Craig Daily Press

Centennial

Information about Craig's Centennial

Courtesy of the Museum of Northwest Colorado

This is a photo of Mary Diamond with her sons Charlie on the left, Dan behind her and Sam on the right.

Courtesy of the Museum of Northwest Colorado

This photo, taken about 1898 by D. W. Diamond, is of an unidentified girl.

Courtesy of the Museum of Northwest Colorado

Jim Robinson, left, and Ted Hughes take care of cattle in the area that today would be around Pershing and Eighth streets. The photo was taken about 1902 by photographer D. W. Diamond.

Courtesy of the Museum of Northwest Colorado

This studio photo of Mary Taylor Downs, circa 1902 was taken by D. W. Diamond.

Craig — When we think of the people who made lasting impacts on the development of Craig, we usually think of those who stayed for decades, or even their entire life. But, there was a handful of people who made lasting contributions in a very short time span.

Born Oct. 8, 1855, in Ontario, Canada, Daniel W. Diamond was one of 10 children. He began his working career as a cabinetmaker, but found that the dust in the wood shop aggravated a chronic lung ailment.

He turned to photography, set up a studio in Pocatello, Idaho, and recorded that city’s families for about six years before joining his mother and three of his brothers in the Yampa Valley.

His mother Mary had her own homestead near Craig, and his brothers took up land nearby as well but they all shared a home for a while. Dan set up his studio in the family home and promptly began to advertise his services to the residents of the area.

The Craig Courier of Dec. 19, 1896, introduced him: “Mr. Diamond is an experienced photographer and parties wishing work of that sort will do well by giving him a call.”

He quickly became an integral part of the community and became friends with some of the town’s bachelors. He and Amos Bennet shared a love of photography and adventure and documented some of their hunting expeditions in amazing photographs. He realized the importance of extending his business area and soon set up a portable studio.

“Dan Diamond, Craig’s photographer has had his photo car mounted on wheels and during next month will visit Baggs and Dixon,” read a Craig Courier article in April 30, 1898.

He also made trips to Meeker and Steamboat Springs to document families and architecture in those growing towns.

Diamond’s family was popular in the community as well. Mother Mary soon became “Grandma Diamond,” and often hosted parties and dinners at her home. Bachelor sons Samuel and Charles homesteaded in the Elk Head community and became known for their excellent horses.

Dan Diamond faced a difficult struggle with tuberculosis. He found that he needed to escape the cold winters of the Yampa Valley and spent months at a time in New Mexico and Arizona.

At one point, he was away from Craig for nearly two years but kept in contact with his friends and was welcomed back happily in 1901.

By 1903, things were going steadily downhill for Diamond and despite his involvement with several civic and fraternal groups, he was finding that the tuberculosis was taking its toll on his activities. He enjoyed his membership in Woodsmen of the World, but because of his weakened condition was unable to fulfill all the initiation rites.

That year wasn’t totally bad for the Diamond family, however. The Routt County Courier of Nov. 11, 1903, reported that a large group of Craig residents turned out to honor Mary Diamond on the occasion of her 76th birthday. The paper reported that she was “showered with gifts before a grand meal.”

Diamond must have struggled with the knowledge that his health was getting progressively worse. He was able to make outstanding photographs of many of Craig’s early commercial buildings and homes as well as families and individuals who helped to develop the growing community. A few of his glass plate negatives survive today.

By the end of 1904, he could no longer keep up with his business: “I desire to sell my entire photo outfit consisting of backgrounds, chairs, camera, lenses, chemicals, printing frames, card stock, etc. as I intend (leaving) the country. Must sell at once and will sell cheap. Will dispose of part or all. Am still making pictures and will continue to do so until I sell out or leave. DWD” according to a Nov. 10, 1904, Routt County Courier article.

Dan Diamond didn’t make it to a warmer climate again. He died April 22, 1905, in Craig and is buried in the Craig Cemetery. His mother Mary lived until Dec. 11, 1911, when she joined her son in the cemetery. Dan and his mother are buried next to each other in unmarked graves. His brothers Charles and Samuel continued to ranch together until their deaths about a year apart in the early 1930s.

The quality of the work that Dan Diamond did can still be seen, looking at the record he left of early Craig and her citizens.

Shannan Koucherik may be reached at honeyrockdogs@msn.com