MAYOR OF FLORISSANT APPEARS ON MARTHA STEWART
By Celinda Reynolds Kaelin ©2006, 2010

What if the most famous person in Teller County is a Jackass?  This is a question that is liable to stump future historians as they cull through the records of this century, and we will owe it all to Paco Bell.

The scandal actually began in 1996 when a group of Florissant residents gathered at a local coffee shop, bemoaning the fact that the County Commissioners and other authorities failed to take notice of their small community.  What would generate respect?  What could they do to command attention?  The answer seemed simple enough:  make Florissant’s Mayor a true jackass.  I was one of the instigators at this meeting, and also held the office of President of Pikes Peak Historical Society.  With all due authority, we therefore decided to hold elections at the annual Heritage Day Celebration in July.  Only Burros were eligible for office, and each owner was required to make a nominating speech.  Our burro, Birdie, a standard-size grey burro culled from the Cripple Creek herd, was elected Mayor that first year and went unchallenged for the next four years.  Then, a cute little miniature donkey moved into the neighborhood and challenged Birdie.  His campaign slogan was “Little Dillion is much cuter than Celinda’s big ass” – and he won by a landslide!

I will digress for a moment and explain some of the terminology here.  “Burro” is a term borrowed from the Spanish “borrico” meaning “donkey.”   This term was originally from the Latin, “burricus” which meant “small horse.”   Donkeys and burros are referenced in biblical times as “asses.”  They come in three different sizes; miniature (about 3 feet high), standard (about 4 or 5 feet high), and giant (about the size of a small horse).  Many burros bear a dark black stripe across their withers (shoulders) and down their back which looks like a cross.  These burros are called “Bethlehem Burros” for their biblical role of carrying Jesus on his journeys.

Now, back to the Mayor of Florissant.  Unfortunately, Dillion’s administration was riddled with scandal.  He was in office barely one week, when an escaped convict took several hostages at a local bar.  Dozens of law enforcement officers swarmed through Florissant, and black-garbed SWAT teams loomed on every rooftop.  And where was the Mayor?  Dillion had left town!  That’s when Paco Bell, a standard size, dark brown Bethlehem burro, decided to run for office in 2004.  Adorable little Dillion was a formidable opponent, so Paco Bell cleverly decided to run on the platform that “The bigger the ass, the bigger the brain!”

This election was not without its problems, however.  A thoroughly charming llama named Milo decided to throw his hat in the ring.  There were cries of foul play, accusing Milo of impersonating an ass, while he in turn accused election officials of fraud.  When the dust settled, everyone was friends and Paco Bell held the office of Mayor.  Sheriff Kevin Dougherty swore him into office, and the media went into a frenzy.  Newspapers across the country carried the story of the jackass Mayor, and the Sheriff was inundated with calls from the press around the world!  Florissant finally garnered the attention it sought.

Harold and I had our hands full with calls requesting interviews for Paco Bell.  He appeared on “Balderdash” and then was featured on the DVD “American Treasure” with Nicolas Cage.   In February, 2006, he was featured in National Geographic Kids.  And in Februrary 2007, he and Birdie will appear in “Cowboy U” on television.  Of course, the topper was his appearance on Martha Stewart’s show on September 15, 2007 (copies of this appearance are available at the Pikes Peak Historical Society Museum).

Martha had seen the National Geographic story on Paco, and was enchanted.  I received a call from her producer in July, 2006, inviting Harold, Paco Bell, and I to New York to tape the show.  Unfortunately, I had just broken my arm, and was in too much pain to travel anywhere.  Martha did not want to postpone Paco’s appearance, however, and so it was arranged to make a video of him here in Florissant.  Mike Jones and Steve Blevins of  1:Cor Productions donated their services, as members and friends of the Pikes Peak Historical Society and officials (Bob Eichman, Keith Wagner, and Crystal Blunt) from Park State Bank gathered at the museum on September 2 to film Paco Bell officiating over the “purchase” of the new museum.  Unfortunately, much of the video was edited out, and only a short clip made into Martha’s show.  She called me on September 8^th and we taped my interview for her “live” show on the September15, 2007.  Unfortunately, her producers gave me strict instructions that I was not to say a word to the press until after the fact.  And so Paco Bell received a glorious 4 and ½ minutes of fame on national TV, and Florissant basked in his glow.

Through the years, Paco continued his work on behalf of the Pikes Peak Historical Society.  Each year, he worked hard at the Schwan’s Fundraisers, donning his Uncle Sam’s hat and greeting visitors at the Schwan’s truck.  Sadly, on Saturday, April 23, 2011, Paco Bell passed away.  We’re not exactly sure of his age, but his previous owner had him when he was a little boy, so he was probably over 50 years old.  He will be missed and remembered for his work on behalf of the Florissant community.

“135-Year-Old Cemetery Celebration in Florissant”

Florissant, Teller County, Colorado.  April 27, 2009.

The small mountain community of Florissant, 35 miles west of Colorado Springs, is celebrating its 135-year-old cemetery with the publication of a new book, Florissant, Colorado Pioneer Cemetery--The Stories Behind the Tombstones, and the dedication of a new cemetery entrance on Monday, May 25.

Florissant was established in June, 1870, when Judge James Castello built a Trading Post adjacent to a Ute Indian fort.  In 1872, Judge Castello applied for an official post office which he named “Florissant” for his hometown in Missouri.  Gold seekers and pioneers flooded into the area, but were unable to file legal title to homesteads until a survey of the Pikes Peak region was published in 1876.  Later, when the Colorado Midland Railroad arrived 1886, scores of new families moved into the area.  These early pioneers lost loved ones in the ebb and flow of life, and an informal cemetery sprang up among the aspens and pines.  Many of the graves were marked by a simple wooden stake.  The earliest burial was probably that of a child who died in 1874, but the cemetery is filled with dozens of un-marked graves (with unknown dates) as the wooden markers deteriorated and disappeared.   There may very well be earlier burials. 

On August 27, 1886, Frank F. Castello (son of James) and his neighbors John Wilson and Valentine Hamman applied to El Paso County (Teller County was carved out of El Paso County 1899) for a “Florissant Cemetery Association.”   Frank Castello and John Wilson were named as the Trustees.  In November 1900, Frank Castello applied to have only himself named Trustee of the Florissant Cemetery Association.  The record is vague after this date, and the cemetery fell into disrepair.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society began voluntary maintenance in 1988.  In March, 1992, the District Court in Teller County named the Pikes Peak Historical Society as Trustee of the Cemetery. (Florissant Heritage Foundation was renamed Pikes Peak Historical Society in 2001.) 

Authors Laura L. Moncrief and Nancy M. Boyd open the graves of 109 of these early pioneers buried in the cemetery in their comprehensive new book, Florissant, Colorado Pioneer Cemetery--The Stories Behind  the Tombstones.  This book is 220 pages, and includes family genealogies, photos of each pioneer tombstone, and a complete index of over 500 surnames. 

A reception for the authors and book signing will take place at the Pikes Peak Historical Society Museum  at 12:00 pm.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society Museum is located across from the Florissant Post Office at 18033 Teller County Road #1.  This book signing will be followed by the dedication of the new cemetery gate at 2:00 pm at the Florissant Pioneer Cemetery.  The Florissant Pioneer Cemetery is located at 634 County Road #421 (Upper Twin Rocks Road).  This program is presented as a public service by the Pikes Peak Historical Society, and is free to the public.   

Refreshments are provided, and admission is free.  Florissant is located 35 miles west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24.  For more information, call 748-3562.

PIKES PEAK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
SCHEDULE OF 2010 CHAUTAUQUAS**

 **All Chautauquas are held at the Florissant Public Library unless otherwise noted.