, when the Broncos collapsed in a 34-27 loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles. (Bart Young, The Associated Press)
State Rep. Tammy Story examines low plant life poking through the mulched remains of fire mitigation work at Flying J Ranch Park in Jefferson County on Dec. 4 near Conifer. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Colorado Sun)
“Bela Falcon,” a 2023 digital Iinkjet photograph with glass beads, shell beads and rhinestones, by Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk (Winnebago)). (Denver Art Museum)

A new exhibition opening today celebrates 100 years of collecting Native American art and artifacts by the Denver Art Museum.

“SUSTAINED! The Persistent Genius of Indigenous Art,” curated from the museum’s permanent collection of around 18,000 works by Native artists, presents historic and contemporary items the museum says are intended “to show the resilience, diversity and creativity of Native people throughout time, reinforcing their continued relevance and innovation.”

Open through 2025, development of “SUSTAINED!” was aided by seven Indigenous community members who helped curators create an exhibition intended to be meaningful to themselves and their communities. This process included reviewing works selected for potential display under a new set of federal rules around the possession and display of sacred and funerary objects requiring the consent of the items’ original community. Not all of them made it into the galleries.

But the resulting selections represent a wide variety of Native communities, time periods and materials. If you visit, expect to see works from across North America, including contemporary fashion and craft, photography and a new large, beaded work (6 feet by 8 feet) by Kiowa artist Teri Greeves commissioned by the museum.

SUSTAINED! Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave., Denver, through 2025

EXCERPT: The death of a beloved mentor stuns protagonist Margo Richards in author Lenore Mitchell’s equine-centric mystery “Dying to Ride,” but the circumstances of her demise — a suspicious fall from a cliff —raise questions. This Colorado Authors League award finalist reflects the author’s lifelong love affair with horses. In fact, “every character in the story loves horses in some way,” she says.

READ THE SUNLIT EXCERPT

THE SUNLIT INTERVIEW: Although Mitchell has never claimed more than “basic” riding skills, she learned a lot about herself and her horses through competitive trail rides covering nearly 2,000 miles. She felt a particular kinship to a horse named Babe, and a great affinity for virtually all horses. Here’s a portion of her Q&A:

SunLit: What is it about horses? Why do some feel drawn to them?

Mitchell: Some reasons many of us love them include their power, their grace, the way they allow us to ride them! Horses are herd animals and also prey animals. We puny humans are predators. It’s just plain weird that horses let us get on their backs. Having contributed immeasurably to early human mobility, horses now serve as everything from pasture ornaments to the muscular portion of competitive duos.

Fortunately, the horrid term “breaking” a horse has mostly given way to gentler techniques, although even highly valued equines might be subjected to abuse with whips and spurs. I include equines in my stories because these majestic animals are good to be around and relaxing to read about.

READ THE INTERVIEW WITH LENORE MITCHELL

A curated list of what you may have missed from The Colorado Sun this week.

Santa considers Xcel Energy’s wish list. (Jim Morrissey, Special to The Colorado Sun)

???? After so many years of trying, it looks like the Cuchara ski area might be back on stable footing. Jason Blevins reports on how a big state economic development grant is getting the volunteer-led effort to create a year-round recreation area going again.

???? Should the historic El Rancho restaurant, with its cheery giant neon sign, be sacrificed to create a giant new gas station at the entrance to Evergreen? As Michael Booth reports, it depends on who you’re talking to.

???? The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless last night read the names all 294 unhoused people who died in the seven county Denver metro region this year. Jennifer Brown reports that is fewer than died last year. Cause of death was determined for 216 people who died in Denver and drug overdose killed 153 of them, 115 of which were attributed to fentanyl.

???? With the news of a $1 billion state budget shortfall ringing in their ears, Colorado school districts are worried — really worried — about how deeply they’ll have to cut their own spending, Erica Breunlin reports.

???? But maybe the budget shortfall isn’t going to be as bad originally projected. Jesse Paul has the details on new forecasts from the governor’s office and the nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff that suggest the shortage is more like $750 million or perhaps less.

???? Here’s a quick one from Kevin Simpson: Three Colorado Sun entries to the Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America 6-word Mystery Contest were finalists this year. You can read them all in less than a minute.

???? Speaking of holiday traditions, the in-store factory was working overtime when Nancy Lofholm visited the Enstrom Candies “mothership” in Grand Junction, where the elevation-informed recipe for chocolate-enrobed toffee hasn’t changed in almost 100 years.

Thanks for checking in this morning, fam. We hope the holidays ahead are filled with warmth and happiness for every one of you. And if you’re on a last-minute hunt for a meaningful present for someone in your circle, may we suggest a gift of The Colorado Sun? Here are the options: store.coloradosun.com.

— Dana & the whole staff of The Sun

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