Weekly Register-Call/ Gilpin County News

Peak to Peak Rotary presentation

The Peak to Peak Rotary Club held its weekly meeting on Thursday, February 4, at Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino in Central City. Rotarian Neal Standard introduced guest speaker, Dick Kreck, an author of five books and a former editor and columnist for The Denver Post. Kreck retired from The Post in June 2007 and was inducted into the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame in October 2009. Kreck spoke about his most recent book, “Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family.”

Kreck had the unique opportunity to work with Smaldone family members and audio memoirs in chronicling the rise and eventual demise of the family’s involvement in bootlegging during Prohibition (1920-1933), followed by gambling and loan-sharking. The family patriarch was Clyde, who worked closely with his brother Eugene (“Checkers”) in establishing their family fortune throughout the Denver area. The Smaldones were considered mobsters, but were not part of the Mafia.

Clyde ran the Monte Carlo Casino across from the opera house on Eureka Street in Central City throughout the months of June, July and August from 1947 to 1949. Gambling in the form of craps, roulette and slot machines were available to summer visitors. Local authorities condoned the operation of the illegal casino as the Smaldones financially contributed to civic improvement of the impoverished town.

Kreck commented that when he asked William C. Russell (1915-2009), who was a Central City councilman and deputy sheriff in those days, about the Smaldones running an illegal casino in the town, Russell replied, “If someone was giving you money, would you arrest them?” The Smaldones quit the casino business in Central City when incoming officials decided to clean up the town.

Law enforcement estimated that the Smaldone family garnered almost a $1 million a year during their heyday from 1946 to 1953. Kreck noted that when Clyde was asked why the family’s millions had not been invested over the years, he replied, “I never thought it would end.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Rotary president D’Lynn Morse presented Kreck with a Rotary mug, and Gilpin County Commissioner “Buddy” Schmaltz presented him with several bottles of his locally-brewed, award-winning beer. The gifts brought a warm smile to Kreck’s face.

After the meeting Kreck personally autographed copies of his book for their buyers. When asked how he liked retirement from The Post Kreck replied, “I don’t miss the deadlines, but I do miss the socializing.”

The next Rotary Club meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 11, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at Fortune Valley Hotel in Central City. A choice of delicious lunch entrees can be purchased from The Flavours Café and Restaurant for $10. The scheduled speaker is Rotarian Neal Standard, who will speak on the history of trains in Gilpin County. Non-members and guests are always welcome at the meetings.

The Club will also be celebrating its 10th Anniversary on Saturday, February 20th at 6:00 p.m. at Crook’s Palace in Black Hawk. The entrance fee is $30, which includes dinner, a silent auction, and dancing with the Hardrock Golddiggers. For tickets please call 303-582-3422 or e-mail PeaktoPeakRotary@gmail.com.

For more information on upcoming meetings or the anniversary party, please view the Rotary’s new website, www.peaktopeakrotary.org.