We Are Pueblo

Once the snow started to melt and we had a couple of those great Pueblo sun-shining-sixty-degree winter days, a buddy of mine, Tim, calls me up and tells me it's time we take our bikes out now that things have "dried out a bit." We take off one afternoon after lunch and head up towards the Pueblo Reservoir on the south side past the entrance to the State Park and marina. We drive until we see the entrance to Peat's Point and the other trails.

There's something about standing in the beating sun in the middle of July at 11am when it's already 85 degrees in a long sleeve, white button up with black dress pants, black shoes, tie, black bistro apron and a black vest that makes you want to...skip this introduction and go right to the next paragraph, huh? Well, as suffocating as this all may sound, it's been my daily routine from the second week of May to the first week of August for the past two summers. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

It's time to pull the traditional green plastic hats out from the attic and gird your stomach for an influx of old world-style dyed beer to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Or, if you would prefer a holiday free from the artificial trappings of modern commercial celebrations, you could take a moment to consider the real history of the Irish in Pueblo.

Mineral Palace was in financial straits as early as 1894, just a few short years following its completion. It was briefly closed. In mid-1894, it was bought by an unnamed individual, represented by the attorney John T. Higgins, at a trustee's sale. Soon thereafter, fueled by the City Beautiful movement, a group of Pueblo women formed the Pueblo Park and Improvement Association with plans to form a city park with Mineral Palace as its showpiece. Pueblo Park District Number One was formed. The voters approved a bond issue granting $35,000 for the purchase of the land and $10,000 for the purchase of the building, and the Mineral Palace Park was born.