Garfield County News | 1955-02-24 | Page 46 | Gateway Stage Still Operating

Gateway Stage Still Operating In 1907 Edward Martin decided the time was right for establishment of a freight line into Gateway, Colo., not primarily because he felt sorry because there was no commercial communication system Into the tiny western Colorado community, but because he thought it was a good financial risk. Martin did establish the service and his heirs continue to operate it today. The first service of the Gateway Stage Line was with horses and light spring wagon, making the trip to Gateway and back to Whitewater, then the terminal point, twice a w eek. Enroute, the team was changed three times each way in order to make the entire 50-mile trip In one day during good weather. Until 1922 there was no county or state aid in road up-kcep, and during winter months there was always the problem of getting over ' (be deep snows at higher elevattoa points along the route, which se. one place rises to 7,800 feet. Dus ing the more severe winter month Martin used horses and sleds a make the trip. In about 1913 Martin purchased a truck for the freight line and added mail service to his contracts, Increasing the number at trips each week to three, and bringing the eastern terminal point te Grand Junction. The Gateway Uravan Stage still holds the mall contract today. It was in 1932 that residents ot Uravan requested mall service ner the Gateway-Grand Junction rente rather than the service they had been receiving from Montrose. Today the Gateway Uravaa Stage is operated by Austin Tin-dell, son-in-law of the founder, and E. E. Martin, the founder's son. And they still receive requests from residents of Gateway to pick up a spool of thread or the latest magazine. Just as did Edward Martin years ago.