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Fort Lyon



Posted to the Las Animas e-mail list on May 10, 2002

To any of our list who have ever lived at Ft. Lyon, this is a picture that will stir all sorts of memories. It takes me back 47 years easily. Sad to think that something so important to us is now beyond visitation.
To those of you who are familiar with Ft. Lyon, but have never lived there, it was a very magic place to be a little kid. Despite living among all the mentally ill veterans there, I never felt safer anywhere in my life. The picture was gleaned from a Colorado Department of Corrections photograph on their website. It was sent to me by my brother Dennis.

Steve Finney (68)


Stephen,
You are so correct. Looks to me like the building where we used to watch free movies three nights a week. One of the many special treats for those that lived on post.The old canteen used to be on the right side of the steps, down a flight of stairs and past an old post office.

I also agree with you that it was a very safe place to grow up. Even with the patients. As a paper boy, 8 years old to 14 years old, I used to go on some of the wards by myself and never had a bit of trouble. As you can tell I still have some very fond, vivid memories of the old fort.

Stuart L. Jantzen "58"

I worked at Fort Lyon till last of May of 2001 and this pic is of the front of building 5 ...lobby..and outpatience. The post office and theatre was in building 3.

Mike Dean (68)


Officer's Row (Font Row) Fort Lyon
To caption the above photo, the Hickeys lived in the near house in the 1950s, followed by the Finneys in the late 50s to 1964.
The Hohmans lived on the opposite side, followed by the Irish family in the early 60s.

Jim Finney
Thank you Jim!

Fort Lyon Laundry, 1930

Picture taken same time as other, 1930, Emma Maude Bray is on the far left side. Any help with other names would be so great.
Mrs. Walt (Pam)

Fort Lyon Laundry, 1930

Here are the names of all the people in the picture.
Left to right-Mrs. Galloway, Maude Bray, Alma Duffy, Mrs. lodge, Alice Vernon, Lena Boyd, Alice Beard, Mrs. Cornish, Alice Carraway, Martha rogers, Mrs Brughe, Fred Sarton, Robert McLean, Lillie Wilson Standrdge, Mr. Kendell.
If we have names wrong please correct them and contact me.

Mrs. Walt (Pam)
Thank you Pam!

A group of Lady's from Fort Lyon who are giving a baby shower for Emma Maude Bray's son Burl, 1931.
Mrs. Walt (Pam)

Again - Thank you Pam!

Memorial Day - 1935 Vernie Bray far left

Memorial Day - 1935 Vernie Bray far left

This one is such a cute picture, I wasn't sure where to put it. I have also included some of the comments on the list about it. If anyone has any more information, please contact me.


"I am working on pictures and thought you all might enjoy seeing this. We think this is Mrs. Millers class at the Fort Lyon School in the building that was used for many things. Lets see how many people we know. The circled ones are the Brays, Betty, Marvin, David.
Pam Baublits Bray"

"Pam (or anyone else who might know),
Where was the Fort Lyon school ?
Russ Hohman '61"

"Pam, Thank you -- If I am looking at the picture correctly it is just north of where the first row of houses are today. If so that is the area that was used for gardens or if slightly further north in the alfalfa field between there and "lovers lane.
Russ Hohman '61 "

"Russ, it is the area used for the victory gardens during the war and later.
Per Margo Bray Goff, Walts sister.
Pam"

"Russ, At the left corner of map when you are driving south on gate rd, it is the large building north of the first row of houses. In the picture it is very clear. The first building in the left corner. LOL
Pam"




For those of you with fond Fort Lyon memories, this may brighten your day. A lady who is the Colonel in charge of the new VA nursing home in Pueblo ask me to evaluate a piano that she had had brought up from Fort Lyon. She said her staff had given her a bad time about having this piano shipped to Pueblo, that it was a piece of junk and not worth the $1000 it cost to have a professional piano mover hired to do the job. When I walked into the lobby of the VA nursing home, the first thing I saw was a very large, very beautiful grand piano.

As I lifted the lid, the name "Steinway and Sons" hit me in the face. I found the serial number (10674) and inquired from Steinway as to the manufacture date on the instrument. I also noted that the piano only had 85 keys instead of the usual 88 for a modern piano.

The answer I got back was that this was an 8 foot, 7 octave Cherrywood grand piano manufactured in 1865. It was sold to someone in New England and was again sold at auction in New York City in 1903. How it got to Fort Lyon we don't know but it is mechanically in great shape. The finish on the lid had been damaged by someone placing a flower pot or something wet on it but the sides and keys look good as though someone had replaced them recently. Was it worth moving? This piano would apprase for about $25,000 as is and probably $40,000 if professionally restored. I will be playing it in concert for the open house on May 30 and I can hardly wait as it sounds absolutely great.

Bob Flinn

The piano was in the chapel at Ft. Lyon at least as long ago as 1952 - 1953. Some of my high school friends (Frank Keller and his brother, JoAllen, Sharon Stewart, myself and some others I forget,) used to go down and sing in the church services once a month and that piano was there at that time. I have a picture of it if anyone is interested.

Bob FLinn

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