Dolly Leatherman owned the Rand Store with her husband, Bailey from 1919 until 1964.  During that time she must have witnessed so many interesting events, hardships and joys.  Below is a journal she started 90 years ago on July 29, 1929.  The writings were on the inside of a cupboard door found during one of the many remodel jobs here at the Store.  Like many of us she probably had good intentions to keep regular postings but as you can see "life" must have gotten in the way.  The entries speak of weather reports, snow totals and sometimes she mentions travel by family.  We hope you enjoy a look into the past.  If nothing else, you'll see the extreme weather in North Park has not changed.

7/29/1929            Snow on the east range
9/5/1929              Snow on Parkview and east range
9/7/1929              2 inches of snow at 9:00 still snowing
9/8/1929              4 inches of snow at 9:00 and still snowing
 
3/2/1930              Came home from California
                             Snow all gone – road open to Laramie Wyo
4/1/1930              Bailey went with Harold Dodge to Laramie from                               Walden April 1st and 2nd
4/9/1930              Road open to Rand
4/11/1930            Arnold came home from California
5/31/1930            Snow
6/1/1930              More Snow
9/2/1930              First ice
9/6/1930              Snow on Sheep Mountain
11/17/1930         Heavy Snow
 
7/31/1931            Snow
 
4/11/1932            Bailey went to Walden to meet Hattie
7/14-15/1932      Men stayed in cabin / car #1-58-310
8/30/1932            Snowing at 11:00 quite hard
8/31/1932            Flowers froze and 1” of snow
 
4/20-21/1933     2 feet of snow fell on the level.  Road had been open all winter.  No mail at Rand for 3 mail days.
5/3/1933         A big snowstorm 16” continued to snow.  Continued to snow until 5/11/1933
5/22/1933            Frank and Jesse arrived from Silver City NM.
8/21/1933            Snow on east range
8/26/1933            Snow on all of the west range
8/27/1933            Snow on Owl Mountain
12/2-4/1933        First real snow to stay came
 
3/1/1934              Frank can plow snow
9/10/1934            Roads open – no snow
9/8/1934              First winter snow
 
7/11/1936            3” snow and snow on the east range
7/10/1939            3:00 pm – temperature 108
8/24/1947            Frost
08/25/1948         Snow in Rand

​Rand Colorado was first known to the pioneers of North Park as Weed.  Later it was renamed Rosebud, which is still the legal description on land records today as Rosebud Township.  The story goes that Jack Rand agreed to be the 1st postmaster but wouldn’t do it for a town named Rosebud so the town was renamed Rand.  According to U.S. Postal records; George M. Rand was appointed postmaster from 1883 until 1886.  Not much else is known about Jack Rand.  We found him on the 1880 Grand County Census as G. M. Rand, approximately 57 years old, no other family and occupation listed as a miner.  How many job applicants can say they got a town renamed for them just for taking the job!
We are collecting funds to give Jack a granite memorial marker on his grave at the Rand Cemetery.  If you would like to help, please make a contribution at
​
​https://www.gofundme.com/memorial-stone-for-jack-rand&rcid=r01-153409510392-df27111e96da4040&pc=em_co_campmgmt_w

Did you know North Park has a Polar Bear?  The legend told by the old timers was - if you could see the polar bear snow field on Mount Ethel in July -  then there would be plenty of snow melt to irrigate the hay fields of the Park. 
To find the polar bear:  travel north from Rand on Colorado Highway 125 towards Walden - look to the northwest and find Mount Ethel on the southern end of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Range.  If enough snow has melted - you should see the outline of a huge polar bear.

Even though the old town is all but gone, there is a one room cabin that has been kept in tact, a few building foundations, walking path and informational signs to give the visitor a sense of what the old town was like.
To get there:  drive 2 miles south of Rand on highway 125, turn left onto county road 21 (near The Old Homestead Lodge)  continue on for approximately 9 miles.  The county road turns into forest service road 740.  At the forest boundary there will be signs to guide you.  Enjoy your visit! 

I’ve looked at Parkview Mountain from the window of my childhood home for years.  I can’t count how many times I’ve looked at the highest peak and wondered what it would be like to be up there looking back.  I decided this was the year to make it happen.  My mother, step father, sister and all our children have made the trek.  Not just once but multiple times, so it was my turn. 
My nephew Turner, graciously agreed to guide me up and most importantly BACK down the mountain.  We met at the trailhead, just south of the Willow Creek Pass summit, mile marker 21.  We drove up to the old gold mine location which is almost to tree line and started hiking from there.  I’ve been told driving that far is “cheating the mountain” but I figured at this point in my life, “the mountain” already had the advantage.
For the most part, we followed the cairns for the Continental Divide Trail.  It took about two and a half hours of hiking for me to make the summit, 12,296 feet.  Turner could have made it in half the time, but he was patient and held back.  Once on top the view was breathtaking!  Even with the haze from distant forest fires, I could see in all directions.  You can see Highway 125; Rand on the north side of the mountain and then the winding pass as it heads south to Granby.  I could pick out familiar ranches, home sites and lakes, it truly was a beautiful view.
The lookout was in good condition considering it was built in 1916.  I’ve been told it’s the only “bunker” style structure and second highest lookout elevation in the U.S.  It had not been used since 1948.  In August 1997, there was an attempt to rehabilitate the lookout and use it as a radio tower.  My stepfather Don assisted the forest service during the rehab project and carried the antenna up to the lookout on his back.  Unfortunately, the radio tower was unable to reach Steamboat so it was moved to Owl Mountain and the lookout was once again abandoned.  Hikers leave their mark on the walls noting names, dates and comments.  There was even a notation about watching the Great American Eclipse from the lookout last month.   A recent party left a plastic bottle with pencil and paper so we left our “mark” there.  We left the summit for the return trip down the trail which took about an hour.
The next day, I heard a childhood friend had died while hiking a Colorado 14ner.  Had I known, I probably would have canceled the hike.  But I’m sure that’s the last thing my friend would have wanted me to do.  Thank you, Jamie, for being an inspiration to all of us!  Thank you, Turner, a twenty-something agreeing to take a fifty-something on a hike!
Posted by:  Chris Durant Jackson

Here's a link to a site with photos and information:
http://www.firelookout.org/cohost-co/parkview.html

     A couple of weeks ago my mom, Sandy and I ventured back to Teller City.  I'm sorry to say my last visit was 10 to 15 years ago.  Wow, have things changed.  The beetle kill had taken over and I can only guess the area was logged to remove the dead trees.  But with that said it's still worth the trip.
     Teller City was one of several mining towns in North Park during the late 1800's.  It's reported that the Yates Hotel had up to 40 rooms and a grand piano in the lobby.  The town had many saloons and two newspapers.  It's hard to imagine all that activity when you see it now.
     The US Forest Service lists it as an "Interpretive Site".  There is no water or restrooms so be prepared when you head that way.  The right-hand side of the road has room for parking and includes signs with information about the area.  There's one building that has been maintained so visitors can see what life might have been like in a small one-room cabin.  My mother tells me she has a photo of my cousin, sister and I in that same cabin years ago - so it's been there a while.
     Across the road the area has been fenced off so it can only be accessed by the walking path.  As the path winds through Teller City you'll find informational signs for what you will see;  The Yates Hotel, "C" Street and an old water well just to name a few of the highlights.
     According to the Forest Service website directions:    Approximately 2 miles south of Rand turn left on County Road 21. Drive approximately 4 miles to the intersection of Forest Road 740 and 750. Take the left hand fork following the 740 Road approximately 3 1/2 miles to the Teller City Interpretive Site with parking located on the right hand side.  Here's the link to their site: 
www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbr/recarea/?recid=23016

This is a postcard that was given to us some years ago.  The front of the card is captioned "Rand Stage Line".  On the back the woman writes "Am sending this card home because I want one for myself.  This is the stage I came on......"
It was mailed to Denver and postmarked May 24, 1911 from the Walden Colorado Post Office with a 1 cent stamp.  Those were the days!

Here's a video from simpler times.  The Roslyn Ranch located south of Rand on State Highway 125 was purchased by Frances Ann Luchter in 1907 and stayed in the family until 2004.  A fascinating read:  If The Devil Had A Wife by Frank Mills (pen name) author Rebecca Nugent - is also available here at The Rand Store.
This video and permission to post it was provided by Henry Stark.

This photo was taken during the construction of the back addition in the early 1920's.  The addition provided the café, kitchen and extra space on the ground floor.  It also added five hotel rooms and two shared bathrooms for quests on the second floor.