Current Issue July 2001

Hats off to Blanding native, Mable June Palmer, for filling our need for a local scholar/historian to edit the July 2001 of Blue Mountain Shadows. The dream of creating a walking tour of historic homes/businesses of Blanding originated with past Chamber of Commerce President, Harold Lyman, and the historical collection began over five years ago. Numerous San Juan High Students along with Autumn Mellor and Margie Lyman helped to track down the facts about these homes. However, it took someone with Mable June's insight to tie it all together, as well as remedy errors, and provide interesting historical tidbits about the "good old days of Blanding." Thanks to all who helped on this project. We hope our readers enjoy it, and buy lots for their family!

PDF downloads are available for some of the articles in this issue.

Future Issues

Winter 2001 and Summer 2002

Because we have collected so much information related to the Cottonwood and the mining operations there, it is likely we will be publishing two issue. Anyone who would like to contribute an article, photos, or poetry is invited to contact Janet Wilcox immediately.

Winter 2002--Settling the West

Ranching, farming, trading posts, businesses, etc. will be the focus area of next summer's issue. Editor will be Bob McPherson. Articles, poetry, photographs, and family profiles are welcome. Submissions are due January 15, 2002.

Summer 2003
Natural History of San Juan

Articles related to geology, animal and plant life, and natural history of San Juan County are requested. Deadline is July 15, 2002

Web site uploaded July 24, 2001

Work on the Blue Mountain Shadows web site is progressing well, with the initial section of the site uploaded on Pioneer Day 2001. The initial phase will have excerpts from each article in the first four issues of BMS, which are now out of print. Each article will also have PDF files which contain the full text and photographs, and can either be printed or downloaded. Funding for the project came from the Utah Humanities Council and Internet Computer Services, Inc.-Hubwest, a Blanding-based business, which is the local sponsor.

Inventory Overload

Our on-going dilemma continues to be: How can we better distribute Blue Mountain Shadows with the limited manpower we have? Our primary outlets are subscriptions, local businesses, museums, and libraries.

The untapped distributor, however, is you our readers. We need your support in sharing, what we feel would be a valuable magazine, to others interested in San Juan County. We have nearly $15,000 in inventory which we need to move. Bulk orders of 10 or more copies of past issues can be purchased for $6 each. A set of #5-24 can be purchased for $115 or $125 via mail. Consider using BMS for wedding gifts, birthdays, awards, and other gift giving occasions. We would appreciate your support. E-mail orders

Winter 2001 Issue –
Cottonwood Revisited

We are nearly completed with a major oral history collection project of the history of the lower and upper Cottonwood Mining District. The results of this collection will be the basis of the next issue – maybe even two issues! Editor will be Gary Shumway. Working under a grant from the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, and the State of Utah UDOGM, Blue Mountain Shadows has transcribed nearly 50 oral interviews of miners who worked in the Cottonwood area. Those working on the project include: Shurrell Meyer, Joanna Bethea, Kim Hiatt, Jennifer Nielson, Debbie Christiansen, Nancy Bradford, Kenny Shumway, Corinne Roring, Kay Shumway, Helen Shumway, Toni Lacy, Erva Eaton, Kathy Huppe, Lee Bennett, Janet Wilcox and LaVerne Tate. The results of this information, along with other studies will be the basis of this issue. Anyone who has not been interviewed who would like to be, please contact us at 678-2851. We also are anxious to copy any photographs taken at Cottonwood during the mining era. Please call LaVerne at 678-2325. Articles are due July 15, 2001.

Oral History Indexing Project

Through a grant from the State Office of History, Blue Mountain Shadows was awarded a grant to do indexing of their photograph and oral history collection. Maurine Black has been working on this project and has about 1/2 of the 600 plus taped interviews indexed.

We are saddened to lose Darroll Young this year, as he contributed much to our county and to Blue Mountain Shadows. He writes of his experience pulling Zane Grey out of the ditch, See issue 24