Happy Birthday Otto!
Although his name is more often associated with Silverton, the "Pathfinder of the San Juans" Otto Mears was very influential in the early days of Durango. Before COVID, we would celebrate his birthday at the Animas Museum with a cake, a toast and mini exhibit. This year, we'll do it virtually. So bake a cake, the recipes below are courtesy of Otto's friend Victoria Day, pour a beverage and drink a toast the remarkable life of Otto Mears.
Gold Cake
The yolks of eight eggs, one cup of sugar, one-half cup of butter, one-half cup of sweet milk, one and one-half cups of flour and two teaspoonfuls of baking powder. Flavor with lemon. --Mrs. D.F. Day
Silver Cake
The whites of eight eggs, one and one-half cups of sugar, one-half cup of butter, three-fourths of a cup of sweet milk, three cups of flour and two teaspoonfuls of baking powder. Flavor with vanilla or almond. Mrs. D.F. Day
From High Altitude Cook Book by the Ladies of the ME Church South, Durango, CO