CLARA BROWN - NEW EXHIBIT AND NEW BOOK

by Pam North

There's no question about it - Clara Brown is hot this summer.  A
legendary black woman of great kindness and generosity, a freed former
slave and entrepreneur who lived in Central City during its early gold
rush days, Clara Brown is the subject of a new opera, Gabriel's
Daughter, that is being presented in its world premiere this month at
Central City's historic Opera House.  The heart-rending story and
memorable libretto of this presentation is not to be missed, according
to the enthusiastic comments of those who have already seen the
production.

The Gilpin History Museum, at 228 East High Street in Central City, is
featuring several special exhibits to tie in with the current focus on
Clara Brown.  A backyard scene, complete with clothes hanging on
lines, real dirt underfoot, and chickens wandering about, commemorate
Aunt Clara's successful occupation as a laundress for the miners who
populated the area during its rowdy mining days.  Extra touches such
as red long-johns, soap bars, a copper kettle for heating the water
and a wooden fork to lift the clothes out of the steaming washwater,
and a dasher stick (manually-operated agitator) complete the
authenticity of how laundry chores were done back when it was
undeniably hard work.  A hands-on display, of heavy old irons and a
bucket of water weighing 21 pounds, gives visitors to the museum a
feel for the effort involved in washing and ironing clothes in the old
days.  Another scene depicts Aunt Clara in her kitchen cooking a meal,
again with the stove and utensils appropriate to the 1860s period.

One very special memento is the original deed, dated June 26, 1864,
that conveyed the title of a lot on East High Street to Mary Myers
from Clara Brown herself, and sealing the bargain is Clara's own X as
her mark.  The selling price was $28.00.

While Clara Brown was instrumental in the building of the St. James
Methodist Church on Eureka Street, she was a member of Presbyterian
church, which once was located between the Opera House and the Teller
House.  A pulpit from the Presbyterian church, torn down in 1926, is
now on display at the museum, as are the old Opera House chairs with
the names of Clara Brown and Barney Ford (another prominent early
black resident of Central City) carved into their backs.

A fine exhibit of quilts is also being showcased as part of the focus
on Clara Brown.  These quilts number about 35, of which over a third
are antique, and all have been made by African-Americans.  The
quilting group, Wa Shonaji, has loaned the quilts for the showing, and
the quilts have been divided between the museum and the Teller House
for viewing, so both locations must be visited in order to see the
whole collection.

The Gilpin History Museum will be open Fridays through Mondays, 11:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m., until Labor Day.  It is also currently featuring a
Native American exhibit of arrowheads, pottery and pottery shards.
Its gift shop is amply stocked with Roger Baker's new book, Clara: An
Ex-Slave in Gold Rush Colorado, a well-researched and nicely-written
account of Clara Brown's fascinating life, a perfect venue for those
who wish to know more about her.  The shop also has a variety of
additional books to offer, including a second printing of Alan
Granruth's informative book, Mining Gold to Mining Wallets, and a
diverse selection of other gifts as well.

Discover Clara Brown by opera, by book, or by exhibits; all will
provide illumination into the character of this amazing pioneer woman.