“About Town” by LaVern Johnson, 9/16/13

“ABOUT TOWN” 9/16/13

Hi all, Compliments to the Lyons Recorder for finding a place (Bob Gilson’s brother in Longmont) to produce the Lyons Recorder. We need a paper to read after we get our wits back in order, and as a way to preserve this history, which we will remember as “The Worst Flood Ever!”

They say in 1894, when the town was then only 14 years old, and was being built on the south side of the river; there was a big flood that took most of the homes built there at that time. The people talk about them being swarmed with rats! We will let you know about more floods a time goes by; 1949, 1969, 1975, and 1983. Yes, we at the foot of two canyons that have had a lot of floods, but nothing to this extent that we know of!

What a trying time! Luckily I got back from the Hix ‘n Chix square dance Wednesday night at 10:30 p.m. Son, Jerry, was stopped at Rocky Flats on Hwy 93, due to the flooding in Boulder, for an hour, and had to go down Hwy 6, I-25, and home. Within 15 minutes, Hwy 66 was closed. People on the south side of town were being evacuated to the Community Church and the Lyons Elementary Gym. That is where my son, saw Gerald Boland, former Lyons Coach and teacher at 3 a.m. God willing he is safe and sound, but we are worried!

We wondered what happened to … (and she lists numerous people and businesses, and the parks, and what happened to them, as far as she knows) …

“Lyons was doing so great! Money for the highway, sales tax up, most of the buildings full, and plans for a new library. Woe is me, we were too much on “Easy Street” I guess! …It has to be a terrible terrible situation for all citizens to be “kicked” out of town, and it is! I am at my son Ron’s in Niwot…

(She goes on to give info on where to pick up your mail, the town hall and staff whereabouts, FEMA, LCF gearing up to take donations, LEAF helping with resources, the Chamber is posting resources, …)

“Good Luck all you hearty Lyons Residents! We will now always be fearful when it rains but we hope most will rebuild and still live in our community. We hate to lose you, our friends, co-horts and family.”

NOTE: See this newspaper article enlarged and on display in the Lyons Redstone Museum. The photographs are a bit more viewable in that format. There is also a scanned copy in their “newspaper archives.”