- Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Susan Thomas.

And until July, I was the director of the American Music Research Center at the University of Colorado Boulder.

In July, I actually moved to Austin, Texas to take over directing the music school there.

But it's a real pleasure to be with you here today, to see a project that is almost three years in the making come to fruition.

The American Music Research Center has had an ongoing research project here in Pueblo since 2021, an oral history project that aims to capture Pueblo's unique musical history and culture.

We've been grateful to have the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the University of Colorado's offices of Research and Innovation, and Outreach and Engagement.

That grant funding has allowed us to do this research, to make these contacts with the community, and we plan to remain working here in Pueblo through 2025.

The resulting archives of oral histories that that project is producing will be publicly accessible to all of you through the University of Colorado's Digital Library and the CSU Pueblo Libraries.

- The oratorios were something very special because it was taking history, and be able to interpret history emotionally, and trying to tell a story with words, and the genre of music.

And that's what intrigued me about Pueblo, is because it had so much genre in it, and so many years, I mean it's 300-some years, right?

And it was a challenge, and I love challenges.

(dramatic orchestral music) ("Song Of Pueblo") ♪ Sing, we sing ♪ Today we bring ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ In this place ♪ That history shaped ♪ We honor Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ Ode to those ♪ Who came before ♪ From different lands ♪ And distant shores ♪ To live their lives ♪ And planned their dreams ♪ They came to Pueblo ♪ The people's town - The wind remembers the stories of the people of the plains, the Utes, Comanche, Arapahoe, Cheyenne and Apache, all hunted buffalo, all gave thanks to grandfather for the horse.

The son saw Frenchmen come to trade and the Spanish who carried their cross came in search of gold.

Families came to live along the water and the river sings their song, the Song of Pueblo.

♪ Through the years ♪ Of strife and tears ♪ They found a way ♪ To persevere ♪ So sing ♪ Sing ♪ We sing ♪ We sing ♪ Today we bring ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ So let our song ♪ Tell the story of our town ♪ For those who lived ♪ And for those yet born ♪ So sing ♪ Sing ♪ We sing ♪ We sing ♪ Today we bring ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town (audience applauding) Our story begins with the Comanches, warriors on the open plains.

Their chief was a fierce leader who wore a buffalo headdress, and one horn was tinted green.

His name was Cuerno Verde.

Cuerno Verde had no pity for the Spanish because they killed his father.

And for many years, wars and raiding by the Comanches is the scourge of the Spanish settlements, taking goods and horses.

Cuerno Verde exacts his revenge until the Spanish enlists the help of General Juan Bautista de Anza and his army of 600 men.

(drum tapping) ("Ballad Of Cuerno Verde") ♪ This is the story of vengeance and glory ♪ ♪ Two men who were destined to meet ♪ ♪ One Spanish general, de Anza by name ♪ ♪ The other a Comanche chief ♪ Chief Cuerno Verde, a warrior and leader ♪ ♪ Vowed to resist Spanish rule ♪ Pillaged their pueblos, evaded their soldiers ♪ ♪ Making them all look like fools ♪ ♪ Then came Juan Bautista de Anza ♪ ♪ With his army of 600 men ♪ Who vowed to kill Cuerno Verde ♪ ♪ And bring an end to his reign ♪ ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lalai, lalalai-lailailai ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lala ♪ Lai-lalai, lalalai-lailailai (up-tempo orchestral music) ♪ Days turned to weeks as he chased Cuerno Verde ♪ ♪ Relentlessly tracking him down ♪ ♪ Through the Sangre de Cristo mountain range ♪ ♪ Through the ice, the cold, and the snow.

♪ ♪ At last when they passed the place they called Pueblo ♪ ♪ He camped by the river St. Charles ♪ ♪ Where de Anza would meet his nemesis ♪ ♪ And kill him or die, fate would tell ♪ ♪ Then at dawn the battle cry sounded ♪ ♪ Everywhere the warriors ran ♪ Into bushes and gullies and canyons ♪ ♪ Where they'd stop to make their last stand ♪ ♪ Chief Cuerno Verde, warrior and leader ♪ ♪ Died like a warrior that day ♪ At the hands of the man who'd claim revenge ♪ ♪ So history would tell ♪ To this day ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai, lalalai-lailailai ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai ♪ Lai-lalai, lalalai-lailailai (audience cheering) (audience applauding) (gentle instrumental music) - In 1806, Lieutenant Zebulon Pike rode through the shadows of the Mexican mountains and forever changed the West.

El Camino Real and the Santa Fe trail became one and the brothers Bent, Charles, and William, built the biggest and best trading post and it was called Bent's Fort.

In 1842, El Pueblo trading post was built on what was then the US-Mexico border.

Partners in trade and blood, with ties to both countries come to the edge of the Arkansas River to build El Pueblo.

(drum tapping) ("The Old Trading Post") ♪ If you're lookin' for a trade ♪ ♪ There's no place, no better made ♪ ♪ Than El Pueblo, the old trading post ♪ ♪ You can barter robes and belts ♪ ♪ Trade for staples off the shelf ♪ ♪ There's no better place to get the things you want ♪ ♪ A pound of this ♪ And pounds of that ♪ Throw in some blankets ♪ And this hat ♪ I need some beads ♪ Some whiskey too ♪ How much is that ♪ How many plews ♪ If you're lookin' where to trade ♪ ♪ There's no place, no better made ♪ ♪ Than El Pueblo, the old trading post ♪ ♪ You can barter robes and belts ♪ ♪ Trade for staples off the shelf ♪ ♪ There's no better place to get the things you want ♪ (jaunty orchestral music) ♪ I need some knives ♪ Ten Northwest guns ♪ You want how much ♪ I meant cheap ones ♪ A gill or two ♪ Of Turley's best ♪ How about tobacco ♪ For the rest ♪ If you're lookin' where to trade ♪ ♪ There's no place, no better made ♪ ♪ Than El Pueblo, the old trading post ♪ ♪ You can barter robes and belts ♪ ♪ Trade for staples off the shelf ♪ ♪ There's no better place to get the things you want ♪ ♪ A pound of this ♪ And pounds of that ♪ Throw in some blankets ♪ And this hat ♪ I need some beads ♪ Some whiskey too ♪ How much is that ♪ How many plews ♪ If you're lookin' where to trade ♪ ♪ There's no place, no better made ♪ ♪ Than El Pueblo, the old trading post ♪ ♪ You can barter robes and belts ♪ ♪ Trade for staples off the shelf ♪ ♪ There's no better place to get the things you want ♪ (audience applauding) - Indigenous American and Mexican traders came and went from El Pueblo trading post, which was located on the US side of the Arkansas River.

Men from Taos built a trading post out of adobe.

Women came with their partners to El Pueblo and brought comfort and tradition.

There were milk cows, crops were planted and harvested.

Children grew and learned, doing their chores and playing games.

Yet life in this remote trading post could be lonely and uneventful.

The community would plan fandangos as the arrival of visitors with news would call for feasting long into the night, where the fiddle played and people danced their worries away.

(drum tapping) (merry orchestral music) ♪ Strum me a song and we'll come along ♪ ♪ To the Founders' Fandango tonight ♪ ♪ We'll promenade with bows and sashays ♪ ♪ As we dance to the music's delight ♪ ♪ El Pueblo was founded by many ♪ ♪ Depending on whom you should ask ♪ ♪ There's Fisher and Simpson, Beckwourth, Kinkead ♪ ♪ Barclay, and Conn, and then Mantz ♪ ♪ They all claim to be founding fathers ♪ ♪ This may or may not be true ♪ For there's also someone who will argue ♪ ♪ There must have been women there, too ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ So strum me a song and we'll come along ♪ ♪ To the Founders' Fandango tonight ♪ ♪ We'll promenade with bows and sashays ♪ ♪ As we dance to the music's delight ♪ (merry orchestral music continues) ♪ The people of Pueblo were hearty ♪ ♪ They did what they could to survive ♪ ♪ Despite all the hardships of illness and drought ♪ ♪ They managed to just stay alive ♪ ♪ So come all you trappers and traders ♪ ♪ Mormons and Mexicans, too ♪ Come to the Founders' Fandango ♪ ♪ And there'll be a place there for you ♪ ♪ So strum me a song and we'll come along ♪ ♪ To the Founders' Fandango tonight ♪ ♪ We'll promenade with bows and sashays ♪ ♪ As we dance to the music, yes dance to the music ♪ ♪ We'll dance to the music tonight ♪ (audience applauding) In 1846, a new group of Americans came to El Pueblo trading post.

They were members of the Mormon church who were moving West.

The sick and weary travelers spent the winter at El Pueblo before continuing West in search of their promised land.

In the late spring, the Mormon families leave their friends at El Pueblo trading post to continue their march over the Rocky Mountains and into Utah.

(sentimental music) (sentimental music fades) (drum tapping) (gentle music) The Indigenous and Mexican women who accompanied their men to El Pueblo also bring family alliances and time-tested resourcefulness.

They bring comfort and culture to the banks of the Arkansas from their childhood villages far away.

One among them, Teresita Sandoval, is remembered above all others as the matriarch of El Pueblo.

Alexander Barclay, an English trader, is awestruck by her beauty and writes of her in his journal.

(gentle music fades) ("Song For Teresita") (romantic orchestral music) ♪ One day in spring ♪ I saw her walking ♪ As she passed by me ♪ She concealed her smile ♪ Her olive skin ♪ And Spanish eyes ♪ Made me feel in that moment ♪ I had to make her mine ♪ I only knew ♪ Her name was Teresita ♪ I didn't know ♪ She belonged to someone else ♪ From that day on ♪ I vowed to wait ♪ And I'd wait an eternity ♪ To have her by my side (romantic orchestral music continues) ♪ I only knew ♪ Her name was Teresita ♪ I didn't know ♪ She belonged to someone else ♪ From that day on ♪ I vowed to wait ♪ And I'd wait an eternity ♪ To have her by my side ♪ As time passed on ♪ My love grew stronger ♪ I drew her picture ♪ To recall her face ♪ My heart still yearns ♪ For her reply ♪ And I'll wait an eternity ♪ Until she's truly mine ♪ I only knew ♪ Her name was Teresita ♪ I didn't know ♪ She belonged to someone else ♪ My heart still yearns ♪ For her reply ♪ And I'll wait an eternity ♪ Until she's truly mine ♪ And I'll wait an eternity ♪ Until she's truly mine - Oh, Teresita.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) (gentle music) - When the Mexican-American war is over, Mexico loses its northern territories to the United States.

All of the land north of the Arkansas River begins to be settled by US citizens.

For the natives who lost their land, buffalo were disappearing and smallpox was spreading throughout the people, treaties were broken, and people were sick and hungry.

Christmas 1854, angry Ute warriors began raiding El Pueblo trading posts for horses, food, and guns.

Holiday celebrations turned to mourning for those left dead, and two boys and a woman who were taken from the post and never heard from again.

(drum tapping) ("Ballad Of Tierra Blanca") (jaunty orchestral music) Woo-hoo-hooi!

(singer speaks in foreign language) (singer speaks in foreign language) (singers singing in foreign language) (jaunty orchestral music continues) (singers singing in foreign language) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) Indigenous people continued to endure unspeakable suffering.

Chief Black Kettle, leader of the Cheyenne, only wants peace and to protect his people.

But Cheyenne Dog Soldiers find themselves in near constant conflict with white settlers and US soldiers.

Yet, as the sun rose on November 29th, 1864, Colonel John Chivington's men surprised a sleeping village of Cheyenne people.

Despite being under a white flag of surrender, Chivington ordered his men to attack, massacring men, women, and children.

(somber orchestral music) (drum tapping) ♪ On a cold winter's dawn ♪ As I lay fast asleep ♪ I awoke to the sound ♪ I shall never, never forget ♪ First the earth shook with sounds of thunder ♪ ♪ Then I heard my mother's cry ♪ Run, my child, run away, don't wander ♪ ♪ Don't look back, don't you stop ♪ ♪ In the creek you must hide ♪ Until I'm by your side (somber orchestral music continues) ♪ From the creek bed where I hid ♪ ♪ I saw death dancing free ♪ Then the air filled with smoke ♪ ♪ As they fell to their knees ♪ I saw children without their mothers ♪ ♪ I saw the old ones drop and fall ♪ ♪ Every place that people huddled ♪ ♪ Every place where they stood, be they old, be they small ♪ ♪ The blue coats killed them all ♪ ♪ I hear the bullets flying, I see my people dying ♪ ♪ No one to tell me this is why ♪ ♪ I see my people running, I see the soldiers gunning ♪ ♪ I had no chance to say goodbye ♪ ♪ In silence do I cry (somber orchestral music continues) ♪ I hear the bullets flying, I see my people dying ♪ ♪ No one to tell me this is why ♪ ♪ I see my people running, I see the soldiers gunning ♪ ♪ I had no chance to say goodbye ♪ ♪ In silence do I cry ♪ Now the wind sings this song ♪ As the death drum plays along ♪ ♪ And as long as I live ♪ I will never, never forget ♪ For Sand Creek must be remembered ♪ ♪ For that cold November day ♪ When a great and peaceful people ♪ ♪ Were cut down where they stood for a trust so betrayed ♪ ♪ A promise never paid (somber orchestral music continues) (somber orchestral music fades) (audience applauding) While some stake claims, others envision what could be.

General William Jackson Palmer becomes the driving force behind Colorado Springs and selects a mesa overlooking Pueblo for his town, his corona and crown accomplishment.

A man of foresight.

He sees railroads, smelters, and men making steel.

Palmer's vision and industry comes to town on a rail.

(drum tapping) ("Paddy On The Railroad") ♪ In 1841, me corduroy britches I put on ♪ ♪ Me corduroy britches I put on to work upon the railway ♪ ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ To work upon the railway ♪ In 1842, I didn't know what I should do ♪ ♪ I didn't know what I should do to work upon the railway ♪ ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ To work upon the railway ♪ In 1843, I took a trip across the sea ♪ ♪ I took a trip across the sea to work upon the railway ♪ ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ To work upon the railway (up-tempo instrumental music) ♪ In 1844, I landed on Columbia's shore ♪ ♪ I landed on Columbia's shore to work upon the railway ♪ ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ To work upon the railway ♪ In 1845, when Daniel O'Connell was alive ♪ ♪ When Daniel O'Connell was alive ♪ ♪ He worked upon the railway ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ To work upon the railway ♪ In 1846, I changed my trade to carrying bricks ♪ ♪ I changed my trade to carrying bricks ♪ ♪ From working on the railway ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ Tirramy oh re oh re ay ♪ To work upon the railway ♪ The railway, the railway ♪ To work upon the railway (audience member cheers) (audience applauding) (gentle music) - The frontier era faded, as gold camps and mountain towns boomed with prospectors hoping to strike it rich.

Pueblo grew, from a trading post into a town, with courthouses, churches, businesses, and schools.

(drum tapping) ("Colorado Gold") ♪ We've formed our band and are well manned ♪ ♪ To journey afar to the promised land ♪ ♪ Where the golden ore is rich in store ♪ ♪ In the peaks of Colorado.

♪ Then ho, boys, ho to Colorado gold ♪ ♪ There's plenty of gold in the world, I'm told ♪ ♪ In the peaks of Colorado ♪ So don't you cry or give a sigh ♪ ♪ For we'll all come back again by and by ♪ ♪ Don't breathe a fear or shed a tear ♪ ♪ But patiently wait for about two years ♪ ♪ Then ho, boys, ho to Colorado gold ♪ ♪ There's plenty of gold in the world, I'm told ♪ ♪ In the peaks of Colorado (lively orchestral music) ♪ Well the gold is there almost anywhere ♪ ♪ And we dig it up with an iron bar ♪ ♪ And where it's stick with a spade or pick ♪ ♪ Take out lumps as heavy as a brick ♪ ♪ Then ho, boys, ho to Colorado gold ♪ ♪ There's plenty of gold in the world, I'm told ♪ ♪ In the peaks of Colorado ♪ As we explore this different shore ♪ ♪ We'll fill our pockets with the shiny ore ♪ ♪ And how it sounds as the word goes around ♪ ♪ Of us our picking up gold by the dozen pound ♪ ♪ Then ho, boys, ho to Colorado gold ♪ ♪ There's plenty of gold in the world, I'm told ♪ ♪ In the peaks of Colorado (audience applauding) - General Jackson Palmer was another leader that helped make Pueblo the steel-making giant of the West.

Workers were needed by the thousands to work the furnaces at the CF&I mill, the coal mines, the farms, and the railroad.

("Nine-Pound Hammer") ♪ This nine-pound hammer ♪ It's a little too heavy for my size ♪ ♪ Well, for my size ♪ I'm goin' to the mountain ♪ I'm gonna see my baby ♪ And I ain't comin' back ♪ No, I ain't comin' back ♪ So roll on, buddy ♪ Roll on, buddy ♪ Don't you roll so slow ♪ Don't you roll so slow ♪ Just how can I roll ♪ How can I roll ♪ When the wheels won't go ♪ Roll on, buddy ♪ Roll on, buddy ♪ Pull your load of coal ♪ Pull your load of coal ♪ How can I pull ♪ How can I pull ♪ When the wheels won't roll (up-tempo instrumental music) ♪ It's a long way to Harlan ♪ It's a long way to Hazard ♪ Just to get a little brew ♪ Just get a little brew ♪ Now when I'm long gone, you can make my tombstone ♪ ♪ Out of number nine coal ♪ Out of number nine coal ♪ Roll on, buddy ♪ Roll on, buddy ♪ Don't you roll so slow ♪ Don't you roll so slow ♪ Just how can I roll ♪ How can I roll ♪ When the wheels won't go ♪ Roll on, buddy ♪ Roll on, buddy ♪ Pull your load of coal ♪ Pull your load of coal ♪ Well, how can I pull ♪ How can I pull ♪ When the wheels won't roll ♪ How can I pull ♪ When the wheels won't roll (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Now, cowboys rounded up Longhorn cattle and drove them across the plains to rail centers like Pueblo to be shipped to bigger markets.

Well, Charlie Goodnight and Oliver Loving are famous cattlemen who started the Goodnight-Loving Trail.

Goodnight makes his headquarters along the Arkansas River, and the barn, well, it still stands today.

Cowboys, Black, Indigenous, Mexicans and white, etch an indelible image and legacy on the land.

(drum tapping) ("The Good Trail") ♪ Now come along, boys, and listen to my tale ♪ ♪ I'll tell you my troubles on the Goodnight Trail ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ I started up the trail October 23rd ♪ ♪ Left old Texas with a 2-u herd ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ On a $10 horse and a $20 saddle ♪ ♪ I'm gonna punch them longhorn cattle ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ Woke up one morning on the Goodnight Trail ♪ ♪ With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ Yee-haw (jaunty instrumental music) ♪ Well, I crippled up my horse and I don't know how ♪ ♪ Ropin' up the horns of a 2-u cow ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ While we rounded 'em up and put 'em on the cars ♪ ♪ That was the last of the 2-u bars ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ Then I went to the boss for to draw my rose ♪ ♪ Said I was over $10 in the hole ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ So I sold old Baldy and I hung up my saddle ♪ ♪ Bid farewell to the longhorn cattle ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yi yippy yay ♪ ♪ Come a ti-yi yippy, yippy yay ♪ (audience cheers) (audience applauding) - This project came out of a larger research project on music in Pueblo.

We have been through the American Music Research Center at CU Boulder and the University of Colorado.

We have been researching music in Pueblo since 2021.

And during that project, I came into contact with Deborah Espinosa, who is behind the El Pueblo Ensemble and the Song of Pueblo Project.

- I was the director of the El Pueblo History Museum.

So for a long time I had been feeling that Pueblo's history is so extensive.

And it was hard for me to impart what I wanted them to know about Pueblo.

- And one of the things that she said to me early on was how interested they had been when this project first developed, to have it performed with an orchestra.

And so one of the things I did when I was director of the American Music Research Center was to write a grant to allow for that.

We hired two former graduates to score the entire oratoria, written by Daniel Valdez, and bring it to a chamber orchestra, which is performing in Memorial Hall and then on campus at CU.

- But the symphony thing was always there.

It still is to this day, you know?

And I thought, well, it would be an interesting way to bring, not only traditional music on stage, but also you start really refining the music and turning it into something else.

And some of the discussions I had with Max was really about that.

- A lot of this project was sort of getting to know each different iteration of these songs as they've existed since they were first written.

Going through various lead sheets and different recordings from rehearsals from the album that was made from live performances, and so on, and sort of collating all of those together into the version that we created here with the orchestra.

- The opportunity to perform with an orchestra was often discussed between Daniel and Juan, that wouldn't that be wonderful, someday, if.

And that day came.

- I had the amazing opportunity to visit Pueblo before I dove into the score study, so to speak.

And I went to the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center and I had the opportunity to watch El Pueblo Ensemble perform this piece.

And that was kind of my first introduction to this work.

As an audience member, it was incredibly moving and powerful.

I was so excited to see what it would be like to do this with an orchestra.

- This is a wonderful collaboration between community and the university.

And it shows the way that research projects can morph into community collaborations and art projects.

But it's also, I think the project itself, Daniel Valdez's oratorio, is a fantastic example about how history and archival knowledge and personal stories and ethnographic interviews can be integrated into a musical artistic project to tell the story of a place and of the people who live there.

- Pueblo has been an important city.

Not only an important city for the State of Colorado, but also for the United States because this is a gateway to the West.

- It's a very special place, so I have a very special feeling about Pueblo.

I didn't know exactly what I was gonna write about, I didn't know the history about it, so I came and lived here for a while.

And the more I lived here, the more I got acquainted with the people and the history of the town that blew me away.

History, for me, has always been musical.

And when you expose yourself to history, there's a musicality that comes from it.

It's if you can combine music with theatrical presentation, in this case, it's not only narrative, but it's also visuality, right?

- Daniel asked me to illustrate his songs.

And I had visited a lot of these places.

I had written stories about these.

I had attended commemorations, anniversaries of some of these events and reported on them so I kinda had a background.

- We both hope to kind of honor that work and really help realize it to its fullest potential, but also really to show how these projects continue to evolve and to serve the needs of their communities and reach wider audiences.

- In a place called Ludlow, coal miners take a stand for safety in the mines, better working conditions, and a fair share of the wealth their labor produces.

Strikes and strife mark an era that erupts into war.

Mother Jones, the United Mine Workers organizer, leads protests as in all wars, innocent lives succumb to bullets and fire by militia.

Among the 45 dead, 32 are women and children.

Louis Tikas, Greek union organizer, is murdered.

Over the graves at Ludlow, a new day rises and people remember the call for unions to protect the people from big business.

In 1918, a monument was placed at Ludlow for the miners who lost their lives.

During the ceremony, Frank J. Hayes, President of the United Mine Workers of America and future lieutenant governor of Colorado, read this poem.

(drum tapping) (sentimental orchestral music) ♪ How can words of grief portray ♪ ♪ Deep the thoughts we cannot say ♪ ♪ Deep the love that weeps today ♪ ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ Ah, we know them, every one ♪ Father, mother, daughter, son ♪ ♪ Ere the course of life was run ♪ ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ Here a tented city rose ♪ White as yonder mountain snow ♪ ♪ Tents of free men rose and rose ♪ ♪ Here on Ludlow field (sentimental orchestral music continues) ♪ Free at last from greed and wrong ♪ ♪ Time to think and time for song ♪ ♪ Oh, the day was never long ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ But at last there came a day ♪ Greed demanded, stalk your prey ♪ ♪ Fire the tents and shoot to slay ♪ ♪ Here on Ludlow field (sentimental orchestral music continues) ♪ In the embers gray and red ♪ Here we found them where they bled ♪ ♪ Here we found them stark and dead ♪ ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ Come we now with solemn tread ♪ ♪ Come we now with bowed head ♪ Come we now to mourn our dead ♪ ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ Oh, the memories of it all ♪ All the blackness of the pall ♪ ♪ And the souls beyond recall ♪ Here on Ludlow field (sentimental orchestral music continues) ♪ Here today we dedicate ♪ Here today we consecrate ♪ A monument to their estate ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ Lo, the goal of justice nears ♪ ♪ And we vision it through our tears ♪ ♪ Freedom's martyred volunteers ♪ ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ Here on Ludlow field ♪ Here on Ludlow ♪ Field (audience cheers) (audience applauding) The newspaper was an important institution in the West, especially in Pueblo.

125 different newspapers have been published in Pueblo, 26 of those being in a foreign language.

The first one was in 1868, and it reported Kit Carson's death.

And that paper, started by Michael Beshoar, became The Pueblo Chieftain, mm-hmm.

Now, in those days, many newsboys or newsies got their first job selling newspapers on street corners.

(drum tapping) ("Headlines") (jaunty orchestral music) ♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, no doubt about it ♪ Headlines, we're bringin' the news to you ♪ - Extra, extra!

Read all about it!

♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, read all about it ♪ Headlines, we're bringin' the news to you ♪ - 1869 and Pueblo is growing.

The town's population more than doubles in one year, woo!

♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, no doubt about it ♪ Headlines, we're bringin' the news to you ♪ - [Orchestra Member] Extra, extra!

Read all about it!

- February 5th, 1874, Pueblo is to become the capital of the territory.

We're big time now.

♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, no doubt about it ♪ Headlines, we're bringin' the news to you ♪ - [Orchestra Member] Extra, extra!

Read all about it!

- A company is being organized to build a flour mill in South Pueblo that will turn out 200 barrels of flour daily!

- [Orchestra Member] That's a lot of dough.

- That's a lot of tortillas.

♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, no doubt about it ♪ Headlines, we're bringin' the news to you ♪ - [Orchestra Member] Extra, extra!

Read all about it!

- July 1st, 1874, look out for the locomotives, the rail connection with the Atcheson, Topeka, and Santa Fe, and Kansas Pacific lines are lookin' very promising.

♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, no doubt about it ♪ Headlines, we're bringing the news to you ♪ - [Orchestra Member] Extra, extra!

Read all about it!

- South Pueblo is to get a water canal.

The project gives 75,000 to bring in water.

That's a lot of glass.

♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, no doubt about it ♪ Headlines, we bringin' the news to you ♪ - [Orchestra Member] Extra, extra!

Read all about it!

♪ Headlines, we're gonna shout it ♪ ♪ Headlines, read all about it ♪ Headlines, we're bringin' the news to you ♪ (audience cheers) (audience applauding) (drum tapping) (quirky orchestral music) - The streets began to bustle as the city thrived.

And where there used to be groves of cottonwoods, Union Avenue became a place of beautiful buildings.

The streets were filled with people doing their daily shopping, and children ran along the street while vendors sold produce.

Wagons made room for automobiles and trolleys.

And everywhere business was booming.

(quirky orchestral music continues) (quirky orchestral music fades) (audience applauding) Colorado needed workers, and a wave of humanity responded to recruiters and words of wealth in America.

The young stream of humanity made its way to Southern Colorado, to work in the foundries, mills, and fields.

The immigrants brought only what they could carry, as well as their homeland cultures, to enrich the diversity of our land.

The train depots teemed with the arrival of laborers, brides-to-be and families from the old country, all speaking different languages and hoping to see a familiar face.

Many of them found homes in neighborhoods with names like Salt Creek, Peppersauce Bottom, Mexicantown, Gold Hill, and Elm Street.

(tender orchestral music) (tender orchestral music fades) (drum tapping) (lively orchestral music) (music softens) (drum tapping) (lively orchestral music) (music softens) (lively orchestral music continues) (music softens) (soft orchestral music fades) (audience applauding) Little did the people of Pueblo know that life in 1921 was about to change drastically.

After months of drought, there came a torrent of rain.

And in a few days, the river overflowed.

In one building, in the path of the rushing water, brave telephone operators stayed to warn people down river and saved many lives.

Even in the rain, fires raged, as people ran frantically to the hilltops.

There they huddled and watched as the city washed away.

(drum tapping) ("Flood Of '21") (tender orchestral music) ♪ The people called for rain ♪ Some clouds, some winds, some change ♪ ♪ But little did we know what was coming ♪ ♪ The rain began to fall, a welcome sight for all ♪ ♪ We thought the drought would never end ♪ ♪ It rained all day that day, the levee soon gave way ♪ ♪ The water raged the streets in devastation ♪ ♪ The people cried and prayed as houses swept away ♪ ♪ It had only just begun ♪ Then the rain became the storm ♪ ♪ The flood of '21 ♪ Taking lives and leaving voices hushed ♪ ♪ Forever gone (determined orchestral music) ♪ All night the siren sound as buildings burn in town ♪ ♪ The floating rafts of fire near the station ♪ ♪ The people in their homes cling desperately to phones ♪ ♪ As they watch the water rise ♪ The water's coming in ♪ That woman, she can't swim ♪ Is there anybody there who could help me ♪ ♪ I live upstairs on Main, my daughter's on the train ♪ ♪ What should I do, where should I go ♪ ♪ Then the rain became the storm ♪ ♪ The flood of '21 ♪ Taking lives and leaving voices hushed ♪ ♪ Forever gone (determined orchestral music continues) ♪ Then the rain became the storm ♪ ♪ The flood of '21 ♪ Taking lives and leaving voices hushed ♪ ♪ Forever gone (determined orchestral music continues) ♪ At last the deluge ends, the sun comes out again ♪ ♪ And with it comes new hope and realization ♪ ♪ Despite the death and fear, the people persevere ♪ ♪ And Pueblo's soul beats on and on ♪ ♪ So the rain became the storm ♪ The flood of '21 ♪ Changing lives and leaving more than one ♪ ♪ Who will survive ♪ Who did survive (audience cheering) (audience applauding) Pueblo rebuilt after the flood of '21, (sighs sharply) but the years following were not easy.

The Depression, the Dust Bowl, wars in which Pueblo heroes proved themselves, and changes in industry shaped Pueblo into what it is today.

The old neighborhoods are still there.

(chuckles) And remnants of days past still exist.

Family bars, mom and pop markets, the churches.

People still gathered to talk of old times.

And grandma and grandpa could recall the old country.

Those days are missed.

When neighborhoods were extensions of family.

(drum tapping) (tender orchestral music) ♪ All the memories of Elm Street ♪ ♪ Are so vivid that they speak ♪ And they tell of a time long ago ♪ ♪ In Pueblo's past ♪ This Italian neighborhood ♪ Knew hard times but life was good ♪ ♪ And they knew to survive ♪ They can always rely on themselves ♪ ♪ The men labored hard in the mill ♪ ♪ Making steel for CF&I ♪ While mothers sent children to school ♪ ♪ To give them a chance to better advance ♪ ♪ In a world that gave nothing for free ♪ ♪ They knew that they had family ♪ ♪ For the people who lived there ♪ ♪ Believed in helping their own ♪ ♪ The merchant, the butcher, the tavern, the church ♪ ♪ The union, and lodges as well ♪ ♪ And in the time of war ♪ The sons were the first to enlist ♪ ♪ To fight for their country's liberty ♪ ♪ And die for the right to exist ♪ (tender orchestral music continues) ♪ Now the years have come and gone ♪ ♪ And traditions are still strong ♪ ♪ But you still hear them say ♪ How they missed the old days long ago ♪ ♪ So let's meet at Gus' place ♪ Over schooners and Dutch plates ♪ ♪ We can each reminisce about those times ♪ ♪ We miss on Elm Street ♪ Where the men labored hard in the mills ♪ ♪ Making steel for CF&I ♪ While mothers sent children to school ♪ ♪ To give them a chance to better advance ♪ ♪ In a world that gave nothing for free ♪ ♪ They knew that they had family ♪ ♪ For the people who lived there ♪ ♪ Believed in helping their own ♪ ♪ The merchant, the butcher, the tavern, the church ♪ ♪ The union, and lodges as well ♪ ♪ And in the time of war ♪ The sons were the first to enlist ♪ ♪ To fight for their country's liberty ♪ ♪ And die for the right to exist ♪ ♪ Oh, the memories of Elm Street ♪ (audience cheers) (audience applauding) (drum tapping) (bright instrumental music) In addition to the steel mill, Pueblo had five smelters for melting ore into usable metal.

And Eastern European neighborhoods sprang up around the Eiler's smelter, and eventually the lives of the Bojons, as the Slovenians, Croatians, and Austro-Hungarians were called, took on a rhythm around the 24-hour shifts the smelter demanded.

The term "Bojon" has always been a bit of a mystery.

It is said that when these people immigrated through France, the French referred to them as the beaux gens, or the beautiful people.

No other community uses this term in reference to Eastern Europeans, and there is no place quite like Bojon Town.

(bright orchestral music continues) ♪ There's a neighborhood in Pueblo that I know ♪ ♪ Where Slovenians and their families make their home ♪ ♪ It's a proud community with rich identity ♪ ♪ And believe in preserving their own ♪ ♪ Their traditions and their cultures still remain ♪ ♪ For their customs and their culture they retain ♪ ♪ For their history is one ♪ That is passed down to their young ♪ ♪ In hopes that they never forget ♪ ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet at Eiler's place ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet face to face The women of Bojon Town still gathered to make strudel and also potica, a wonderful bread made only in a few places in the United States.

Families enjoy telling stories of rides making their procession to St. Mary's Church.

Eventually they tore down Eiler smelter and used the bricks to build St. Mary's School.

Children of the area enjoyed an invented game they called Corks that honed their baseball skills.

And baseball became the major pastime.

The brewers from Walter's Brewery were their semi-professional team.

Taverns were friendly gathering places where people might order a Shunka, a Hamm's Beer.

But Sundays were for home life and eating homemade noodles.

The bells of St. Mary helped to mark the time, and young people knew to head home when the mill's evening whistle blew.

♪ Still the bells of St. Mary ring the call ♪ ♪ For their Sundays are for family and for God ♪ ♪ So when you are passing by, you will know the reason why ♪ ♪ They still call this place Bojon Town ♪ ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet at Eiler's place ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet face to face (bright orchestral music) ♪ There's a lesson to be learned in this song ♪ ♪ Our culture can remain and still be strong ♪ ♪ Just remember who you are and it will take you far ♪ ♪ Like the folks down in old Bojon Town ♪ ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet at Eiler's place ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet face to face ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet at Eiler's place ♪ Come on down to Bojon Town ♪ We can meet face to face (audience applauding) (gentle guitar music) - What memories we have shared with you today.

Pueblo is proud to safeguard its past as we build for the future.

We are rich in heritage, we value our past, and we have always persevered.

We will be wise to always share our stories, to preserve our buildings, our diversity, our sun, our wind and water.

We, all of us, you and me, we are the people of the mountains and the plains.

The wind will remember us.

The sun will watch us build our dreams.

And the river will sing our song, the Song of Pueblo.

(drum tapping) ("Song Of Pueblo") ♪ Sing, we sing ♪ Today we bring ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ In this place ♪ That history shaped ♪ We honor Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ Ode to those ♪ Who came before ♪ From different lands ♪ And distant shores ♪ To live their lives ♪ And planned their dreams ♪ They came to Pueblo ♪ The people's town Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us here today.

We are the El Pueblo Ensemble.

Dr. Michael Beck on piano, Wayne Wilkinson on guitar, Aavalajn Wiggins on percussion, Michael Madre on harmony, arranger Mireya Rinna.

Carlos Crull, the unforgettable.

We are proud to be joined by the CU Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Renee Gilliland.

I am Felicia Gallegos Pettis.

I was born and raised in Pueblo, and I am so pleased to be with you today.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) ♪ Through the years ♪ Of strife and tears ♪ They found a way to persevere ♪ ♪ So sing ♪ Sing ♪ We sing ♪ We sing ♪ Today ♪ Today we bring ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ So let us all ♪ Tell the story of our town ♪ For those who lived ♪ And for those yet born ♪ So sing ♪ Sing ♪ We sing ♪ We sing ♪ Today we bring ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town ♪ The Song of Pueblo ♪ The people's town (audience applauding) (audience cheering) (audience whistling) (audience continues cheering) (audience continues applauding)