History of the Hinsdale County Historic Society
The Historical Society was established in October 1973 and opened its first museum in the Finley Block in July 1975. The building was leased at that time and when it was sold the museum moved to a succession of other rented quarters, including what was the Cinnamon Inn for a couple years starting in 1979. The Society returned to the Finley Block in 1987 and purchased it in 1989 in trade for four town lots the Society owned in the Foote & Richardson Addition and $65,000 cash, the latter including $10,000 from the Boettcher Foundation and $20,000 from the Gates Foundation. We have expended upwards of $100,000 in improvements, including grants in 1998 and 1999 from the State Historical Fund totaling $65,000, for new heating system, roof, electric wiring, handicapped accessible bathroom, and stone and mortar repair.
We are very proud of our accomplishments to date. We could not have done them without the support of our members, the community and our grantors. Please take a few minutes to browse through our site. If you have any questions or suggestions for improvement, please let us know. Thank you for visiting.
Would you like to be part of our organization? Contact us at 970-944-2050 or hinsdalechs@gmail.com
Board of Directors
President – Grant Houston
Vice President – Glenn Heumann
Secretary – Peggy Bales
Treasurer – Glenn Heumann
Director – Arlene Gonzales
Arlene Gonzales chose the San Juans as a young adult. Her interest in history is a natural extension of her work as an appraiser of mining claims and historic buildings. New to Lake City, Arlene hopes to learn from its living legends. There is nowhere better to start than the seat made available after Kristy Borchers’ 14 years of service and significant accomplishments on the Board.
Director – Jesse Kendall
Director – Mette Flynt
Mette Flynt joined the board in 2021. She is a history professor who studies tourism and the American West. Her interest in history began with her family. She spent the summers volunteering with her dad, David Flynt, at HCHS and learning about her family’s mining history in Lake City. Mette has led historic tours for HCHS since 2005. She’s proud to have the privilege to tell new stories about familiar places through these tours.
Director – Mike Harrington
I had the opportunity to join the board in 2021. I was already and remain a volunteer docent at our fabulous museum. I have been interested in Western history and mining since my childhood which is a reason I chose Lake City as a new home. I am also active volunteering as a western reenactment actor and in the Alpine Outdoor Association which fosters safety and outdoor awareness. I am proud to be guiding our newest Lake City Historical tour featuring the lifetime and nefarious actions of Alfred Packer.
Administrative Assistant- Shayla Rightsell
Shayla had the pleasure of joining the board in the spring of 2024. As a Lake City local, she always had a curiosity for Lake City’s deep history. After graduating from Lake City Community school in 2022, Shayla knew she wanted to continue living and working in her hometown. The museum offers her a chance to not only give back to the community that raised her but to fully immerse herself in the history that she knows and loves. Shayla is proud to be a part of a board that has welcomed her with open arms and forever shaped the rest of her working career.
