Programs Co-Chair Susan Michalakes introduced Ron Ruhoff, a founding member and Past President of The Ghost Town Club. Ron came to us from a recommendation from Susan's Father, John Farr, from Greeley (If you are from Greeley, John Farr needs no introduction!!!)Ron has been interested in Ghost Towns since spending time in Central City with his musician father at the Central City Opera. His obsession with Ghost Towns really took off when he began to drive, using a WWII Jeep to tour ghost towns. The Ghost Town Club has over 100 members and started 60 years ago. There are over 700 ghost towns in the mountains, loosely classified as "some where nothing is left, some with several buildings still standing, but no one lives there, and some that are a ghost of their former self but people still live there."
Ron's outstanding photography from the 1950's were coupled with drawings and historical photographs of the towns and contrasted with recent photos, often taken from the same perspective. Ron's narration, music and photography made for a compelling program. He says that sometimes the buildings almost speak to him, "Why did my people leave me? Where have they gone? I wonder if my people will ever return."
You can find more information at www.ghosttownclub.org .