Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Jonas Wilson Pumphrey’s death during Moffat Tunnel construction, honoring his legacy and sacrifice in 1924.
Moffat Tunnel Construction Happenings from 100 Years Ago
One of the first tunnel workers died one hundred years ago today, on Monday, February 25, 1924. Jonas Wilson Pumphrey of Nederland died at 3:30pm at East Portal “after a five days illness of pneumonia.” Pumphrey was 58 years old and was “a driver of one of the electric motors being operated in the tunnel.” Pumphrey’s family moved from Erie to Nederland in 1922. Jonas left behind his wife, Rose, daughter Louise ( 16 ), a son, Wilson ( 16 ), and daughter Virginia ( 8 ). Due to the “bad condition of the road between Nederland and East Portal, owing to snowdrifts, considerable difficulty was experienced by friends of the deceased and of Mrs. Rose Pumphrey… in getting the remains to Nederland.” A separate article mentioned that “Mrs. J.H. Robinson received word on Monday of the death of her brother, J.W. Pumphrey” and the article mentions “the high altitude was a contributing factor to the fatal disease.”
Pumphrey was born in Platt County, Missouri on January 24, 1866. He was a “devout member of the Baptist church and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of the LaSalle lodge.” Pumphrey is buried in Nederland, alongside Rose.
More on Jonas Wilson Pumphrey’s grave.
B. Travis Wright, MPS | Preserve Rollins Pass | February 25, 2024
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