Victor Heritage Society
Working Together to Preserve 
Historic Victor, Colorado
City of Gold MInes
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  • Landmarks
  • Guidelines & Galleries
    • Guide to Preserving Our Architectural Heritage
    • Photo Gallery of Victor Residential Gems
    • Photo Gallery of Victor Businesses Operating in Historic Buildings
    • Photo Gallery of Historic Victor Homes & Buildings--Then & Now
    • Photo Gallery of Historic Victor Artwork by Fred Shane, Circa 1942
    • Photo Gallery of Historic Gold Mines >
      • Stratton's Independence Mine
      • Restoring the Historic Headframe of Stratton's Independence Mine
      • Gold Coin Mine--Part of the Woods Empire
      • Vindicator Mine
    • Photos From 1903-04 Labor Strike in Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District.
    • Step Back in Time with Glimpses of Historical Photos Featuring Victor, Colorado & the Surrounding Mining District
  • Oral History
    • “The Only Swedish Grocery Store in Victor”: The J.A. “Joseph” Beckman Family in the Cripple Creek Mining District of Colorado, 1896-1915 by Richard "Dick" Markley.
    • Goold Family Historic Ties to Victor, Colorado & Famous Former Residents of the City by Nellie Goold Young.
    • H. L. Turner Story--Part 2: Unique Perspectives About the History of Victor, Colorado & the Cripple Creek Mining District.
    • Memories of H. L. Turner (1882-1967) and His Experiences in the Early Days of the Cripple Creek Mining District.
    • Tragedies When I Was Growing Up In Victor by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of James Garth Payne & How He Came to Letter Names on the Original WWII Roll of Honor in Victor and Cripple Creek, Colorado.
    • Winters in Victor, Colorado during the 1940's & 50's by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack)
    • Biking & Hockey in Victor, Colorado -- The Passions of Brian Hayes
    • Sports in Victor, Colorado & Memories of the 1949 Pikes Peak Junior High Basketball Tournament
    • Abbott Family Memories Made in Victor, Colorado: The House & Antiques Shop -- by Debbie Abbott.
    • Abbott Family Memories Made in Victor, Colorado: Digging At the Dump -- by Steve Abbott.
    • Abbott Family Memories Made in Victor, Colorado: Mom & Her Victor Friends -- by Dave Abbott.
    • A History of VICTOR, COLORADO--THE CITY OF MINES, compiled and published in 1933 by S. E. Poet, Superintendent of Public Schools at Victor.
    • Carl Roy's Oral History Videos -- Life in Victor, Colorado
    • The Miner’s Photograph: A Pathway to the Past by Steven Wade Veatch.
    • Recollections of My Life in Victor, Colorado during the Depression, WWII, & After By Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack)
    • Memories of Washington Elementary--My First School in Victor, Colorado by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Adventures at the Beaver Valley Ranch While Growing up in Victor, Colorado by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of the Ina & Henry Cleveland Hack Family by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • The Lighter Side of a Visit to Hack's Victor Barber Shop by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of Margaret & Henry C. "June" Hack, Jr. by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memorabilia from Cripple Creek & Victor High School Bands Directed by Ernest T. Sly from 1939 to 1950.
    • A Day in the Cresson Mine by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Firewood For Victor, Colorado by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of My Grandfather, John Reed Gardner (1864-1951)--Gardner Mercantile Owner, Bank President, Insurance Company Executive. By John Reed Gardner, II (grandson).
    • Tarie Huber Oral History Videos -- Life in Victor, Colorado
    • 1896 Shooting Affray at Union Theater in Victor, Colorado.
    • Memories of Mrs. Katy Bemore, resident of Independence when the deport was blown up in 1904.
    • Working Underground in the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District, 1972 to 1979: How I Got the Shaft, the Gas, and the Broken Steel by Randall Stewart.
    • INSTALLMENT #1. Seven Generations In Victor, Colorado and The Mining District—The Way It Was as Recalled by Eleanor Musser Baker.
    • INSTALLMENT #2. Seven Generations In Victor, Colorado and The Mining District—The Way It Was as Recalled by Eleanor Musser Baker.
    • INSTALLMENT #3. Seven Generations In Victor, Colorado and The Mining District—The Way It Was as Recalled by Eleanor Musser Baker.
    • Memories of Edward Franklin Page: Watchman at the Stratton Mines and Subsequently a Mine Manager, Farmer, Retail Businessman, & Banker.
    • Tom Schryver's Memories of Growing Up in Victor, Colorado and His Parents--Mayme & Charles "Bumps" Chapman.
    • McCormick Family Connections to Victor, Colorado (1893-2014) by Mary Ann McCormick Hamm.
    • Paying the Piper by Gertrude Moore McGowan.
    • Gold Camp Celebration--Fourth of July in Victor, Early 1900's by Gertrude Moore McGowan.
    • Memories of Lulu Ella Manson & Harry Gordon Moore by Gertrude Moore McGowan
    • Memories of Fannie & Alfred Osborn by Marge Breth
    • Memories of Cripple Creek & Victor, 1945-62, by Mary Alice Orazen
    • The Story of Axel Olson & His Golden Girl, Betzi Johnson, by Shirley Beach.
    • Memories of Mr. and Mrs. Axel Olson by KC Garver
    • Victor Recollections--Mountain Doctor, Small Town Cop, Gus's Sporting Goods, & Little Toy Pocket Knife by Floyd Frank
    • Memories of Lowell Thomas--Victor"s Most Famous Former Resident
    • Memories of the Gold Rush Era in Victor by Edgar McGowan
    • A Day In the Life of a Miner by Chuck Clark
    • Underground Mining Experiences at the Cresson and Ajax by Myron House
    • Hynes Brothers "Clean Ice" for Victor, Colorado--Memories of Mary Ellen Hynes Chetelat.
    • Marguerite Clark--One of Victor's Angels by Chuck Clark
    • Charlie Clark & the Quality Cash Market by Chuck Clark
    • Pop Sly -- Ernest T. Sly, The Band Man by Chuck Clark
    • Mr. Mortenson--The Victor Shoemaker by Chuck Clark
    • Heninger Family Memories of Victor, Portland Junction, & Independence: 1909-1916, by Virginia & Edgar Heninger
    • Reflections on Goldfield by Carol Roberts
    • Growing Up In Victor in the 1930's by Bob Penman
    • Victor's Welcome to Vice-President Roosevelt
  • Visit
Sports in Victor, Colorado & Memories of the 1949 Pikes Peak Junior High School Basketball Tournament by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack). ©
    The two major sports we played while I was growing up in Victor were Baseball and Basketball.  Baseball was played down on the Gold Bowl Field and Basketball up on the Auditorium Court (originally the second-story ballroom and offices for the Western Federation of Miners Union Hall constructed in 1901).  Some hotly contested half-court dirt ball games were also played below the hoop hanging on the Cox’s back porch (near the hockey rink today).  We wore out a lot of basketballs playing on the dirt over the years. 
    Our Auditorium ball court was a first class facility as were Cripple Creek’s, Monument, Fountain and Cheyenne Mountain.  We played Woodland Park just for practice as they were young and just starting to grow up.  We played in an airy old barn down in Penrose and the court in Manitou was the Stage having a net hanging down from the ceiling to the edge of the stage between the game and the spectators.  It served its purpose keeping the ball in play and preventing it from bouncing out into the crowd.

      Our Sixth Grade team in Victor (see photo below) was undefeated.  We grew up playing together and handling a basketball.  
Picture
Undefeated Sixth Grade Victor Basketball Team in 1947. Photo shared by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack). Front row (left to right): Raymond Cox, John Saulsbury, Jeep Hack, Raymond Martin, Warren Gingrich. Back row: Pete Jones, _____, Ken Clark, Clarence Wilson, _____, Merle Hildreth, _____, _____, _____, Keith Clark, Jack Lorenz. [Email VictorHeritageSociety@gmail.com to help identify team members in the back row.]
  ​ By the time we were in the Eighth Grade we were very good and bested all opponents during the regular season.  With the regular season over in 1949 we entered  the "Pikes Peak Junior High School Basketball Tournament” to be held in Fountain, Colorado.  Through the process of elimination we found ourselves facing Cripple Creek for the tournament championship.  We had readily defeated them in two games held during the regular season.  For various reasons a different contest would be held on this court, this night.
     Going out onto the floor to play the game we thought our Coach Bob Elliott had lost his mind!  He told our first team (me included) to stay on the bench, putting the second team into the start of the game.  Confused, angry with some blubbering and sniffling we sat on the bench and watched Cripple Creek amass a big lead in the game.
     Half time found a disgruntled team file into the locker room.  When the Coach got us quieted down and got our attention he gave us the following “Pep” talk.  I remember he said “Listen up.  I’m very, very proud of you guys.  You’ve used your talent, ability, courage and the real desire to win.  You’ve played as a Team and teamwork has brought you to this place, the here and now.  You’ve walked all over any one who contested you.  You’re Good!  Very Good!  Now let’s find out how Really good you are.  Now go out there and win this tournament."
     We went out and faced a fired up Cripple Creek Team.  We whittled away at their big lead and with a couple of minutes left in the game the ball was passed to me.  As a Guard, I drove in to make a layup shot and was fouled.  Not the best foul ball shooter but with providence, I was able to make the two free shots that tied up the ballgame.  Cripple Creek brought the ball back down the court and made a shot that missed.  Our Center John Saulsbury with his height was able to get the rebound.  He passed to Guard Ray Cox who brought the ball back down the court and passed to me.  With just seconds left I drove in trying to take another layup shot.  Well guarded this time as I jumped up, and unable to shoot, I passed the ball behind my back to Forward Raymond Martin in the corner of the court.  If Raymond Martin could plant his feet and get a clear shot, he was able to sink a basket 99% of the time.  With two seconds left he took the shot, made it, and we were the Winners of the 1949 “Pikes Peak Junior High Basketball Championship Tournament” in Fountain.   “Teamwork”!  

“Happy Trails” Chuck Spray, A.K.A. Jeep Hack

[Contact the Victor Heritage Society to share a photo of the team from Victor that won the 1949 Pikes Peak Junior High Basketball Championship Tournament in
Fountain, Colorado.]


"Sports in Victor, Colorado & Memories of the 1949 Pikes Peak Junior High School Basketball Tournament" (submitted January 2021) by Charles Normal Spray (also known as Jeep Hack). ©


​Click below for companion stories by Chuck Spray (AKA Jeep Hack):
  • Recollections of My Life in Victor, Colorado During the Depression, WWII and After. 
  • Memories of Washington Elementary--My First School in Victor, Colorado.
  • Adventures at the Beaver Valley Ranch while Growing Up in Nearby Victor, Colorado.
  • Memorabilia from Cripple Creek & Victor High School Bands Directed by Ernest T. Sly.
  • ​Memories of the Ina & Henry Cleveland Hack Family.​
  • The Lighter Side of a Visit to Hack's Victor Barbershop.
  • Memories of Margaret & Henry C. "June" Hack, Jr.​
  • A Day in the Cresson Mine.
  • Firewood for Victor, Colorado.
  • Winters in Victor, Colorado during the 1940's & early 50's.
  • Tragedies When I Was Growing Up In Victor, Colorado in the 1940's & 1950's.​
​ 
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
     To discover why Charles Norman Spray was also known as Jeep Hack by his family and friends while growing up in Victor,  click this highlighted link to his "Recollections of Life in Victor During the Great Depression, World War II and After". 
​     Charles (Chuck) Spray  included this preface titled “ THE WHY OF IT ” with his more personal memoirs submitted in December 2019.  My daughter who was always telling me “Dad, write down some of the stories you are always telling me.”  But I’d continue to procrastinate.  Finally, to appease her I started writing.  The more I continued to write, the more that came to light.  Sometimes I’d worry about how to start and just how or what I wanted to say.  Then I’d remember what that renowned writer of western tales Louis L’Amour once said.  “Don’t wait for an idea.  Don’t wait. Just Write”!  He also was to have said another verbal truth, “You have to turn on the faucet before the water starts to flow”!  “Just Write”.
     Bear with me.  I hope you have the time or inclination to put up with the ramblings and recollections of a world weary old man.  Perhaps in the telling I’ve stirred up a few recollections you might have of your own life.  Put them down.  Don’t wait.  Write them down for your grandchildren and their grandchildren to follow.  The children of today need to know that some things weren’t always the way they are today--things that will never be in the history books nor be taught in the schools, things that made up your life.  It’s important they know of the world you knew, what took place before I-Pods, texting, and the abuse of one of man’s greatest inventions, television.
     Please forgive my grammar, spelling, punctuation and over-all abuse of the English language.  The Cherokee people have no word in their language for goodbye, so I’ll just say “Happy Trails” until we meet again. 

     Chuck Spray   

THE PAST MATTERS.  PASS IT ALONG.
The Next Generation Will Only Inherit What We Choose to Save and Make Accessible.

Please Share Your Memories and Family Connections to Victor & the World's Greatest Gold Camp

By Contacting Victor Heritage Society, PO Box 424, Victor, CO 80860 or e-mail VictorHeritageSociety@gmail.com.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE MEMORIES AND STORIES OF FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO VICTOR & THE WORLD'S GREATEST GOLD CAMP.
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