Ouray's Beaumont Hotel: A Century of Ouray's History, by Doris H. Gregory

Originally published in 1989, after the Beaumont had sat empty and decaying for over two decades already, this edition was released in 2003 and has a closing chapter on the almost miraculous events of the preceding three years: the death of the owner, the sale of the property to the Kings, their refurbishment and restoration, and the reopening of the Beaumont for business in October 2002.

What is never explained is the reasoning for the previous owner's neglect. It's totally glossed over, which is a shame.

Anyway. The rest of the book is a typical local history written with more gusto than skill. If you don't know the area or the characters she discusses, this would be tedious at best. But for me, it was a like a dip of the limbs into the Hot Springs Pool, an invigorating reminder of my roots. Good pictures throughout help in that area; they are historical photos of the San Juans and of Ouray specifically.

I miss home.