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The following is a photo of Balent behind the bar in his saloon: <br />Property records show that in 1906, Balent purchased the property that is today known as <br />Miners Field, located at the intersection of South Street and Courtesy Road (Highway 42). It <br />already had been used as a ball field for a long time. Not only did Balent continue its use as a <br />baseball field, but he became very involved as a sponsor and supporter of teams. The park was <br />even referred to in the minutes of the Louisville Town Board as "Balent's Base Ball Park." <br />Perhaps his saloon was an early version of today's sports bar, and it may well have been a smart <br />business move for him to buy the local ball park. Apart from enhancing the reputation of his <br />saloon, there may have been more direct revenues as a result of being the park owner. A fence <br />was erected around the field and fans had to purchase tickets to get in, and the fence had <br />advertising for the Rocky Mountain News that presumably was paid advertising. <br />The following is a photo of John Balent with the Louisville baseball team by the bandstand at <br />Miners Field in circa 1915. He is shown in the back row, center, wearing a suit and a white hat. <br />The start of Prohibition in Colorado in 1916, which was four years before it was established <br />nationwide, was understandably disastrous for saloon owners in the state. Moreover, property <br />3 <br />