All Local, All The Time

New lecture series begins from Niwot Historical Society

Railroads are like the veins going to and from the heart of the country. In years past, they were numerous, a near constant; today, they almost seem like something from the past. Similarly, as there are increasingly more talks about sustainable energy, conversations about the use of coal seem to be on the decline.

Local historian Larry Dorsey is coming to Niwot’s Left Hand Grange on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the rich history of the area, especially as it relates to coal mining and railroads. His upcoming lecture, entitled “Black Diamonds on Silver Rails,” is part of the fall Now and Then series hosted by the Niwot Historical Society. Formerly a history teacher in Boulder Valley schools and a longtime Boulder County resident, Dorsey has become involved in a number of organizations, many with historical interests. Currently, he is the Chair of the Superior Historical Commission and a trustee of the Colorado Railroad Museum.

“I talk about the history of coal mining in Boulder County…and the connections to other industries,” Dorsey said.

He explained that while Niwot has a history mostly focusing on agriculture, Colorado as a whole, and Boulder County specifically, “has a very rich coal mining history.”

He noted that although there may be as many as 15–20 trains going to Denver each day, only one regularly travels through Niwot. He will explore why so many long trains in Colorado pull only coal cars.

This is the latest in Dorsey’s lectures–he’s previously been asked by the NHistS to give talks on other railroad-related topics. His interest in railroads grew largely after retirement, when he had more time to work with the people from the Railroad Museum.

“I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with others,” he said “My hope is to fill in the blanks for people who have lived here a long time and (offer) foundations for people who are newcomers.”

The event information can be found online at the Historical Society’s webpage: https://www.niwothistoricalsociety.org/. Admission is $5 but free to Niwot Historical Society members.

“Niwot’s pretty fortunate, they've got a good, strong historical society and they have these wonderful connections to the past,” said Dorsey. “Hopefully [attendees] will come away understanding what people went through in previous generations.”

 

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