Ive been writing about doctors, and there is one more who needs mentioned. A good many of us remember Erskine C. Mallett.
E. C., as he was known, was born in 1885 and came to Mancos as a child with his parents. He attended Colorado Agricultural College and received his degree as a veterinarian. He practiced that trade for a number of years. In 1909 he married Delphia Murray who had come to Mancos in 1907.
Being a veterinarian kept E. C. busy so Delphia and her sister became members of the famous Chautauqua Circuit and traveled over the country performing before a good many crowds. Delphia was an excellent musician. E. C. developed quite a love for music himself and he and Delphia performed together numerous times.
It was through that love of music that brought E. C. to be the director of the town band. And then WWII broke out and during that time he also directed the school band. I well remember him directing the school band during that time. I also had the pleasure of being taken to Gunnison by E. C. so another boy and I could attend summer band camp.
In the midst of their love of music E. C. and Delphia had three children, Howard and Elbert and a daughter, Esther Bell. Both Howard and Elbert were associated for a time with the Mancos Garage.
In 1940 Esther married Stirling Bell and he worked for a number of years for the Mallett Garage before spending 23 years as a procurement officer for Mesa Verde National Park. Their son, Frosty Sterling Bell, was an actor, an artist and a poet and is listed in the directory of American poets.
Robert, another Mallett, also worked at the Mallett Garage. He married Vida Hallar, who had come to Mancos with her parents in 1901. Her father, Fred Hallar, built a store at the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. It later became known as Hallarville. After her father died, she worked at the Mallett Garage for fifteen years. Many of us remember Vida, of whom it was said, She may have disagreed but she was never disagreeable. Vida passed away in April of 1982.
In the meantime, E. C. became a rural mail carrier. He carried on that duty from 1924 through 1954. I graduated from high school in 1952 so I dont remember growing up with anyone else being a rural mail carrier out Webber. E. C. was like Dr. Trotter, in that both of them carried out their duties regardless of rain, mud or snow.
Delphia was active in the Study Club and the Home Demonstration Club. She passed away in 1954, the same year that E. C. retired from being a rural mail carrier. A few years later E. C. married Lela Brewster. E. C. never gave up his love of music and chose the songs for his funeral, which was held in February 1965.
