Colorado Coal Towns and Their People (DRAKE HALL)

This course explores a pivotal era in Colorado’s history marked by rapid industrialization and a soaring demand for coal. Coal fueled domestic heating, powered steam locomotives, supported ore processing mills, and most significantly, supplied the massive steel mill in Pueblo. At its peak, the coal industry became Colorado’s largest employer. 

To support operations in remote areas, companies built entire villages for miners and their families—over 70 such communities emerged more than a century ago. As coal demand declined and deposits were depleted, mines closed and once-thriving towns were abandoned, leaving behind rows of empty foundations. 

Who were the people who lived in these towns, many of them immigrants? What were their living conditions like? Did they have access to quality housing and essential infrastructure? This course invites students to examine the lives, communities, and legacies of Colorado’s coal mining era. 

Kenneth Jessen started teaching OSHER classes in 2014 and has, over the years, authored 23 books, plus over 2,300 articles for local newspapers and magazines.  His lectures are in demand, including the Fort Collins Senior Center, Chilson Center, Berthoud Community Center, and assisted living facilities. Jessen also heads up tours and worked for many years as an advisor for Channel 4 CBS. Kenneth Jessen holds a BSEE and an MBA, as well as postgraduate work in telecommunications technology. 

Notes

• A current OLLI membership is required to register for all courses and lectures.
• If you do not have a Spring 2026 membership, one will be added to your cart at checkout.
• OLLI membership fees and course tuition are critical to the Institute's sustainability and are non-refundable.

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