Charles Dell

In the 1970’s Lori Kennedy, a graduate student, conducted an oral history and interviewed Charlie Dell. Charlie was a life-long resident of Park County and grew up here. After a small time away, he came back and lived here in Guffey until he passed in 1983. Thanks to the students at the University of Denver, we’ve gained access to these audio files which are now available online!

Find out more about Charles Dell, a self-described Colorado cowboy and get a glimpse into his rural life.

Learn more about the student at University of Denver who were able to bring these audiotapes to life!

Also, don’t forget to listen to 13 songs with Charlie Dell and friends to hear him playing the banjo. (See below).

Here’s a small glimpse of the past played for us by Charlie and his friends.

I landed in old Guffey
A cowboy for to be
Little dreamin’ of the place that it would be
I worked from early morning
I worked til set of sun.
In the God forsaken place that God forgot.
In this part of Colorado
It might seem all right to some
But I always think their minds have went astray
For someday there’ll be an angel
With a little bunch of keys
Who’ll remove old Guffey from the U.S.A.
Now that silver snow is falling
And that zero weather’s here
And those hungry coyotes howl in my backyard.

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