Day 88: A to Z of a Key Collection

When guests or news people experience our Baldpate Key Collection, almost invariably they ask the question, “But do you have a key to ……?”  Most every time the answer is, "Yes!" since we have keys to most everything from A to Z!

A: Adding machine key

B: Bathroom token key

C: Casket key (did you know there was such a thing?)

D: Donkey (relax, it’s just toy stuffed one)

E: Encryption key

F: Flunkey

G: Gate key to Sherwood Forest

H: Horse Collar lock key

I: Isle of Enchantment (Puerto Rico) key

J: Judge magazine “Seven Baldpates to a 
Keyhole”

K: Keyhole

L: Lightening rod key

M: Master key, T.O. Ranch, Raton, NM

N: Not-a-thing key

O: Opera House, Denver’s oldest, Tabor House key

P: Pocket watch key

Q: Quoin key, used to lock print press forms

R: Rollerskate key

S: Sardine can key

T: Transit key for survey

U: Understanding between all nations, “Key to Peace”

V: Violin chin rest key

W: Wheel key from Civil War cannon

X: Xylophone key

Y: Yale key

Z: Zephyr, streamliner train key

Next time you visit, can you find all these keys? 

If you think of a key that we should have in our collection, bring it with you, join the legacy and make an honored donation!     

Written by Lois Smith

Photos: Casket key and poem, guest contribution 1937
Key to the Gate of Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest

Day 41: Find Your Keys Day! (National Make Your Own Holiday Day)

In honor of today’s holiday, National Make Your Own Holiday Day, The Baldpate Inn would like to declare it “Find Your Keys Day!” Oh, the joy and relief that suddenly comes upon you as you at last discover those mysteriously deposited keys!

In a collection of over 30,000 keys, we can be quite certain that there are many keys here holding stories of joy at being found. Most stories of keys being found include the owner searching quite intently for them, and in fact The Baldpate Inn staff has assisted many people in finding the keys that they are searching for in the vast collection. Read the story of an amazing find in our previous blog, Six Degrees of Separation in the Seven Keys.

Here are two additional stories from our Key Collection that were quite unexpected.

Our first story from Innkeeper Lois, who recalls a woman visiting the Key Room for the first time, who initially seemed unimpressed by our Key Collection. Browsing the keys, she suddenly screamed! She had found a key that had belonged to her grandparents. She didn’t even know they had been to Colorado. The woman, now clearly fascinated with the collection, said it was like seeing a ghost from her past.

In this second story, The Baldpate staff were the ones who were surprised at the finding of a key of their own – 6o years after it had been lost! In 1952, young Timothy Johnson “borrowed” the key to Room 7 of The Baldpate Inn, while visiting with his family. He returned it 60 years later, finding the key to a clear conscious.

Imagine the stories and potential joy these keys hold! Could one of them be yours?

Do you have a story of a key lost and found? Perhaps one that now hangs in The Baldpate Inn’s famous collection? Please tell us about it!

Written by Liz Rodgers

Day 36: Poems of Baldpate Inn (World Poetry Day)

The Baldpate Inn has prompted poetry from our guests for years! Here are some of our favorite witty and wonderful poems.

Many of the poems received have been (literally!) tied to keys that have been donated to Baldpate’s famous key collection. 

A famous key to Mozart’s wine cellar was accompanied by the following verses. After being shown this key, one guest excitedly asked, “Oh, was Mozart here?” 

Music seems to be a theme for many of the poems we have received.

A key from a Steinway grand piano was sent by a former member of the orchestra and his bride, after a honeymoon spent at Baldpate. Their card bears a musical recipe reading:

Key to Happiness –

First, Never B Flat.

Second, Sometimes B Sharp.

Third, Always B Natural. 

These musical rhymes accompanied donated keys to a violin, by Dave Mummert of Blair, Nebraska:  

While at a loss for what the key unlocked, this clever guest, G. E. Michael of Chicago, was not at a loss of words to express his bewilderment:

Hospitality has been a key ingredient at The Baldpate Inn since the very beginning, and it continues today. Expressed quite creatively, Elmer Hoglan Houck of Dayton Ohio, sent a safe combination with the following expression of appreciation. 

While in Paris, Miss Agnes Davis found herself dreaming of The Baldpate Inn, and sent the following with her key: 

During the Great Depression, Mr. Mercer Alexander of Chicago did not let the fact that he did not have a key to send stop him from participating in the famous collection.

In keeping with the creative “keys” that we have received over the years, Dr. Chas. C. Urie of Greeley, Colorado donated a “Turnkey” used by dentists and doctors in pulling teeth long ago, along with these verses: 

Of course, keys and the scenery are not the only things that inspired poetry. Here is a poem dedicated to the hard working Mr. Gordon Mace, on the occasion of his birthday. 

Feeling inspired? Share a rhyming verse in the comments below!

Written by Liz Rodgers

Sources: The Baldpate Archives;
The Baldpate Keys by Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Mace

Day 20: Baldpate’s Keeper of the Keys, Beloved Gnome

A kid’s favorite (and master of our Junior Key Keepers Scavenger Hunt) is our Baldpate Key Room Gnome. 

This delightful handmade wood carving found its home at Baldpate’s Key Room in 1992.  Baldpate guests, Thurston & Shirley Bridges, who had stayed with us for many years, always enjoy spending time sitting on the front porch visiting with other guests and carving their unique gnomes.  We approached them about doing a special carving for our 75^th birthday and our beloved gnome was born! 

 

Since kids almost always are first to spot our Gnome in the Key Room, when our curators decided to do a special kids adventure, he came immediately to mind as the clever cluemaster! 

He will mischievously guide you around our Key Collection to discover special keys that are designated as part of the Baldpate’s "Roam with the Gnome Collection." And if, and only if you can find them all, you will earn the coveted Junior Key Keeper Award and Ribbon. 

Be careful, he will be watching you closely the entire time to be sure you are learning as you go!

Come see if you can find him in our key collection! 

Written by Lois Smith

Photos: Thurston begins with a log
Unneeded pieces
Our Gnome begins to emerge
Shirley begins her transformation