Johnstown
A town of about 2,500 residents, Johnstown quietly sits a few miles east of I-25
in the middle of rich farmland, the area's primary source of income. Although the
town has not changed much during its 96 years, a recent wave of building is
beginning to alter the residential face of Johnstown.
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''History Alive'' at the The Johnstown Cemetery
Tuesday, August 16th, 2005
Meet at the cemetery at 6:30 PM.
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Historical Society hosts 'Tombstone Tour'
This is an event people will be dying to go to!
The Johnstown Historical Society will host its next in a series of "History Alive"
programs at a locale perfectly suited to the Halloween season - The Johnstown
Cemetery.
Don Sloan, whose family's land the cemetery sits on, will present his family
history. Marti Gray will discuss her husband Bill Gray's great-grandfather, James
Gray, who is believed to be the first man buried in the cemetery (1901) and
other members of the family. Also on hand will be Bill Gray's 91-year-old father,
Jim, who will provide his recollections.
Randy Adkisson will give a presentation on the Adkisson Family history. Nearly
two dozen family members are buried in the cemetery. June Grelle of the
Historical Society will tell the story of identical twin infants that were buried in an
unmarked grave, and whose resting place has since been covered by the
pavement road leading into the cemetery.
Matt Lubich, editor of The Johnstown Breeze, will discuss the Schenk Family -- a
father, mother and their four children -- who were found murdered in their home
south of Milliken days before Christmas in 1919; who lie beneath a common
headstone. A "deaf-mute", Alex Miller, who farmed with the family, was convicted
of the killings and spent the rest of his life in prison, but some say he was
innocent.
The cemetery started as the Elwell Cemetery, and according to Grelle, fell into
disrepair before being taken over by the town of Johnstown in 1957.
"Historically, cemeteries provide a wealth of information," she said.
Not to mention a unique way to spend a Tuesday evening.
For more information about this and other Historical Society events, call June
Grelle at 970-587-2620.
jmgrelle@earthlink.net
www.johnstownbreeze.com
Johnstown Historical Society
701 Charlotte St.
Johnstown, Colorado 80534
970-587-0278
johnstownhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com
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