1961

1964

1962

1963

1960

1959

Fairmont Cemetery Cultural Society

Fairmont Cemetery Cultural Society

FCCS (Fairmont Cemetery Cultural Society) begins with five members to drink beer (always Coors) , smoke Mississippi River Crooks rum soaked cigars and discuss problems with school, family, girls and jobs. Group poses for picture at crypt drawers. Saunderson becomes honorary member.. FCCS expands to give associate membership to Mel's Angels and Mel's Belles. It was a good sign if St. Mel shone red on way to an event

Denver

Funeral Bashes Explode in Popularity

Funeral Bashes Explode in Popularity

First Funeral Bash referred to as Funeral, Lawn-Alley Party and Bonfire. Invitations become more widespread and elaborate.

Denver

Dangerous Activities Increase w/ Funeral Bashes

Dangerous Activities Increase w/ Funeral Bashes

Funeral Bashes held to honor passing of beloved creatures : Earl, Wroth, Ginger and lots more. Parties grew to include fireworks and a bonfire. Various residences in Denver and suburbs were host properties, as well as Cherry Creek Reservoir area. One party on Arapahoe Road featured Pancho Villa in huge velvet hat, riding out of the night on a horse and swooping over to kidnap Mary Jo. Unfortunately, the horse kicked the stump out from under Mary Jo and sent her sprawling to the ground. It took several tries before Pancho successfully threw her onto the back of the horse and rode off into the night, leaving some to wonder if that had really happened or if they should quit drinking.

Denver

Organizes Better Ski Trips Than School

Organizes Better Ski Trips Than School

John organizes his own ski bus trips in competition with school beginning No competition. Thus begins his career as an event coordinator.

Colorado

Homemade Bug-Zapper House Fire

Homemade Bug-Zapper House Fire

Almost burned down the house with the homemade bug zapper. Excitement for neighborhood when fire truck arrives

Denver, CO

Lifelong Insulator Fascination is Born

Lifelong Insulator Fascination is Born

Jack becomes scout leader to the Moose Patrol. On train ride on Durango=Silverton, group disembarks 1/2. way.and camps. Hiking excursion passes poles with broken wires laying on ground. Jack points to insulators and remarks that they will be a collector's item some day. Anonymous scout (to protect him from prosecution) and John saw down 8 poles and secure 16 insulators.. A new collection is born. When John returns to the area a year later, all poles had been set up again because Forest Service was using lines for forest fire reporting. Oops.

Colorado

Hits Up 1st McDonald's in Denver

Hits Up 1st McDonald's in Denver

Agitator washing machines, metal clothesline poles in backyard, roller skates with skate keys,black and white TV featuring Lone Ranger, Gene Autrey, Davy Crockett, Roy Rogers, Howdy Doody and Fred and Faye show are in vogue. The first McDonalds to Denver on South Colorado Blvd. ( @ 1956)is built It was a "big deal" to go there. Watched sign change to "100,000 sold". and price increase from 15 cents for a hamburger. Denver Drumstick Restaurant sends meals around in a train. What could be better.

Denver, CO

Begins Ecclectic Activities

Begins Ecclectic Activities

John participates in normal childhood things: riding go-cart with lawnmower engine, hosting crabapple fights, building multi-room xmas tree forts, alleypicking, gathering garter snakes from the seminary ditches, watching the monks in long robes walk silently around the perimeter, playing cowboy or Davy Crocket with Coonskin hat, looking for "bad girls" (whatever that means) over brick fence at Home of the Good Shepherd. He uses future engineering skills to build matchstick bridges and set them on fire.

Denver, CO

Becomes Fire-Building Ninja

Begins School @ Cory Elementary

Moose Patrol becomes Explorer Post making regular camping trips to "Lost Canyon" near Castlewood Dam and Commanche Pines. John is in charge of fire building.

Colorado

Hides From Grandma Josie in Bellaire Outhouse

Hides From Grandma Josie in Bellaire Outhouse

Spend summers at Maine cabin with cousins, swimming in the "pond", climbing "Mt" Blue. Jack and John hide in outhouse to avoid Grandmother Josie. Outhouse was known as the "guy place"

Bellaire

Dangerous Street Sledding

Dangerous Street Sledding

Jack's Scout or McDanals' Packard used to pull sleds down the street.

Denver, CO

Party Bus to Shrine Circus

Party Bus to Shrine Circus

All neighborhood kids (25) taken to Shrine Circus on rented city bus by neighbor Van. every year.

Denver, CO

Takes Down Telecommunication Network w/ M-80s

Takes Down Telecommunication Network w/ M-80s

In back yard, John and neighbor shoot tin can with M-80's severing several phone lines.

Denver, CO

M-80 Surprise Attacks Begin Fireworks "Career"

M-80 Surprise Attacks Begin Fireworks "Career"

4th of July celebrations held in alley.. Jack becomes infamous for throwing M-80 behind benches of spectators, causing gravel to become imbedded into all legs. Beginning of John's fireworks career.

Denver, CO

1970

1969

1968

1967

1966

1965

Begins Professional Fireworks Career

Heads to Mexico

Moves to El Dorado Springs

Parties @ Indian Hills Cabin

Parties in Boulder & Ft. Collins

Exits College, Joins Air Force Reserves

18 & Strip Clubs

Ski Pole Through Cheek

Begins Dressing in Western Cowboy "Costume"

Acquires Illegal Bald Eagle Head

Begins Professional Fireworks Career

Professionalizes his natural pyrotechnical instincts, begins firing Class B fireworks shows.

Heads to Mexico

Road Trip to Mexico because... why not?

Mexico

Moves to El Dorado Springs

Moves to motel next to liquor store featuring drive up window. Also lives in El Dorado Springs before Air Force barracks become temporary home.

El Dorado Springs

Parties @ Indian Hills Cabin

Many parties held at cabin - sometimes with participants on leave from military, sometimes with participants skipping college classes (for days). Collection of bottles and cans on shelves expanded. Beer tabs strung as room dividers.

Indian Hills

Parties in Boulder & Ft. Collins

Hangs out at Skunk Creek Inn, Tulagi's, the Sink, Grandma's (featuring cheap pitchers of beer and dandy Mexican food). Favorite meal on the Hill is Round the Corner's barbeque burger and salad with blue cheese dressing. At parties, he returns to his musical roots by playing "Flight of the Bumble Bee" on piano after a few mugs of beer to limber his fingers. Makes numerous trips to Ft. Collins to party at Sea Cellar and attend woodsies at Horsetooth Reservoir. Explores all cemeteries in the area cramming many people into "Old Black" (the VW).

Colorado

Exits College, Joins Air Force Reserves

John attempts college majoring in Engineering and living in the Kittridge Complex. Flunked calculus but couldn't change majors until he passed calculus. Catch 22, ends John's college career but luckily makes him eligible for the draft. Neighborhood friend secures him spot in Air Force Reserves as a medic at Fitzsimmons. After bootcamp in Texas. John suffers repeated hardships from partying all night, then dressing in starched white "Dr. Casey" uniform and reporting for duty.

Colorado

18 & Strip Clubs

After turning 18, Shakeys in Cherry Creek was the place to hang out. It was divided into over 21 and over 18 where 3.2 beer was served in pitchers. The rite of passage for turning 21 was visiting strip club on South Colorado Blvd.

Denver, CO

Ski Pole Through Cheek

Puts a ski pole through face skiing at Winter Park, vows never to ski again

Colorado

Acquires Illegal Bald Eagle Head

John becomes owner of bald eagle head and talons as a result of crash with train. Jack brings it home and John stores it in basement refrigerator. Refrigerator is sold with house, hopefully not with eagle parts. Surprise!!!

Denver

Begins Dressing in Western Cowboy "Costume"

John dresses as cowboy for Halloween based on comfort: fringed gloves, soft plaid shirt, cowboy hat, boots. Costume serves him well and continues through life.

Denver, CO

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

Wedding Continues in Indian Hills

Drunk Wedding Lobster

Marries Eleanor Ayer in Rutland VT

Ellie Tells John to Buzz Off

Forms Company JENDE-HAGAN

Local Kids Break, Enter, and Blow Faces Off

Buys Frederick Property

Enjoys Canoeing

Meets Ellie

Funeral Bashes Explode in Popularity

Bank Accident

Wedding Continues in Indian Hills

Continues kickass wedding party with debaucherous party in Indian Hills, CO {Power Wagon

Indian Hills

Drunk Wedding Lobster

Jack and Buck inebriate lobster with celebratory champagne

Rutland, VT

Marries Eleanor Ayer in Rutland VT

Marries Eleanor Ayer in kickass lobster party ceremony at 2 Avenue B in Rutland VT

Rutland, VT

Ellie Tells John to Buzz Off

Ellie returns to Rutland, tells John to buzz off. John calls and says no way, I'm driving out to get you. And make you my wife!

Rutland, VT

Forms Company JENDE-HAGAN

JENDE-HAGAN starts as a totally shit business idea, but books are cool.Stockholder meetings are lavish and use up most of profits.

Frederick, CO

Local Kids Break, Enter, and Blow Faces Off

Local kids blow their face off breaking and entering into John's Class B fireworks stash. John is absolved of any liability.

Frederick, CO

Buys Frederick Property

Buys decrepid property in Frederick, CO and begins a decades-long renovation process. Assumes that most regrettable of roles, the Landlord.

Frederick, CO

Enjoys Canoeing

Demonstrates more of his natural athletic ability with water sports, including competitive canoeing.

Colorado

Meets Ellie

Meets Ellie in Moose Wyoming via MJ Butkovich

Moose, Wyoming

Bank Accident

John has interesting accident while going through the bank drive-up window, sliding the jeep past the window.

Funeral Bashes Explode in Popularity

First Funeral Bash referred to as Funeral, Lawn-Alley Party and Bonfire. Invitations become more widespread and elaborate.

Denver

1984

1983

1982

1979

1978

1977

Family Time @ Bellaire

Rendezvous Danger Increases

Hits the Beach

"Maddog" Born

Durango & Silverton 1.0

Rendezvous Commence

Begins (Unpopular) Midnight Dinner Service

Heavy Duty Chain Saw

Family Time @ Bellaire

Spending time in his "happy place" Bellaire on Cape Cod Hill, with Jack, Ellie, and Madison.

New Sharon, ME

Rendezvous Danger Increases

Rendezvous competitions become more competitive, dangerous. Kids included in activities - log rolling, Jacob's ladder sanctioned; playing on roof, playing near hatchet throwing contests overlooked.

Indian Hills

Hits the Beach

John & family hit the beach in Maine -- perhaps Mile Beach at Reid State Park -- where John demonstrates to his young son the appropriate beach attire of blue jeans and western shirt.

Reid State Park, ME

"Maddog" Born

Eldest son John Madison Ayer born at Boulder Community Hospital

Boulder, CO

Durango & Silverton 1.0

Durango & Silverton train trip on the Nomad. Sponsored by Crazy Leonard's Grassroot Tours and Photograhic Safaris. Evidentally 22 people attended including Bun aka Maddog. Seems there was a lot of drinking. Silverton tourists even take pictures of some of guests in prone positions. Marriage ceremony performed. Checking to see if it was legal. Surprise!!! Book and movie made of trip so attendees can remember it.

Durango, CO

Rendezvous Commence

Rendezvous! Shinin' Times. Annual Memorial Day party at cabin. Usually cold, sometimes snowing, occasional sun. Come for an hour/a day/three days. Costumes become more elaborate and authentic each year. John's leather coat can probably stand by itself due to the hardened grease it acquired. 5 1/2 foot Beaver stomps out of night to thrill kids and scare adults. Coyote Cup given for degradation or extreme behavior. Staged hanging for film goes too far but actor isn't nominated for cup. Neighbors remarkably tolerant.

Indian Hills

Begins (Unpopular) Midnight Dinner Service

Establishes himself as host of dinner parties, but serves dinner about midnight. Becomes a habit that never catches on. People still come with hope and prayers for earlier dinner but it never happens.

Colorado

Heavy Duty Chain Saw

Takes down huge dead oak tree in Maine with Jack, learns to appreciate the majestic oak trees on the property.

Bellaire

1992

1991

1990

1988

1986

1985

Hiking the Rockies

Caboose Hobbies & Carl's

Caritas Private Railcar Trip

Plays Resentful Tourist Dad

Frederick Flood

Wyoming Pack Trips

Renaissance House Publishers

Renovates Frederick Home

"Swilliam" Born

Caboose Hobbies & Carl's

Makes weekly trips to Denver to visit Caboose Hobbies and dine at Carl's

Denver, CO

Hiking the Rockies

Enjoys family trips into the glorious Rockies for hiking, etc.

Colorado

Frederick Flood

Frederick flood. Goes to war with town council those negligent assholes

Frederick, CO

Plays Resentful Tourist Dad

Resents having children on sweltering summer family tourist visits in Chicago, Washington DC

Washington DC

Caritas Private Railcar Trip

Caritas private railcar trip for Jack & Rosie's 50th

USA

Wyoming Pack Trips

Awesome family Pack Trips in Wyoming wilderness, facilitated by Buck and MJ, including to crowd favorite Dundee Meadows.

Dundee Meadows, WY

Renaissance House Publishers

JENDE-HAGAN evolves into Renaissance House Publishers, begins focus on David Grayson, Traveller Guidebook series.

Frederick, CO

"Swilliam" Born

Youngest son William Ogden Mitchell born at Boulder Community Hospital

Boulder, CO

Renovates Frederick Home

A modest remodelling turns into a major renovation as the house foundation collapses during construction, ultimately yielding a like-new house build and the addition of the Library.

Frederick, CO

1998

2003

1993

2001

2005

2006

Loses Ellie

Attacked By Aliens in Rural Maine

Shoots Cannon @ School; Befriends Fire Brigade

College Visits with Swilliam

Como Green Chili Fireworks

Magical Water Fountain

Green Fairy

Gets Job @ Veracity Credit

Pig Roasts

Red Square Blizzard

Red Square Blizzard

Lights up the dance floor at an annual Veracity company party, hosted at the esteemed Red Square Euro Bistro, and played by the world-famous Crooners, who are ultimately snowed in by a massive blizzard and return to the Red Square for an encore.

Denver, CO

Pig Roasts

One of numerous 48-hour pig roast extravaganzas hosted in Frederick

Frederick, CO

Gets Job @ Veracity Credit

Begins new job as Director of Pyrotechnics and Private Railcar Transport for Veracity Credit Consultants

Denver, CO

Green Fairy

Conducts Green Fairy Absinthe Research with the boys

Frederick, CO

College Visits with Swilliam

Takes various train trips with Swilliam to visit potential colleges

Pacific Northwest

Shoots Cannon @ School; Befriends Fire Brigade

After shooting off the cannon at a Dawson School theater rehearsal which draws the Fire Brigade, John is instantly and humorously recognized by the fire marshall

Lafayette, CO

Magical Water Fountain

Designs, builds, and begins enjoying the elaborate water fountain complete with fish, frogs, gnomes, and specialty moss, which becomes a central feature of many backyard patio hangouts in Frederick

Frederick, CO

Attacked By Aliens in Rural Maine

Hospitalized after being attacked by moose/aliens/gangsters in the back alleys of the Maine woods while on a nighttime walk to escape the horde of college co-eds who have descended upon Bellaire. "Mr. Ayer has a wound" is the understatement of the evening.

Bellaire

Loses Ellie

Celebrates the life -- and mourns the premature loss of -- wife Ellie. Begins a 3-month period of uninterrupted fire in the whiskey-barrel pit on the back patio while contemplating what's next.

Frederick, CO

Como Green Chili Fireworks

Fires proper hand-fired fireworks show in Como CO and eats hotter-than-hell green chili with Maddog (it was pretty hot)

Como, CO

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Builds Shit w/ Jackson

Siblings in Dubois

Bellaire's New Generation

Prepares for 1st Grandchild

Marries Off Eldest Son

Forms Slivovitz Gang

Baseball
Career

Durango & Silverton 2.0

Cellar Hole in Maine Woods

Builds Shit w/ Jackson

Gets into grandfatherly building activities with Grandson Jackson

Frederick, CO

Siblings in Dubois

Siblings Susan, MJ, and John, plus cousin Ann, meet in Dubois.

Dubois, WY

Bellaire's New Generation

Welcomes new generation (Jackson) to Bellaire with Brunch Service

New Sharon, ME

Marries Off Eldest Son

Gets posh and metropolitan at the New York City wedding of son Madison to New Jersey's own Danielle Tornambe

Jersey City, NJ

Prepares for 1st Grandchild

Prepares to welcome his first grandchild with a blowout luau-themed slobberfest "baby shower" at the Red Square

Red Square Euro Bistro

Forms Slivovitz Gang

Having formed a lifelong affinity for Czechoslavakian Plum Brandy drinking with Rosemary in Eastern Europe, John forms a new-age Slivovitz Gang in the United States.

Frederick, CO

Cellar Hole in Maine Woods

Enjoys taking visitors on an ancestral walking tour around Cape Cod Hill, with a highlight of finding signs of the long-lost cellar hole where great-great Annabelle Holt was born.

New Sharon, ME

Durango & Silverton 2.0

Re-enacts original Durango & Silverton extravaganza with new generation, eager to out-do original cast's antics. Train's commissary misunderstands champagne order as 2 bottles, not 2 cases which is quickly remedied. Upon taking Silverton, gang descends upon whiskey bar Shady Lady Saloon for much debauchery. What happened on the return trip? No one really knows, except the record shows that surprisingly everyone made it back to Durango. No further comment.

Durango, CO

Baseball Career

Enthusiastically supports the Veraciraptors ball club with his knowledge of sports and things

Denver, CO

2020

2017

2015

2014

2013

Learns Technology, Orders All Of Amazon

Enjoys Comfy Last Days @ Home

Union Pacific's Bailey Yard

Personal Telephone Pole

Fireworks Crew

Caught Red-Handed by Fireworks Cops

Marries Off Other Son

Enjoys Comfy Last Days @ Home

Enjoys final time in front of the fireplace with cat Martini, some good tunes, surrounded by the gang swilling expired vinegar wine from the cellar downstairs

Frederick, CO

Learns Technology, Orders All Of Amazon

While in hospital, John learns to order goods on-line, commenting that all his spending should cause Will to bring him home soon. That doesn't happen, but Will does cancel credit card when charges exceed limit.

Longmont, CO

Personal Telephone Pole

Negotiates with town to acquire and install his own personal telephone pole on the Frederick homestead (obviously)

Frederick, CO

Union Pacific's Bailey Yard

Impromptu family holiday to largest railyard in the world, Union Pacific's Bailey Yard, during Kearney Nebraska hospital vacation. Road Trip!

North Platte, NE

Fireworks Crew

Continues his role on fireworks crew in Greeley, Lone Tree, and other venues statewide.

Colorado

Caught Red-Handed by Fireworks Cops

Shoots off proper fireworks with a devil-may-care attitude while hiding from the police. After pleading a strong case of ignorance, Frederick Police Officers walk through yard with Consiglieri Alex and shine flashlights on ... wait for it ... thousands of smoking cardboard tubes scattered across the lawn

Frederick, CO

Marries Off Other Son

Cleans up yet again for the beautiful (belated) brunch wedding celebration of Will and Courtney at a favorite venue, The Greenbriar

Boulder, CO