Pages of the Past: Taking command of ‘Fort Carbondale’

Sept. 1, 1977

Frank Dasovich, owner of the Mt. Sopris Body and Radiator Shop, was contemplating surrounding the lot with an eight foot tall wall of junked cars (spiked on the end with broken Pepsi bottles) to protest the town’s trash ordinance. “Even though it’s right in the heart of town, this is still my land and this is how I make my living,” said Dasovich, who was featured on the Journal’s cover with a gun in one hand, a cigarette in the other and a maniacal look on his face. It was unclear whether “Fort Carbondale” would include his other business next door, Chicago Frank’s hot dog and burger bar (now Peppino’s Pizza).

In other news… Pitkin County’s home rule charter was headed to a vote, with proposed changes including more commissioners, a districted P&Z commission and easier recall and referendum rules.

Sept. 3, 1987

Heritage Park Care Center was slated to open in October with 60 beds. Director Nancy Shea, a former psychologist and veteran nursing home administrator, was hard at work putting a staff together and potential residents were calling every day. “I have a lot of empathy for the elderly and I’m excited about the Carbondale opportunity,” Shea said. “As a small facility, I believe we can stay away from that institutional feeling and be able to be more homey, more personal.”

In other news… Tickets were on sale for John Denver’s only concert of the season, a benefit for the Windstar Foundation and Aspen Country Day School.

Sept. 4, 1997

The former Mid-Continent Resources coal load-out site on Catherine Store Road was formally zoned light industrial instead of agricultural

/residential. Neighbors expressed some concern that the new zoning might allow for a high impact use on the 68-acre site without a public review. Property owner Dale Eubank and MidContinent executive Bob Delaney said they didn’t have any specific uses in mind at the time.

In other news… The town put out a call for ideas on what to place in a time capsule at the new town hall building, with everything from a Jerry Garcia Beanie Baby to a photo of town from Red Hill considered.

Sept. 6, 2007

Rozy Horvath shared memories of fleeing Hungary in the aftermath of World War II, arriving in Denver with next to no knowledge of English and settling in Carbondale thanks to a newspaper ad for work in a coal mine. After renting a house from Gus Darien for several years, the family moved into a four-bedroom brick Victorian on Eighth Street, where Rozy was still living and gardening at the time of the story. “When I’m happy, everything’s happy,” she said. “And I make myself happy.”

In other news… Bonnie Fischer — even then one of Crystal River Elementary School’s longest serving teachers — was featured on the cover welcoming students back to school.