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Looking Back

75 years ago - From the Friday, July 27, 1934, edition of The Steamboat Pilot (Golden Anniversary Edition; the Pilot ran several letters to the editor from Colorado newspapermen and some from local residents, celebrating 50 years in operation):

Today the Pilot begins its 50th year of continuous publication. This in itself is a credible record, but the Pilot hopes it has more than its age to recommend it. During that time, almost half a century, the Pilot has stood to the best of its ability for all that was the best interests of Routt County and Northwest Colorado. It has labored faithfully for the building of the community in which it is published and we state, without any intention of being egotistical, that this paper has been an important factor in bringing about the development of Steamboat Springs and Routt County. For the Pilot is, to a greater degree than any other, a county paper, loyal to its hometown first but willing and anxious at any time to advance the interests of any part of this great county, of which we are so proud. We have had broad enough vision to understand that what helps one part of the county helps every other part, and there is plenty of room and opportunity in this favored county for many towns and many communities, with wealth and opportunity for all.

When the first issue of the Pilot was given to the world, there were less than a dozen residents in Steamboat Springs. It was an embryo town in the wilderness. There were five or six cabins, and mail came 150 miles from Georgetown once a week. Today we have a modern city, a few hours ride from Denver, with every modern convenience, a town that is recognized as one of the liveliest and best in the state.

As the years have progressed, the Pilot has endeavored to keep a little in advance of the progress and to be a leader of the best aspirations of the town in a moral and material way. It has tried to be an advocate that all the citizens could point to with pride and send to their friends as a representative of the best in a community abundantly blessed with material riches.

The Pilot has grown even during the trying times of what is called the world's greatest depression, and this could only be done by the loyal support of the people of the town and the county, for which we are deeply grateful.