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Ghost Town
In NorthernColorado
LongsPeak 
PioneerClimbers
Outlaws
In EarlyColorado
Skiing
SteamboatSprings
 
PoudreCanyon
Gold Campsin the 1800s
FrontierForts
NearGreeley
Bear Attack 
Estes ParkRky. Mt. Jim
EstatePlanning,Health,News
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The Senior
 July 2009
Local Attractions • Scenic Places • History • Money • Health • News
 
2• July 2009 • The Senior Voice
 By Michael Hollis DirectorSocial Security Office, Greeley
S
ocial Security has a new onlineretirement application and a newcelebrity spokesperson to help spreadthe word.You can apply for retirement bene-fits from the comfort of your home oroffice at www.socialsecurity.gov.There’s no need to drive to your localSocial Security office or wait for anappointment with a Social Securityrepresentative.You can complete the new onlineretirement application in as little as 15minutes—it’s that easy. In most cases,after you click the “Sign Now” buttonand submit the application electroni-cally, that’s it.There are no forms to sign, andusually no additional documents arerequired. Social Security will contactyou directly if more information isneeded.Award-winning actress PattyDuke has volunteered her services tolet people know they can retireonline. Ms. Duke has brought backthe much beloved identical cousins
Social Security
©2009 HOLIDAY RETIREMENT 1950
State Legislation
 By John KefalasColorado State Representative
T
he economic recession we’re allstruggling with made this a verytough year at the state legislature.Despite the difficult choices wehad to make to balance the budget,we stayed focused on expandingeconomic opportunities byimproving health care access,protecting and creating jobs,providing support for strugglingfamilies, and building an excellenteducation system for our children.We passed the ColoradoHealthcare Affordability Act toprovide health care coverage tomore than 100,000 Coloradoans,address cost shifting, and establish aMedicaid buy-in program. My bill,the Colorado Guaranteed HealthCare Act, to reform health carefinancing and delivery came up justone vote short of passing the stateHouse. This bill focused onlowering costs, improving qualityand providing guaranteed access.We passed several bills to stimu-late economic development and helpcreate jobs, including the ColoradoInnovation Investment Tax Credit,which passed the House on a bipar-tisan 52-12 vote and was signed intolaw by the Governor. This “angelinvestment” bill will create taxincentives for seed-capital investorsinterested in supporting the “cleanand green” technologies just waitingto take flight in Colorado.We created a bi-partisan legisla-tive task force to reduce the numberof families and children living inpoverty by developing a comprehen-sive, integrated strategic action plan.The Speaker of the House appointedme to chair the task force, and ourgoal is to cut poverty in half by 2019.We also took steps to upgradeour state’s transportation system, cutthe Gordian knots that tie up ourstate budget process, promote educa-tional reform and defend ourcolleges from devastating budgetcuts—while protecting our air,water, wildlife and special placesthat make Colorado a wonderfulplace to live.If you have questions or wouldlike to get together, call me at homein Fort Collins, 221-1135; send anemail to john.kefalas.house@state.co.us; or see my website atwww.johnkefalas.org.
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Patty and Cathy Lane from the hit1960’s sitcom “The Patty DukeShow” for a series of Public ServiceAnnouncements that tell Americansit’s now easier than ever to applyonline.If you are uncertain about when toretire, you can check out the onlinefact sheet, “When To Start ReceivingRetirement Benefits.” And if you arenot ready to retire, you can plan forretirement using Social Security’sonline Retirement Estimator.It is a great financial planning toolthat will give you an immediate andpersonalized estimate of how muchyour retirement benefits would be if you stopped working at age 62, age66, age 70 or any point in between.To learn more about the onlineservice, as well as to watch the newPublic Service Announcements, seewww.socialsecurity.gov/pattyduke.________________
The Senior Voice wishes to thank JudyFoote at the Greeley Social Securityoffice. She provided much of the infor-mation and coordination for thiscolumn for the past 29 years. Sherecently retired from that office.
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The Senior Voice • July 2009 • 3
 Published Locally Since 1980
 VOL. 29, NO. 8
970-229-9204Lambdin@frii.comtheseniorvoice.net
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The Senior Voice 
newspaper has beenpublished locally the first of each monthsince 1980 for residents age 50-plus.
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© Copyright 2009
The Senior Voice 
EDITORIAL OFFICE:
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No material may be reproduced by any means without permission of the publisher.
Dr. William Lambdin, Publisher 
Editor’s Note: Wyoming historianMargaret Laybourn wrote theollowing story. You can email herat miggsbob@yahoo.com.By Margaret Laybourn
S
ome people in northern Coloradoand southern Wyoming remem-ber the old Mayflower cafe anddance hall in Cheyenne.When Sam, Gus and GeorgeAndrews opened the Mayflower in1928, little did the immigrantbrothers from Greece know thatrarely a romance or a business dealtranspired in Cheyenne for fivedecades that did not see light of dayat their popular restaurant.It was Tracy McCraken, ownerof the town’s newspapers, whosuggested the name for the restau-rant when it opened. He told theyoung Greeks that the Mayflowerbrought the pilgrims to America;and since the boys had just come toAmerica, the Mayflower was anappropriate name. The boys boughtthe idea.The brothers had purchased thebuilding with their savings and helpfrom the Greek community. Butwhen Sam and Gus went to bankpresident Fred Marble for a $50,000remodeling loan, he turned themdown for lack of collateral.George, who at the time waschef at the renowned Plains Hotel inCheyenne, went to the bank, apronin hand. He unrolled the apron onthe bank president’s desk, and insidewere the tools of his trade.His knives, cleavers and sharp-eners gleaming, George said, “Seethese hands? They know how to usethese tools. See these shoulders?They can carry any weight. Theseare the collateral for a loan.” Deeplyimpressed, the banker released themoney.George remained chef at theMayflower for 50 years, while Samserved as host and Gus handled thebusiness details. George’s wifeVernetta was cashier. Their successwas due to their belief that “every-thing had to be top drawer.”In 1935 at the end of prohibition,the Mayflower opened a two-stoolbar so they would be eligible for oneof the first liquor licenses issued inWyoming. This later developed intoa more elaborate bar; but Gus, Samand George were never interested inthe bar business. Good food, forwhich they were known coast tocoast, was their love and livelihood.In 1947 they opened the finestnight club in the Rocky Mountainarea, the Marine Room; and againthe nautical theme was prominent,with sails of pure silk billowingfrom gold-leaf masts on phantomships.The waiters, five Christopolusbrothers, wore white dinner jacketswith maroon trim to add class. Therewas dance music nightly, theorchestra made up of Cheyennemusicians who had played togetherbefore they served in World War II.Celebrities who came toCheyenne spread the Mayflower’sfame. Charles Kuralt detouredthrough Cheyenne to eat therewhenever he was in the area. Jack,Robert and Ted Kennedy ate there.When Gus was bought out by hisbrothers, George and Vernetta’s son,Phil, joined the firm. Phil had beenaround the restaurant since he wasfour years old, when he wore anapkin for an apron as he followedthe waitresses around the cafe. Phillater handled the bar business andcreated the even more famous OldMayflower Dance Hall.Brands, boots and boisterousdancers were the trademarks of thedance hall. With its country decor, it
The Mayflower was Cheyenne’s most popular restaurantand dance hall for 40 years. Photo courtesy Margaret Laybourn.
was a sensation when it opened andremained a barrel of fun for localsand tourists for 18 years.From ranchers, Phil got oldsaddles and tack; from sportsmen,he acquired mounted trophies of deer, antelope and elk. A one-eyedbuffalo head glared down on thedancers.During Frontier Days, topcountry-western bands performedfor the fans, who squeezed in just tosay they “danced at the Mayflower.”George Kent and the Little Wheelscame from Nashville seven consecu-tive years to entertain.When the world premier of themovie “Cheyenne Autumn” washeld in Cheyenne, the producershired the dance hall for a receptionfor stars Jimmy Stewart, KarlMalden and Carroll Baker. Otherstars who visited the Mayflowerincluded Roger Miller, Faren Youngand Rod McKewan.Ill health eventually forced theowners into retirement, and theysold the business. Within two years,the grand old Mayflower went up inflames. Only memories were left.________________
COVER PICTURE: Cavalry troops,courtesy of the Cheyenne Tourism Bureau.
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Boots, Beer and Buckaroos
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