by Fred Hernandez
In the bygone era of the early 1800’s when people had to care for each other, organizations formed to act as security nets for the workers of this country. Conditions were always difficult and sometimes downright dangerous. Men lost their lives in the course of making a living to support their families. Wives and orphans were left to fend for themselves in the harshest of conditions. To alleviate some of the hardship, fellow workers banded together and formed associations with the main purpose of helping the unfortunate families who lost their breadwinners. One such group was first founded in Virginia at the beginning of 1800. By 1830, it had a counterpart in California, but it really took off in 1849 at the start of the gold rush. From then on it grew rapidly.
The group was known as the Ancient and Honorable Order of E. Clampus Vitus established for the sole membership of and help to miners’ wives, orphans and family members. In different areas they have their own identities. For instance, in the front range of Colorado, the group is known as the Al Packer #100 of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E. Clampus Vitus (ECV). On the western slope they are known as the Robert Leroy Parker order. There are, according to members, more than forty-six of these chapters in the western United States. They have quite an interesting website by the same name.
While their main objective is the support of their members’ families, one of their core activities is to study and to celebrate the richness of Western history. On Saturday, June 23, 2018, the local chapter headed by Mr. Wayne Hughes gathered at the “triangle” in the Town of Silver Cliff. That location is just north of the corner of Country Road 255 and Highway 96. With Al Packer #100 emblazoned on most of the tee shirts, the more than fifty men assembled in military fashion was a sight to behold. Facing west towards the magnificent Sangre de Cristo mountain range, they responded to the commands and promptings of the
leader who is also known as ‘hambug’. It was interesting to note that some of the men were dressed in prison uniforms. It turns out that these were the inductees to the chapter and who had to dress in that garb before being allowed membership. After a ceremony which started with a solemn recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a solo bugler sounded the Anthem to a somber congregation. The ‘hambug’ then read from the certification, and the plaque, (embedded on the ground) was then uncovered and formally dedicated with a baptism of beer to the resounding cheers and applause by all. The ceremony and the plaque is the way Al Packer #100 fittingly honors a mining town like Silver Cliff.
It was an interesting ceremony and a memorable one. Silver Cliff thanks Mr. Eric King, the local representative
of Al Packer # 100, for his chapter’s interest, the research they did on the Town of Silver Cliff and the beautiful plaque funded entirely by their membership in a most unique ceremony.