Linda Wommack – författare

The life of Josie Bassett was nothing short of a female pioneer adventure. Josie came west in a wagon train at the age of four. Settling in rugged Brown's Park in the extreme northwest corner of Colorado, Josie learned to ride and rope by the age of six. Like all girls, as a young teenager she discovered boys, but Josie's first real boyfriend was a future outlaw, none other than Butch Cassidy. As a young rancher's wife with two young boys, Josie witnessed first-hand the strong-arm tactics of the cattle barons trying to steal the land from smaller ranch owners. When it happened to the Bassett family, Josie's husband and father fought back. Murder occurred at the ranch when a man was hung from the gate post at the entrance of the Bassett ranch.Following a bitter divorce and a few more marriages, Josie moved to the remote area of Cub Creek in western Utah. Here she managed to make a living by hunting, making moonshine and possibly cattle rustling. (She was brought up on charges but acquitted.) Josie married a few more times, running off one husband with a frying pan. He later said, “Josie gave me fifteen minutes to get off her land, I only needed five!”Josie was the feature of a LIFE magazine article in 1948 and was a rodeo queen when she was in her 70s. Josie Bassett lived a long adventurous life, dying in 1963.

People love getting nostalgic and what better way than the history of school days of yesteryear? Over six hundred school buildings are scattered across the Centennial State—and some were still operating in rural communities through the 1950s. A community’s construction of a school building reflected the importance of universal education, and also a desire to establish permanence in the community itself in the ever-expanding Western frontier. These schools were often the social centers of the community. Civic town meetings were held in them, as well as other political events. Today, these schools are the touchstones to Colorado’s pioneering past. Colorado’s Historic Schools is part-regional history, and part-travel guide featuring over 150 of the most significant schools across the state, all recognized as historic landmarks. Along with interesting school stories and building descriptions, there are historic photos, and information on how to visit the schools that are open to the public. Readers will also enjoy sidebars featuring stories of legendary teachers, tragedies, and even murder over the 150-year history of Colorado’s schools.