Volume 15 Spring 2009 No.2

OSTA 2009 Annual Conference Contents From the Editor ...... 1 The conference will be held at the Sky Ute Resort in Ignacio, CO, June President’s Corner ...... 3 6-7, 2009. The schedule includes a meeting of the OSTA board on June Articles 5, symposium speakers, the annual OSTA membership business meeting, Sheep Trade in New Mexico and a banquet with entertainment on June 6, and field trips to local historic (Baxter) ...... 5 sites on June 7. OSTA’s Colorado Director Pat Fluck is coordinating the Sabanilla Weaving and Colcha event, with assistance from James Jefferson of the Southern Ute Nation. For Stitching conference schedule, see pages 34-35. (Henderson) ...... 16 Spanish Trail Treasure (S. A. Matheson) . . . . . 20 From the Editor Establishment of the Old Spanish Trail Park in Las Vegas First, some good news. The Old Spanish Trail Park in Las Vegas was (Saines) ...... 36 officially dedicated this past November. Nevada Director Nick Saines’ News from the Trail article on page 36 gives the details. Congratulations, Nick! OSTA has Favorite OST Photos . . . . . 18 also received a request for Trail photos from National Geographic Books Chapter Reports ...... 26 for their upcoming book, Complete National Parks, which will include Traces Survey ...... 31 many National Historic Trails. Finally, I have contacted the producer of OSTA Contributions & Taxes . . 33 a long-running California Public Broadcasting program, “Huell Howser’s Rituals & Societies, Taos Library 33 Road Trip,” about highlighting the OST. He said Mr. Howser was very Conference Schedule . . . . . 34 interested in doing a program on the OST and asked if we could suggest Reviews five to six stops on the Trail in California for him to visit. With Doug Pueblo, Hardscrabble, Knudson’s help, I suggested starting in Tecopa, and moving on to Barstow, Greenhorn ...... 12 Agua Mansa in Colton, the Workman and Temple Museum in the City of The Taos Trappers . . . . 13 Industry, Mission San Gabriel, and the Los Angeles Plaza. Hopefully, the The Southwest Expedition Old Spanish Trail will soon come to life on PBS. of Jedediah S. Smith. . . . .13 (Youker) Recently I was flying from Sacramento to Denver. I had chosen a window Old Spanish Trail seat on the right side of the plane so I could look south to see if I could Symphony ...... 14 identify any geographic landmarks of the Old Spanish Trail. Nevada’s (A. Matheson) continued on page 30

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 1 THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL ASSOCIATION OSTA Board of The Old Spanish Trail (OST), one of America’s long distance pioneer Directors 2009 trade routes, is our country’s fifteenth National Historic Trail. From Pr e s i d e n t : 1829 to 1848, traders and pack mules took the OST on a six-week trek Douglas Knudson from northern New Mexico to Southern California, where woolen goods 89 Fir Drive South Fork, CO 81154 from New Mexico were swapped for horses and pack stock raised on 719-873-5239 California’s ranchos. Many took the trail – traders, frontiersmen and [email protected] trappers, a handful of hardy families moving west, military expeditions, Vi c e -Pr e s i d e n t : v a c a n t and Indian guides. Se c r e t a r y : Judy Knudson 89 Fir Drive The mission of the Old Spanish Trail Association (OSTA) is to study, South Fork, CO 81154 719-873-5239 preserve, protect, interpret, and promote appropriate use of the Old [email protected] Spanish National Historic Trail (OSNHT). OSTA promotes public Tr e a s u r e r : awareness of the OST and its multicultural heritage through publications, Mark Franklin a website, and interpretive activities; by encouraging research; and by 2914 Junction Street Durango, CO 81301 partnering with governments and private organizations. We encourage you 970-375-7992 to join OSTA, help in trail preservation, and help increase appreciation of [email protected] the multicultural heritage of the American Southwest. Di r e c t o r s : Paul Ostapuk – AZ PO Box 3532 Page, AZ 86040 928-645-2558 Visit the OSTA Website [email protected] http://www.oldspanishtrail.org Cliff Walker – CA 1204 Gen Court The OSTA website is the place to go for both general background and recent Barstow, CA 92311 760-256-5570 news on the OST and OSTA. The site contains maps; an overview history [email protected] of the OST, including a bibliography; a listing of relevant books, with links Patricia Fluck – CO to sites where they can be purchased; and a regularly updated news page, PO Box 389 South Fork, CO 81154 containing links to government reports, activities of the OSTA membership, 719-873-5875 and other news relevant to the trail. The web page also links to NPS and BLM [email protected] webpages, which have further links to public documents and to maps of the Pat Kuhlhoff – NM 14 Duende Rd. OST. Copies of the DVD of the Old Spanish Trail Suite, a CD of back issues Santa Fe, NM 87508 505-466-4877 of Spanish Traces, and several books can all be purchased online from the [email protected] site. Nick Saines – NV 1587 Figueroa Drive Las Vegas, NV 89123 Spanish Traces is the official publication of 702-896-4049 [email protected] the Old Spanish Trail Association, a nonprofit Membership Dues: 501(c)(3) organization, incorporated under the Individual $25/year Leo Lyman – UT laws of the State of Colorado. ST welcomes Family $30/year PO Box 461326 Student $12/year Leeds, UT 84746 submission of letters, articles, book reviews, Institutional $30/year and OST related news. The next deadline for 435-879-2345 Life (single or couple) $250 [email protected] submissions is August 15, 2009. Corporate $100/min Mail your check to: OSTA Membership James Jefferson – Director-at- All matters relating to Spanish Traces should PO Box 1080 Large be directed to the Editor and Publishers: Waxhaw, NC 28173 3258 Highway 172 Durango, CO 81303 Daniel Lewis 970-259-1038 PO Box 108 [email protected] Olney Springs, CO 81062 E-mail: [email protected]

2 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 Chapter Contacts Life member Mark Armijo Chapter (AZ) Henderson resigned the Vice Jim Page Presidency in March when the Page, AZ board of directors did not support 435-675-9112 several procedural motions he [email protected] introduced. La Vereda del Norte Chapter (CO) Cynthia Kienitz has turned Pat Richmond over the Tecopa (CA) Chapter Creede, CO 719-658-2377 presidency to retired industry [email protected] Secretary Judy Knudson & President Douglas executive Jack Prichett. Cynthia Knudson on 50th Anniversary in Rio de continues her leadership as a board Janeiro, Brazil Nevada Chapter (NV) member. Liz Warren Jean, NV President’s Corner The current elections 702-874-1410 OSTA Grows and Changes (deadline May 1) will bring you [email protected] a new president, vice-president, Your dynamic organization secretary, and directors from New North Branch Chapter (CO) Victoria Gipson has grown in its activities that Mexico and Colorado. Grand Junction, CO focus on our four-part mission: 970-257-1302 to study, protect, interpret, and Progress in our mission: [email protected] promote the Old Spanish National Study: 1) Leo Lyman’s Rancho Chapter (CA) Historic Trail. We also had some Research Committee gathers Rick Whitaker changes of personnel. We have a steam. Leo will unveil a summary Newport Beach, CA very interesting annual conference of his strategy at the Ignacio 949-706-2154 coming up in early June, right Conference on June 6. 2) We have [email protected] on the Main Branch of the Old new books related to the trail, Salida del Sol Chapter (NM) Spanish Trail. two of them by OSTA Directors Pat Kuhlhoff C. Walker and E. L. Lyman. 3) Santa Fe, NM Changes: In mid-May, 15 of us will study 505-466-4877 Daniel Lewis is the fifth the home country of William and [email protected] editor of Spanish Traces. Thanks David Workman in NW England, Southern Utah Chapter (UT) to the 60 members who responded with members of our Workman Leo Lyman to Dan’s survey about your Chapter. We’ll bring pictures to Leeds, UT 435-879-2345 preferences. Jon and Deborah Ignacio. [email protected] Lawrence edited, printed, and mailed Traces for four years. They Interpretation/Education: Tecopa Chapter (CA) donated their time, energy, skill, 1) Lloyd Rivera has Jack Prichett Venice, CA and scholarship. We appreciate organized two series of talks in 310-821-7341 their fine work and wish them well Taos, NM. Friends of the Taos [email protected] in semi-retirement. Library sponsored five Saturday Don Mimms, of Pueblo, presentations in November 2008. William Workman Chapter (UK) Colorado, is serving as interim The LEF Foundation funded the William Ramsay Association Manager while a current April-May nine-week Cumbria, England c/o [email protected] search and select committee finds a series on Native American origins replacement for Donald Davidson, of the Old Spanish Trail, through who terminated his contract the SDS Chapter. effective March 31. continued on page 4

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 3 2) Three National Forests are tribal leaders to take advantage of Upcoming Meetings using annual funding for the this national trail to benefit their OSNHT to develop signage and people and to provide special Santa Fe Trail Rendevous other interpretation in Colorado experiences to trail visitors. 4) A re-enactment of the Mountain and Utah. OSTA’s Interpretation/ Col. A.L. Matheson has agreed to Man Era, Pre-1840, on the Santa Fe Education Committee collaborates lead our efforts to provide maps to Trail with them. 3) You can visit the trail visitors in several forms. June 14-20 large traveling exhibit on the OST Raton, New Mexico at the Anasazi Heritage Center, Annual Conference: cap-n-ball.com/raton/ near Dolores, CO, on your way to “Keeping Alive the or from the Ignacio conference. Heritage of the Old Spanish Trail” 4) Member Rodolfo Serrano got will feature presentations about Partnership for the National Trails Colton city government approval Ute, Taos Pueblo, Hispanic, and System to plan interpretive signage in the Anglo cultures as they relate 12th Conference on National and Agua Mansa area, where many today to the trail. Field trips will Historic Trails OST travelers settled. take us to parts of the trail you July 12-15 may be unable to visit on your Missoula, Montana Protection: own—on the Armijo Route and www.nationaltrailspartnership.org 1) Plans are in the the Main Branch (which went works for a pilot project of trail very near the new hotel). monitoring and stewardship in the Ignacio is near the Oregon-California Trail Arizona Strip (Armijo Route) with Durango, CO, airport, a few miles Association assistance of the BLM. 2) The south of US 160. Pat Fluck, Jim 27th Annual Convention Tecopa Chapter has completed Jefferson, and our speakers assure August 18-22 phase one of its National Registry us of many new ideas, good food, Larimer County Events Complex project. 3) The North Branch fellowship, and a unique place to Loveland, Colorado Chapter became a major official learn more about this significant, www.octa-trails.org player in protecting the OST south culturally diverse national trail. of the city. We have confirmation that George 4) Likewise, the Nevada Chapter and Mrs. Yount will join us at our Camino Real de Tierra Adentro got recognition in its work with banquet! Trail Association the FAA at Mesquite. They owe us a visit—they Annual Meeting last ate and camped at this site September 18-20 Promotion of Appropriate Use: 179 years ago. Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum 1) OSTA has contracted You will enjoy Las Cruces, New Mexico Lorrie Crawford to manage a unforgettable cultural experiences www.caminorealcarta.org 3-month OSTA tourism promotion right on the Old Spanish Trail. project supported by the Rio And our special hotel rates are 2/3 Grande National Forest and the off the rack rate. Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Colorado Tourism Office. 2) Don Foundation st Mimms is out persuading trailside Help us celebrate our Sweet 16th 41 Annual Meeting October 3-7 businesses and corporations to national conference. Mississippi and Tennessee join and support OSTA as an www.lewisandclark.org economic and social benefit for Douglas M. Knudson their communities. 3) Dr. James OSTA President Jefferson and others encourage

4 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 Sheep Trade in New Mexico the Pueblo Indians initiated by sides attempted to dominate Franciscan friars who came with the trade in sheep and other by John O. Baxter Oñate. Nevertheless, the lack of livestock as away of gaining rich mines or other exploitable economic advantage. Desperate A Paper Presented Before the resources caused a chronic to obtain credits that could be Annual Meeting of the Old depression in the provincial used to purchase manufactured Spanish Trail Association economy. goods, both secular officials and friars exported large numbers Pueblo of Okeh Owingeh During the seventeenth century, of livestock to outside markets, June 6, 2008 New Mexico’s export trade even though such commerce consisted of a pitiful assortment stripped the colony of its breeding During the first explorations of of raw materials: salt, hide, stock and food supply. This is a New Mexico in the sixteenth piñon nuts, and livestock. A problem that continued to plague century, Francisco Vázquez de few coarse woolen textiles were New Mexico until well into the Coronado and other Spanish eighteenth century. Everyone conquistadores brought flocks knew that excessive sales of cattle, of sheep with them as a kind of horses, and sheep were contrary walking commissary. Although to the well being of the province, they proved to be slow travelers, but, at the same time, the desire the sheep were able to sustain of economic gain was so great themselves with forage found that exports continued, despite on the trail and, thus, supplied serious attempts to control them. fresh meat for hungry explorers. Regrettably, the church-state However, sheep did not become conflict was not resolved until after permanently established in New the outbreak of the great Pueblo Mexico until 1598, when don Juan Revolt of 1680. In August of that de Oñate founded a proprietary year, the Pueblo Indians, heartily colony in the upper Rio Grande Churro Sheep tired of continual meddling in their valley. Together with large Photo by Doug Knudson religious affairs and encroachment numbers of cattle, horses and on their lands, organized a united goats, Oñate bought 4,000 sheep also manufactured in primitive effort to throw the Spaniards to provide the colonists with wool obrajes (workshops) manned by out. After the initial attack, the and mutton. Once located near Pueblo Indians. Carried south, colonists withdrew down the Rio the pueblo of Okeh Owingeh, these products were exchanged Grande to an area near present El the sheep grazed nearby pastures for a wide variety of goods much Paso, where they remained for and adapted to their new home in demand on the frontier: tools, twelve years. As they retreated, more successfully than their weapons, textiles of all kinds, they took all the livestock that they masters. Life was hard at this hardware, wine pharmaceuticals, were able to gather which helped remote frontier outpost, and, for and so on. This was a time to sustain them during their time in some time, the future of Oñate’s of great conflict between the exile. In 1692-1693, the Spaniards settlement remained in doubt. Franciscan hierarchy and the returned to New Mexico under Eventually King Phillip III decided provincial governors for control the leadership of the redoubtable to maintain New Mexico as a of New Mexico that had a highly Diego de Vargas. Even before his crown colony in order to support detrimental effect on the colony. return, Vargas realized that the the missionary effort among As the struggle continued, both continued on page 6

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 5 reestablishment of the colony long but humble heritage extended the usual problems presented by presented a monumental task. To back to the Roman era. Sometime severe winters and dry summers, rebuild the livestock industry, he prior to 1300, Berber tribesmen New Mexico stockmen suffered obtained government subsides for from North Africa introduced an from intermittent raiding by the purchase of breeding stock and improved breed, the merino, into hostile Indians. The Navajo urgently needed supplies. After a Andalusia, causing the churro to were particularly troublesome series of annoying delays, Vargas’ fall more and more into disfavor. because they had sheep-raising agents managed to assemble a Small of stature and shearing only part of their culture and helped relief expedition that head up the a minimal quantity of coarse, themselves with fine impartiality Camino Real early in 1697. The long-staple wool, the churro was to both Spanish and Pueblo Indian caravan included a large herd of no match for his merino cousins. flocks. Nevertheless, wills and cattle, sheep, and goats. The latter provided a heavy, inventories drawn up during the kinky fleece that formed the basis 1730s and 1740s indicate that On May 1, Vargas supervised a for Spain’s lucrative wool trade some individuals had managed to distribution of the livestock among in the fourteenth and fifteenth accumulate flocks of one to two the colonists. Allocations were centuries. When transported to the thousand head. made to the settlers according to New World, however, the churro the family size. Approximately quickly adapted By the early one thousand people received over to the semiarid 1730s, increasing four thousand ewes, one hundred pastures and The churro was livestock seventy goats, five hundred cows, rough forage descended from the numbers in New and one hundred fifty bulls, the he found there. common sheep of southern Mexico brought latter to be used both for breeding His meager Spain, whose long but renewed attempts and as draft animals. Following fleece was well humble heritage extended to resume the division, the settlers scattered suited to hand exports of sheep, out to reestablish communities processing, and back to the Roman era. but a government from Santa Cruz de la Cañada all agreed that embargo on the north to Bernalillo on the meat from the restricted the south. Later, they pushed their churro was unsurpassed for flavor. trade for a few more decades. farming and pastoral activities Able to substitute morning dew By 1760, however, regulations into new locations throughout the and succulent plans for drinking had been relaxed sufficiently to Rio Grande Valley. New Mexico’s water, these tough little sheep allow sales of wethers. Because sheep industry was back in could withstand drought conditions of their value as breeding stock, business again. better than cattle. On the trail to exportation of ewes was never market, they sometimes survived permitted during the colonial What were they like, these sheep for days without access to streams period. that Vargas’ men sorted out or springs, one of the reasons why of a dusty corral for the eager sheep became more important than At first, provincial sheepmen colonists? Actually, they closely cattle in New Mexico. drove their flocks to Chihuahua, a resembled the animals brought booming silver mining camp about earlier by Coronado and Oñate. Of To reestablish the sheep industry two hundred miles south of El a type known as the churro, which required time, however, and a Paso. As markets developed, sheep means “rough.” They were few decades passed before large became increasingly acceptable descended from the common flocks again grazed along the as a medium of exchange for sheep of Southern Spain, whose upper Rio Grande. In addition to imported consumer goods. A small

6 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 clique of rancher-merchants began quite by chance. On August 2, the mighty Colorado without to dominate livestock marketing 1849, two hundred trail-weary loss or inconvenience. Just after and to control other aspects of the gold seekers reached the village of Christmas, the ‘49ers arrived at local economy. Frequently allied Galisteo, twenty miles southeast Los Angeles, still a small Mexican by marriage ties, this group of of Santa Fe. Known as the “Peoria town, where they rested for a week ricos gained control of political Company,” the expedition had before starting north towards the and religious affairs as well. left Fort Leavenworth in late gold camps. Early in 1850, Roberts April. Fatigued by their long sold his sheep, including lambs By the turn of the century, sheep journey, the ‘49ers remained at born on the trail, for sixteen dollars exports had risen to twenty Galisteo for a week to rest their per head, receiving more than or twenty-five thousand head teams, visit Santa Fe, and sample eight thousand dollars for his two annually. The huge flocks that the local aguardiente. Amid the hundred fifty dollar investment. were driven south each summer round of fandangos and footraces During the next decade, became known as carneradas, that marked their stay, one of the speculators marketed hundreds of derived from the term carneros, gold-seekers, identified only as thousands of New Mexico sheep in the Spanish word for wethers. As “Old Man Roberts,” paid out the California, but none of them fared numbers ballooned, traders began princely sum of two hundred fifty as well as Roberts. to seek new markets, sometimes dollars for five hundred head of traveling as far as the cathedral local churros. When the Although New Mexico sheepmen city of Durango, an important would-be miners resumed their probably never learned of Roberts’ commercial center with business journey, Robert’s flock went along, financial coup, rumors of a strong ties all over New Spain. The sheep but not without loud protests from demand for mutton in California trade reached its zenith during the his companions, who regarded the began to circulate around Santa years after Mexican independence, sheep as a great nuisance. Fe early in 1850. For the first time a time in which drovers might since trade relations with southern export as many as eighty thousand The expedition started south from cities had been disrupted by the head in a single year. Inevitably, Galisteo on the east side of the Mexican War, there appeared the outbreak of war between Sandias and Manzanos, dropping to be a market for the region’s Mexico and the United States through Abo Pass and striking the accumulating livestock. Seizing in 1846 disrupted commercial Rio Grande at La Joya de the opportunity, a consortium of relationships between New Mexico Sevilletta. From there, the Anglo businessmen headed by and the South. The sheep trade Argonauts followed the route William Z. Angney purchased six became dormant for a while, but of Lieutenant Colonel Philip St. thousand sheep from area ranchers revived rapidly after the discovery George Cooke and the Mormon for the long trail west. A Santa Fe of gold in California in 1848. Battalion during their westward attorney who had come out with Encouraged by rumors of high march to California in 1846. At the U.S. Army in 1846, Angney prices, New Mexico sheepmen Valverde, the party left the river quickly became a leading political pointed their flocks westward, and headed southwest, passing figure after his discharge. In the hoping to turn a profit in the new the Santa Rita copper mines, summer of 1850, he put his law El Dorado. to Guadalupe Pass. There they books aside and started his flock turned northwest towards Tucson up the Old Spanish Trail, the well- The first adventurer to take a flyer and the Pima villages on the Rio known trade route between in the New Mexico-California Gila. At the mouth of the Gila, New Mexico and Los Angeles. sheep trade took advantage of an the sheep surprised all hands by Beginning at Abiquiú, Angney opportunity that came his way following the bellwether across continued on page 8

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 7 proceeded northwest through the mountains of southwestern it was almost impossible to find a Although drovers started some Colorado into central Utah. cash buyer for the sheep. Instead, small flocks toward the Golden Despite an inauspicious start, in he was offered drafts of doubtful Gate in 1851, business picked up which “rascally shepherds” stole value drawn on faraway banks in sharply in the following year. The about 1,000 head, the expedition New York or St. Louis. Unlike first capitalist to hit the trail in proceeded uneventfully except for the Hispano sheepmen who had the spring of 1852 was Richens a brush with the Utes at the big usually taken part payment for Lacy Wootton, mountain man, fur bend of the Dolores River. After their livestock in merchandise and trapper, and frontier raconteur. fording the Green River near the left the balance at interest with Unlike most of his competitors, present town of that name, the one of the mercantile houses at Wootton had had some experience drovers ascended Price Creek to Chihuahua or Durango, Angney driving sheep long distances. In its source and then made their way had no interest in establishing 1841, he had agreed to take a small down Spanish Fork Canyon to an extended relationship. To free flock from Mora east of the Sangre Utah Lake, arriving at the Mormon his capital for other investments, de Cristos to Westport, Missouri. settlement of Provo on September he demanded full payment in Finding his own bankroll 6. To avoid being caught in a hard currency. Frustrated by inadequate for the business at Sierra snowstorm, Angney hand, Wootton appealed to Jesse turned southwest and B. Turley, brother of former Taos continued on the Spanish distiller Simeon Turley, who had Trail to Los Angeles been murdered near his Arroyo instead of taking the Hondo headquarters in the 1847 immigrant route that led Taos revolt. Between them, Jesse across northern Nevada and Uncle Dick raised $9,275.37 towards San Francisco, his with which Wootton bought nine ultimate destination. thousand sheep and the necessary outfit for his party of twenty-two men. By early December, Angney had crossed After assembling his stock at the Colorado into southern Churro ram Watrous east of Mora, Wootton Photo by Doug Knudson California and was drifting his first crossed the Sangre de Cristos flock northward through the San to Taos and then started his flock Joaquin Valley. Somewhere near poor communications and a up the Rio Grande on June 24, Los Angeles he had received two primitive banking system, he saw following the northern branch of bids of eight dollars per head for opportunities slipping away. While the Old Spanish Trail. Near the his sheep, but declined both, waiting for a financial miracle, upper end of the San Luis Valley, certain he would receive at least Angney became so intrigued he swung up Saguache Creek to its twelve and probably sixteen by investment possibilities in head and crossed the Continental dollars at the mines. As he neared California that he began to settle Divide at Cochetopa Pass. He then trail’s end, his excitement over the in as a permanent resident. Finally, descended to the Gunnison anticipated payoff became almost in mid-1851, he sold the sheep and River, which he followed towards uncontrollable. Regrettably, reinvested the proceeds in San its junction with the Colorado. unforeseen delays crushed his Francisco real estate. California On Uncompahgre Creek close to hopes. On reaching San Francisco became his permanent home. present Delta, a pugnacious band early in 1851, he discovered that of Utes disputed the right-of-way. Undismayed, Wootton resolved

8 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 the matter in hand-to-hand combat extremely soft terrain, some 1,100 rest of the sheep at San Francisco with Uncotash, their chief, and sheep sank into the sand and for ten dollars each. Elated by his continued on this way. He were trampled by those coming success, he immediately began proceeded along the Old Spanish behind. At Los Angeles, the New planning a second venture for the trail into Utah, arriving at Salt Mexicans sold their flock for $5.50 coming fall. Lake City in mid-summer. While per head, a price that assured a his companions rested, Wootton substantial profit, although Anglo During the return journey, Aubry shared a bottle of wine with speculators thought it ridiculously realized a longtime dream by Brigham Young but, to his regret, low. exploring a possible route for a failed to receive an introduction to transcontinental railroad across any of “the Mrs. Youngs.” A few months after the New present Arizona, approximately Mexicans returned, still another the route taken in 1829 by Antonio In Utah, the party left the Old expedition started west under the Armijo. With eighteen men and Spanish Trail and continued west leadership of the famous pathfinder thirty pack animals, he left San through Nevada, crossing the and Santa Fe trader, François X. Francisco in June 1853. After a Sierras over Donner Pass, and Aubrey. In 1848, the colorful series of spectacular adventures establishing winter headquarters French-Canadian had become a climaxed by a three-day fight near Sacramento on October 9. southwestern legend by making with Garrotero Indians, Aubry According to Wootton’s account, the 780-mile trip from Santa Fe arrived in Albuquerque September he had completed the one thousand to Independence in the amazing 10, concluding a trip that has mile journey in one hundred time of five days, sixteen hours. been well documented in the seven days with a loss of only Known thereafter as “the Skimmer contemporary press and by recent one hundred sheep, a phenomenal of the Plains,” he had joined the historians. Within thirty days, accomplishment. Wootton spent host of speculators taking a plunge he had made all the necessary the entire winter of 1852-53 in in New Mexico sheep. preparations to go back to Sacramento selling his sheep, California. but his venture turned out to be a When Aubrey started down great financial success. Most of the Rio Grande in November Aubrey’s second expedition the stock brought $8.75 per head, 1852, his outfit consisted of five included several prominent yielding a handsome profit. Less thousand mixed ewes and wethers, Hispanic sheepmen, Francisco cautious than Angney, he received one hundred mules, and ten big Perea, Judge Antonio José Otero, one-third of the proceeds in gold freight wagons. Like most of his and J. Francisco Chaves. Judge and the balance in St. Louis drafts, predecessors he chose the Gila Otero made the trip memorable which he carried home in his route, but managed to shorten for all by bringing his own boat saddlebags. it one hundred fifty miles by to avoid ferry charges at Yuma discovering a new cutoff into crossing. Later in 1852, the Hispano Tucson. After crossing the families of the Rio Abajo that had Colorado, he stopped at the newly When the drovers reached previously dominated New established Mormon colony at San California, they were dismayed to Mexico’s sheep trade decided to Bernardino, where he sold find that the sheep market test the California market with one thousand broken down ewes had collapsed. Still, after some 25,000 head. After negotiating and some undesirable mules for strong trading, Aubry and his the Gila Trail, the expedition ran eleven thousand dollars. With associates managed to hold their into trouble west of the Colorado. financial success thus assured, capital together. But the 1854 While crossing a stretch of Aubry pushed north, selling the continued on page 10

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 9 price break ended the first Garroteros during the previous year, Aubry increased his force face, causing Aubry to reach for phase of New Mexico’s sheep his pistol. When the weapon trade with California. During to sixty men. He also brought a wagon and a boat to test their misfired, Weightman closed in the previous four years drovers with a Bowie knife, inflicting a had exported over one hundred practicality. Once underway, the adventurers headed south fatal wound to Aubry’s abdomen. thousand head, about thirty The voyageur’s death caused a percent of the territory’s sheep through San Joaquín Valley and turned east to cross Tejón Pass great sensation throughout the inventory, according to the U.S. West, but after the first excitement, Census of 1850. Four years where the Sierras shrink to mere foothills. Continuing over the his friends were soon doing of strong demand had raised business as usual. expectations of local producers, Mojave Desert, they reached the Colorado near Las Vegas. Perea causing higher prices. At the Although New Mexicans same time, California prices were and Chavez proved themselves competent sailors by taking charge continued to trail sheep west at forced down by a flood of imports intervals during the next few from the borderlands and from of the boat and supervising the crossing. According to Dennis G. years, the trade reached its climax Midwestern states as far distant as in 1858. As the aspens yellowed Ohio and Illinois. The resulting Casebier, a California historian the sheepmen stayed north of San on the Sandia and Manzano profit squeeze made it difficult for mountains, ranchers in the Rio speculators to realize and adequate Francisco Peaks while moving through northern Arizona, a pint Abajo sorted more than one return on capital, considering the hundred thousand marketable obvious risks of Indian raids and that becomes significant later in this narrative. ewes and wethers off the summer the hazards of desert travel. For range. Plans called for tow ranchers who raised their own After passing Zuni, the party separate drives over two distinct stock, however, or merchants who routes. Directed by Joaquin accepted sheep in exchange for arrived on the Rio Grande in mid- August with the wagon still intact. Perea and José Jaramillo, the first consumer goods in the traditional contingent intended to follow the way, California continued to be At Peralta, Aubry bid farewell to his friends and went on to Santa well-worn Gila route via Tucson the best available sales outlet. For and Fort Yuma with 39,000 head. another five years, the western Fe, unaware that the journey just completed would be his last. According to the local press, the market yielded modest but reliable second and larger party announced profits for the old Hispano families Within hours of his arrival, the great explorer encountered an old an intention to try something that controlled production. entirely new. Led by Antonio This close-knit group that had antagonist, Richard H. Weightman, in Mercure Brothers store on the José Otero and three members dominated the region’s sheep trade of the Luna clan, they decided to before 1846 gained ascendancy Plaza. A Mexican War veteran and former delegate to Congress retrace Aubry’s proposed railroad as their Anglo competitors faded route across northern Arizona away. from New Mexico, Weightman and Aubry had disagreed along the 35th Parallel. Because of the writings of agricultural With their business completed at sharply in the past over the most advantageous route for the historian Edward N. Wentworth, last, Aubry and his companions that trail is frequently cited as the left San Francisco for New Mexico proposed transcontinental railroad. After an amicable beginning, most popular sheep trail between on July 1, 1854. Otero, Perea, New Mexico and California. In and Chaves also made the return their discussion suddenly flared into a quarrel. Believing himself fact, there is some question as to trip. Still smarting from the whether it was used by sheepmen rough treatment handed out by the insulted, Weightman pitched a drink into the French-Canadian’s at all.

10 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 In the summer of 1857, Naval reconsidered and followed Perea he carneradas, the great flocks Lieutenant Edward F. Beale had and Jaramillo to the Gila. More of mutton sheep driven by New made a thorough examination of intriguing is the possibility that Mexicans to distant markets. the are previously explored by they left Beale’s road somewhere Aubry and other military parties. west of Zuni, turned north of In the Southwest, sectional On orders from Secretary of War the San Francisco Peaks, and conflicts made business conditions John B. Floyd, Beale surveyed followed the trail pioneered by unpredictable for a time. Travel a wagon road that ran from Aubry. Judge Otero, a veteran of by stockmen over the favored Fort Defiance south of the San the 1854 expedition, had been over Gila Trail became chancy when Francisco Peaks to the Mojave the route and could have located Southern sympathizers declared villages on the Colorado. After the Colorado crossing below Las for the Confederacy at Mesilla and Beale filed his report, the new Vegas, well above the truculent Tucson in the spring and route attracted several trains Mojaves. summer of 1861. Migrant flocks of Midwesterners bound for would present a tempting target for California in the summer of On the eve of the Civil War, foraging troops in search of food 1858, several months ahead of New Mexico stockmen began supplies. Moreover, as Federal the sheep caravan. On reaching preparations for the last of the big forces withdrew from frontier the Colorado in late August, the California drives in the summer garrisons, Apache depredations travelers helped to replenish of 1860. An era was about to end, increased throughout southern dwindling food supplies at the although the ranchers didn’t know Arizona. Confronted with emigrants’ Mojave villages, but it. As summer rains freshened the widespread unrest, sheepmen disaster struck instead. Without grass and filled waterholes, the decided to avoid risks and sty warning the unpredictable Mojaves expedition’s pastores started fifty home until the situation stabilized. launched a surprise attack, killing thousand churros toward the Gila eight emigrants and driving off under the surveillance of Francisco When hostilities ceased, however, most of the expedition’s stock. Perea and Jesús Luna. In the drovers failed to resume After a hasty conference, the party November, Perea and other leaders the long drives west. Within a decided to retreat to Albuquerque, arrived in San Francisco where few years, New Mexico’s sheep despite serious food shortages. they celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s industry had undergone some During September and October, election to the presidency, a fundamental changes. Since the they limped east, enacting one of portent of things to come. Once Gold Rush, California’s sheep the worst incidents of hardship the sheep had been sold, Perea numbers had increased remarkably, and privation in the history of the and his friends started for New rising from a paltry 17,547 in 1850 Southwest. Although their ordeal Mexico, traveling as far as Mesilla to more than one million ten years is well documented, there is no in a Butterfield Overland later. During the next decade, indication of an encounter with the stagecoach. Opened as a mail flocks tripled in the Golden State, sheepmen. route in 1858, the Butterfield line climbing to almost three million already had been threatened by by 1870. Despite low production What happened to the Otero-Luna friction between Yankee and costs, New Mexicans faced drive and their sixty thousand Confederate sympathizers that formidable competition for sheep? Since news of the made service irregular in southern markets. troubles on the Colorado reached Arizona. Realizing that war was Albuquerque in mid-October, the imminent, the sheepmen arrived But more significantly, ranchers on drovers simply may have home in June 1861, unaware that the Rio Grande found a new they had just delivered the last of t continued on page 12

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 11 bonanza close at hand in the native ewes, accelerating the growing demand for wool. At the change from mutton to wool Reviews time of United States occupation in production. In later years, 1846, wool had so little value that these crossbred sheep provided Three Reviews sheep frequently went unshorn, foundation stock for ranchers in by Bob Youker but Civil war shortages brought Colorado, Wyoming, and other increased needs for woolen fiber areas throughout the West. Pueblo, Hardscrabble, Greenhorn and rising prices. Undismayed Janet Lecompte by the turmoil that accompanied So the great drives of the 1850s University of Oklahoma Press, the Confederate invasion early in came to an end as New Mexicans 1978 1862, New Mexicans exported began to realize the potential value one million pounds of wool in that of their flocks as wool producers. This award winning book is a year, worth twelve to fifteen cents While in progress, however, the great read for those interested per pound in Kansas City. The sheep trade had important in the “West.” It is still in print ready availability of freighters economic results at both ends of and available at the museum in looking for backhauls over the the trail. In California, churros Pueblo as well as Amazon.com. It Santa Fe Trail expedited the from the Rio Grande not only describes the first attempts to settle trade. By 1868, brokers such as furnished food supplies for frontier the region of the upper Arkansas F.M. Clark of Hays City, Kansas, mining camps, but also helped River where the high plains meet were advertising regularly in New establish the state’s burgeoning the mountains and the mountain Mexico newspapers, providing livestock industry. For their men or trappers turned from beaver price quotations and other news part, the sheepmen carried back to trading with the Indians and then from Eastern wool markets. To substantial payments in gold and to farming. improve the fleece of the lowly bank drafts that provided a badly churro, ranchers imported well- needed infusion of capital for New Unfortunately in December 1854 bred merino rams to cross with Mexico’s economy. the Utes had finally had enough and aggressive Chief Blanco directed a Massacre of all of the few inhabitants of the Pueblo on the day before Christmas. All but a few white men left the Upper Arkansas until 1858 when gold seekers swelled their ranks and the Utes were gradually pushed back.

Not everyone who used the Old Spanish Trail started or ended in Abiquiu or Los Angeles. Many connected with the Santa Fe Trail coming or going to St. Louis. Antoine Robidoux, for example, used light carts to move trade goods for the Ute Indians from St. Louis to Fort Uncompahgre on Churro sheep, southern Colorado the North Branch of the OST near Photo by Doug Knudson present day Delta, Colorado. He

12 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 left the mountain branch of the The Taos Trappers (The Fur Trade “Though the trapper as an occupa- Santa Fe Trail near Bent’s Fort and in the Far Southwest, 1540- tional type had nearly disappeared traveled up the Arkansas River 1846) in the southwest by the time of to the Pueblo area and over the David J. Weber the Mexican War, former trappers Sangre de Cristo Mountains at University of Oklahoma Press continued to exert influence in the Mosca Pass connecting to the East 1971, reissued in 2005. region.” Many of them followed side of the North Branch of the the OST to California and became trail at the Sand Dunes. This book is a must read for important settlers there. anyone interested in the Old Ex-trapper Bill Williams boasted Spanish Trail since it sets the scene The Southwest Expedition of of stealing 4,000 horses in for the development of the OST. Jedediah S. Smith California and moving them Prior to the independence of His Personal Account of the over the OST and the Sangre de Mexico from Spain in 1821 there Journey to California, 1826-1827 Cristo mountains to Bent’s Fort was not much fur trapping activ- Edited and with an introduction by where he sold them for whiskey! ity in the Southwest for a number George R. Brooks John C. Fremont’s 1845 military of reasons. Weber, a prolific and University of Nebraska Press expedition to California spent a excellent writer spells out in detail 1977 & 1989 few days in the upper Arkansas the activity that did take place. area before he moved on to Salt This wonderful story was written Lake and Sutter’s mill, partly by Starting in 1821, trappers, many of by Smith in St. Louis in 1832 the OST. whom had French ancestry, came shortly before he was killed by to Taos and found a very useful Indians on the Santa Fe Trail. The The plains in front of the foothills center for establishing their base. manuscript was lost and never of the Rockies where Denver is Weber describes many different published. Dale Morgan wrote his now located, presented smooth trapping expeditions that left Taos story of Jedediah Smith in 1953, going north or south for horses or for the area now covered by the and in 1967 in St Louis predicted wagons between the Oregon Trail states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, that the lost manuscript would be and South Pass and the Santa Fe and of course New Mexico. Some found some day. Four months and OST trails. Depending on their of these groups used the trails that later it turned up in some papers objectives,travelers had several had been blazed in the past and from the Ashley family, and was choices. Those headed for Taos became the various branches of the donated to the local historical used the Sangre de Cristo pass into OST. The book includes excellent society. George Brooks took the the San Luis Valley near where Ft maps and pictures and provides job of preparing the document Garland is today and then south great detail on the various trappers with extensive supporting notes on the OST to Taos. The book is and their activities. This includes and it was published by Arthur very detailed and referenced. It Jedediah Smith who was the first H. Clark Company in 1977. It presents great word pictures of to reach California by a route that was re-published by University various mountain men, explorers, was similar to what eventually of Nebraska Press in 1989 but is Indians and officials including became the OST. currently out of print. However, it the Mexicans from Santa Fe. The is easily available from Amazon. sub-title is, “Society on the High Beaver fur had fallen out of fash- COM in their used book section. Plains,1832-1856.” The author has ion by 1834 and the role of the I paid $8 for a clean copy of the done a wonderful job of making a Taos trappers started to decline. 1987 paperback edition. The 1953 very useful and readable book. Weber ends the book with the fol- Morgan book has some lowing quote, information on the southwest

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 13 expedition, but this manuscript California. The book gives a very The Old Spanish Trail Suite is adds a great amount of detail. interesting picture of early mission a symphonic performance in life in California after Mexico four movements. The first is a It was quite a trip. In the space of achieved independence from scintillating “Sunrise” movement, one year Smith left the rendezvous Spain. I highly recommend this with melodious strings enticing in August 1826 near Salt Lake, book to all who are interested in a reluctant sun to witness a new Utah and completed a circle down the OST. epoch of history -- the ascent of through southern Utah, along man. It is replete with authentic rhythms and Paiute singing, and a the Colorado River in Nevada, DVD Review across the Mojave Desert to Los melody that fades with the coming of the Spanish colonizers. The Angles, California, north through The Old Spanish Trail Suite: An “Rain” movement heralds an era the San Joaquin Valley, across the Enhanced Video Experience Sierra Nevada Mountains in late of struggle and survival for all, an appeal for rain and relief that winter, across the Nevada and Have you ever had a really long is rewarded by gentle winds and Utah deserts and back to the 1827 day and wished you could settle quenched thirst for weary travelers. rendezvous again near Salt Lake. It into your favorite recliner with “Marche” is a movement of was a precursor of the Old Spanish some good music and read that endurance and determination as Trail and in places had never been history book you once set aside for Spanish merchants and explorers done before. Brooks spends a lot a quiet moment? Now you can do cross mountains and deserts in a of notes trying to pin down exact all of that and watch a spectacular determined and unrelenting quest locations and dates, using the video of The Old Spanish Trail at for passage. “Celebration” returns Harrison Rodgers Daybook, kept the same time. by Smith’s clerk. the listener to a mood of hope and a vision of accomplishment; The Old Spanish Trail is currently a knowledge of challenges left Jedediah Smith repeated part receiving widespread national and behind. It is time for spirits and of this trip in 1827 because he international attention through a ambitions to soar in anticipation of had left a group of his men in unique mode of interpretation-- a new world and new life. California in the spring of 1827 one that few trail aficionados when he decided to push over would have ever imagined. In February of 2006 the premier the mountains with just two Commissioned by a grant from performance of The Old Spanish companions and promised to The National Endowment for the Trail Suite was heralded with return for the rest of the men later. Performing Arts, the Orchestra local enthusiasm and encore He wanted to be sure to make the of Southern Utah (Cedar City, performances at the Heritage 1827 rendezvous and was running Utah) was able to select two Center, Cedar City, Utah. I into lots of problems with snow in extraordinary young composer- was fortunate to attend that the Sierra. arrangers to interpret the Old performance with other OSTA Spanish Trail. Their goal was to members, and even more fortunate The book, written in Smith’s own produce and perform an orchestral to convince the two composers words, is a compelling read. It has interpretation of Trail history as to join with OSTA at our annual good maps and ties in well with the basis of an original symphonic convention in Green River, current maps. The story of his suite. Marshall MacDonald and Utah the following June. Their positive reception by Father Jose Steven Nelson interpretation of the Trail, the Sanchez at the California Mission were about to make history and personalities of the composers and contrasts with the rather confused make that history come alive! handling by the Governor of

14 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 their uncommon musical ability, performance they witnessed was Development Award for 2008” were appreciated by all who shared to garner three national awards The Suite and orchestra also the evening with them. It was, as in very short order. It would also received a prestigious “Award of they say, “up close and personal.” find international acclaim from an Excellence” from the National Amateur recordings of the Cedar unexpected source--China! League of American Orchestras City performance were made Jerry Waddell’s next inspiration for their performance of The available to OSTA at that time but (with some encouragement by Old Spanish Trail Suite and the several OSTA members clamored OSTA Director Paul Ostapuk) innovation it represents. for a more formal rendition of the was to take the enhancement Suite. photography and video streams With further encouragement and back to Video Ideas, Inc., and funding by OSTA members, the That opportunity came in a there involve the skills of his staff Chinese National Philharmonic unique and unanticipated manner. in creating a marketable DVD of Orchestra was contracted to Mr. Jerry Waddell, president of their successful innovation. With perform and record the Old Video Ideas, Inc. of Chattanooga, continuing enthusiasm for such a Spanish Trail Suite in Beijing, Tennessee saw an opportunity to unique project Video Ideas, Inc. China, under the baton of Xun combine his talents and those of added a historical background Sun, conductor of the Southern the musicians to create a “video to the Suite, then they added Utah Orchestra. The enthusiastic enhanced” interpretation of the Old a composers commentary, a interest of the Chinese in Spanish Trail Suite. His vision videographer’s commentary, an “authentic music of the American was to create computer based OSTA historical interpretation West,” as represented by the suite, photographic files and integrate of the Old Spanish Trail, a photo has since led to a mastering of those files with the musical score montage of OST scenery, and their performance in a new music of the Suite to create an exact capped it all off with a Director’s CD. Already in demand, the correlation between the two. The cut to round out their extraordinary Old Spanish Trail Suite on CD is result would be a choreographed effort. currently being produced by Opus video presentation to be projected Con Brio, Inc. under the title of on three immense screens behind The grand debut of the new “Old “American Journey.” It is intended any orchestra during a live Spanish Trail Suite on DVD” was for international distribution in performance. While some ideas reserved for the OSTA conference 2009. lay dormant at times, with Jerry’s in June of 2008 at Okeh Owingeh, apparent enthusiasm and OSTA NM. There Jerry Waddell The Old Spanish Trail Suite DVD member support, the project was to presented the inspired DVD to the package is currently available from become a reality. OSTA Board and members before the OSTA sales web site or directly he left for Denver, Colorado, to from Video Ideas, Inc. Those With the help of local orchestra receive national recognition in the interested in a “Video Enhanced” members, historians, pilots, form of a “Silver Telly” award version of the score for their local photographers, native Paiutes -- the highest award possible for performing orchestras, or for and OSTA, Jerry’s dream rapidly orchestral innovation and video commercial quantity sales, should emerged. His “Video Enhanced” excellence in our nation. The contact Jerry Waddell directly at version of The Old Spanish Trail Southern Utah Orchestra was VideoIdeas.com. Thanks, Jerry! Suite premiered to an appreciative similarly acknowledged for its audience and standing ovations. performance of the Suite as the Al Matheson Those attending would hardly be only recipient of a coveted Southern Utah Chapter, OSTA surprised to learn that the “Audrey Baird Audience

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 15 Sabanilla Weaving goods were shipped by mule consuming. The warping for a Pat Farr from Northern New Mexico to 288 warp, six yard long cloth took Southern California. A small her a day and a half and requires portion of these goods were the two people. She uses a warping labor intensive, highly decorated board, which is a pegged square colchas, or the plain “canvas” that frame, to prepare the warp threads the colcha embroidery was stitched to install on the loom. Pat showed to, the “sabanilla.” the operation of the shuttle running the weft thread through the warp, Pat Farr likes weaving the plain while operating the treadles with Sabanilla (the foundation for the her feet, alternating her feet on colcha embroidery). She obtains the treadles with harnesses 1 and her churro spun single-ply yarn 3, running the shuttle weft, then from Connie Taylor in Colorado, depressing treadles for harnesses 2 Pat Farr, a sabanilla weaving who grows the sheep, spins the and 4. This is the truly repetitive specialist, likes the repetitiveness wool and sells the skeins of yarn. part of the weaving. Once the and regularity of weaving the Pat emphasized that every step pattern is established for leaving sabanilla base cloth for colcha in the process has to be properly the right amount of weft thread embroidering. At the Salida del Sol crafted to create the sabanilla to compensate for the length Chapter, Annual Meeting, 18 April for the colcha designs to be required to weave between the 2009, Pat gave the fascinating embroidered. The spinning can be warp threads, the process is very background of the use of the term done with a wheel or spindle whorl repetitive. Pat uses a “stretcher “colcha” in New Mexico, referring (malacate in Spanish). The single bar” to assure that the edges of to the finished embroidered ply churro yarn is particularly the fabric stay even and square. blanket--consisting of plain good for single ply yarn because She said that she finds that white Churro wool, single-ply, of the “stickiness” of the coarse the repetitiveness is good for tightly woven sack cloth called churro wool fibers, as opposed to “meditation,” but not really multi- “sabanilla” with the embroidered the slipperiness of the merino wool tasking because she can never appliqué of dyed wool embroidery which is “slippery,” so the fibers completely stop concentrating using a “colcha stitch.” Pat cited don’t hook well to each other. Pat on the steps in the process. Pat references in the surviving Old passed around examples of natural fills an important niche, creating Spanish Trail mule caravans to churro yarn, and a natural “brown- the valuable sabanilla for the California of the relative small black” that Connie Taylor also colcha stitchers, since few artists number of heavy “colchas” that produces. find gratification in weaving the were transported to California, plain white “sack cloth.” There indicating the labor intensive Pat then gave a brief overview of is additional compensation in ‘expensive’ nature of the colchas her loom which has 8 harnesses. the fact that Pat’s sabanilla is in compared to other woven trade She explained that her loom is high demand by colcha stitchers items such as “fresadas” intermediately complex; some because of its high quality. which were the major light woolen looms have 32 harnesses. She blanket with woven, not normally only uses four harnesses articles by Mark Henderson embroidered patterns. for the sabanilla, since there is photos courtesy of Michael Najdowski During the life of the Old Spanish not a different colored yarn design Trail (1829-1848), tens of woven in. Pat also emphasized thousands of pounds of woven that warping the loom is very time

16 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 Colcha Stitching in the colonies so they couldkeep frontier communities was Julia Gomez a monopoly on the fine merino made for altar clothes that had products. representations of religious images. Thus, the coarse churro Julia thinks that to have the best wool was converted into a finely final product a colcha artist must crafted, labor intensive wool of be experienced in the whole the highest quality for sacred process, from shearing the sheep, purposes. It was “art that was not spinning the wool, collecting the art,” crafted by women who had to dyes, dying the colcha yarn, and work hard to survive, and had to the last step, stitching the colcha work even harder to spend time on designs. Julia even went so far as finery that would be donated to the to find a lady in Mora who had her church. own flock of twenty churros, and she apprenticed to shear her sheep. Julia showed several of her After a day of shearing, Julia finished colchas, and urged us to found that it was difficult work hold them closely so we could for an adult novice to take on, and get a feel for the essence of the she decided that she would let material. She made one of the Julia Gomez, a colcha artist, likes others specialize in shearing, while colchas she exhibited for her the creativity of stitching colored she specialized in colcha design daughter’s birthday. It had floral designs and symbols on the plain and needlework. designs of special significance, sabanilla cloth. She has little including barras de San Jose patience, but immense respect, for Julia has also gone far afield to (hollyhocks in northern New the repetitive precision required purchase, collect, and prepare Mexico vernacular, symbolizing to produce the sabanilla canvas. dyes, using marigolds for yellow- summer) and rosa de castilla. Julia is a teacher and demonstrator orange, indigo for royal blue, Julia also exhibited a large of colcha crafts at the Museum and cochineal from Oaxaca for sabanilla that was completely of Spanish Colonial Arts and at royal crimson. She explained that covered by colcha that had been Rancho de las Golondrinas. Julia indigo is so toxic to the skin and done as a guild project by many re-emphasized that for colcha, airways that slaves and servants cooperating craftswomen. (photo) the characteristics of the churro were assigned as the laborers in the yarn must be well understood dyeing process. Julia explained Finally, Julia pointed out that the and carefully considered to have that the colcha embroidery in the first colcha revival was started in the desired final product. Julia colonies was an attempt to mimic the 1930’s by the Carson brothers explained that in Spain the churro with available materials the highly from their mercantile in Carson, sheep was the “scrub or peasant decorated mantones and mantillas New Mexico, between Taos and sheep” with coarse wool that the that ricos and royalty in Spain Ojo Caliente. Julia is a part of a growers would allow to be sold would weave from silk, finely second colcha revival that may for export to the Spanish colonies. spun cotton, and merino wool. now have enough practitioners to The merino breed was too delicate, The highly decorated embroidery be sustained on its own, without and the wool too fine, for the harsh was thus a labor intensive colonial the risk of losing the art. Julia frontier conditions and hard use in mimicry in coarse churro of the encouraged everyone to come by the colonies. The home country “homeland” elite clothing. Much and say hello to her at her booth at growers did not want merino sheep of the colcha weaving in the Spanish Market.

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 17 LEFT Here is our favorite personal shot of OSTA history. We took this picture in April 2008 when we traveled to the Book Cliffs area looking for this inscription. Some have the date as 1831 and not “37” as highlighted by others before us. --Bill and Esther Gorman

RIGHT This is where the North Branch of the OST crosses the Colorado River, looking toward the Northeast. At this point there are no developments or roads. It is quiet except for the river. If a group of Utes, a pack train or Kit Carson happened to be seen crossing here it wouldn’t surprise you at all. The OST is very real here. --Sonny Shelton

BELOW I commend this evident natural trail site at Green River, Utah for recognition as one of the most significant and defining points along the entire Old Spanish National Historic Trail. --Al Matheson

ABOVE Sangre de Cristos, the eastern boundary of the OST, from Hwy US 285, near Saguache, Colorado. --Doug Knudson

Favorite Photographs of the Old Spanish Trail

18 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 LEFT Here is our favorite personal shot of OSTA history. We took this picture in April 2008 when we traveled to the Book Cliffs area looking for this inscription. Some have the date as 1831 and not “37” as highlighted by others before us. --Bill and Esther Gorman

RIGHT This is where the North Branch of the OST crosses the Colorado River, looking toward the Northeast. At this point there are no developments or roads. It is quiet except for the river. If a group of Utes, a pack train or Kit Carson happened to be seen crossing here it wouldn’t surprise you at all. The OST is very real here. --Sonny Shelton

BELOW It was an unexpected meeting at “Cottonwood Camp” on the Old Spanish Trail through the San Rafael Swell, Utah. L to R: Leo Lyman (back view), Doug Knudson, John Thompson (William Workman Chapter), and Al King in the saddle. --David Fallowfield

ABOVE Sangre de Cristos, the eastern boundary of the OST, from Hwy US 285, near Saguache, Colorado. --Doug Knudson

Favorite Photographs of the Old Spanish Trail

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 19 Spanish Trail Treasure About two miles east and a little by S. Alva Matheson up to two hundred yards in width. These patches were in a line north of Iron Springs there is an abrupt outcropping of grey The following article is a between Enoch and Iron Springs. This was puzzling to me. Rass and sandstone which overlooks one of copyrighted excerpt from the the most frequently used Spanish writings of S. Alva Matheson I commented on it but neither (1903-2000), Cedar City, Utah, regarding some of his findings of Spanish “Treasure” along the Old Spanish Tail in Iron County, Utah. The artifacts pictured to the right are currently on display at the Museum of the San Rafael, Old Spanish Trail Exhibit, Castle Dale, Utah. www.castlecountry.com/ what_to_do/san_rafael_museum. html

(This article was included in a limited edition printing under the title of “Indian Stories and Legends,” published in 1974 by campgrounds in this area. I have Southern Utah State College.) Photo by S. Alva Matheson, 1974 spent many hours on top of this pile of rocks. It was probably fifty of us could come up with an or sixty feet above the flat ground “My Finds Along The Spanish answer. On day when Father and and was situated right where the Trail” I were together I asked him if he flat ground of the valley meets the could tell me the reason for these gently sloping hills to the north. My summers when I was a kid spots. He said, “Oh, that’s the Old There is quite an area of rough, were spent on the Cedar Bottoms Spanish Trail.” This meant little to weather-worn sand rock strata to on our 200 acre ranch. As a farm, me so I asked for an explanation. the west, which reaches a height it paid little dividend to speak of, of probably twenty five feet above but it furnished good pasturage for He told me how traders had driven the flat ground and is eroded into a few animals and a good place cattle, mules, and horses from gullies, holes, and flat places deep to keep four growing boys out of Monterey, California, through enough to afford protection from town and mischief. There was the Cedar Valley, on their way to wind. It is high enough to be out enough work to keep us all busy, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the of the mud in wet weather, and and my Brother Rass and I spent pounding of the trail to powder by from it the travelers could look many hours riding horses in the the thousands of head of animals out over several hundred acres of valley and the Three Peaks country was the reason for the bare spots. grass and marshy pasture lands (Iron County, Utah). In our travels This part of our local history has that provided feed for the hundreds I noticed many places in an east- never ceased to intrigue me, and of head of animals that passed west line where the vegetation I’ve never failed to grasp any through. A nice camp situation, seemed to be stunted and information I could about The Old under the circumstances, could sometimes almost bare of growth Spanish Trail. 20 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 hardly be found. Some people 25) Later, about 1960, in talking decided to ride my motorbike out may question my statement about to my sister Rhoda, she said she through the three Peaks area to the marshy grassland, but they do had never been out to this place observe deer signs in view of the not know or remember this part of so we planned a picnic lunch and coming hunt. After following our county as I do (circa 1910). she and her husband and our sister the old roads and trails that This place received much of Marcella and her husband, my crisscrossed through the hills, I the drainage from Cedar Valley, sister Ella, and my wife Zella and I found myself again on this pile of especially during high water drove out for a pleasant afternoon rocks. Climbing to the top, I sat and summer floods from the of visiting. I was interested in there for a long time, once more south and east, as well as from the Native American writings and trying to visualize the activity of Quichapa Lake, plus several quite spent some time studying the place the camp as it might have been large springs at Eight mile which where they were. Sometime in the many years ago, with animals drained down the west side of the long-distant past a large part of the munching the luscious grass after valley and spread over this flat ledge had broken away, leaving traveling the long, dusty trail while ground, finally finding its way into quite a large angular wall on the the men were busily unloading the Iron Springs Lake and on out west and north, making a good pack mules and making camp for into the neck of the desert. I have place to build a lean-to with a flat the night. Camp! The thought seen water in the drainage path floor, a nice room for protection struck me and lingered. If I were from Eight mile, several feet wide from the elements. The lean-to and in their shoes where would I pitch and deep enough to reach a horse’s floor have long since been eroded my camp? I picked out four of the belly. away, leaving pictures of men and most likely spots and decided that deer pecked into the west wall. By the urge to investigate them was Since the advent of deep pump studying and trying to reconstruct too strong to resist. wells for irrigation, Quichapa Lake in my mind the scene of activity as has dried up. There are no springs it might have been at one time long I returned the next day, armed with at Eight mile and only a seep ago, I decided that if any artifact my hand pick, camera, and lunch. where the Iron Springs used to had been left there it would by Parking my motorbike in the shade flow as a good irrigating stream. now have been washed out and of a large cedar tree, I walked To my knowledge, no water has down the slope to the dirt below across the small flat to where reached the Iron Springs Gap from and would be covered by erosion. the Native American writings Coal Creek for many years, but the I decided to follow my hunch and were and to where I had found the Old Spanish camp site and trail are dig a little bit. As I raked the doll. The light was not just right still very much in evidence. pick quickly several times, to my for picture taking so I attempted surprise I uncovered a stone doll to chalk the pictures to make them As time went on I seldom visited about three inches long, one and show up better. In reaching up this place until I joined the Rock one fourth inches wide with its to them my feet kept slipping on Club in 1948, when in studying arms crossed in front and with a loose rocks on the ground, so I rocks and minerals and being stylistic Native American face. began to move them for a more anxious to obtain as many minerals I left to return home with the firm footing. As I scraped the and crystal forms as I could, I went resolution to return the next day to loose rocks away, I found in a back for some of the magnetite dig some more, but time marches crack, two beautifully made arrow crystals. At this time I discovered on. It was several years before points broken one-fourth an inch some hieroglyphics on a flat opportunity allowed me to return. from the point of each, and two surface rock but lacked time to quite poorly made points that were do any exploring (see photo, pg. The first of October, 1971, I complete.

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 21 in it for another man while he five hundred years old. The burn I finished taking pictures and then started the herd of animals on marks I had noticed were all but started to dig at the place I had the way? Was it tipped over by healed over, indicating that a chosen the day before, but found a squirrel in search of food to lie campfire or lightning had damaged nothing. I moved to the number there on its side, and if so, for how the tree many years ago. It takes two spot. Still nothing, but at long? While wind and storms had nature a long time to heal burn the number three spot I began to covered it with sand and silt, it scars, especially in a slow growing uncover ashes and bits of charcoal had lain there, hidden from view, tree such as a juniper. Then too, so I dug deeper to the bottom of until I chanced to bring it to the in a partially burned tree the the ashes, going from side to side light of day with a lucky strike of heart wood dies and turns pithy and chopping a little bit at a time my pick. I felt and decays so as not to miss anything in the highly rewarded Having hunted many leaving the dirt. As I made one chop with the as I carefully stump hollow. pick, a lump of dirt fell away from wrapped my prize long hours in many parts This was the a dark object which I dug out very in my jacket and of the country and having case with this carefully to expose a beautiful placed it in my found thousands of broken tree. And in earthen bowl, four and one-half backpack to start potsherds, this was the moving some inches wide, by four and one-half for home. It was only complete pot I had of the collected inches high. On examining nearly springtime ever found. debris in the it I decided it was definitely not before time and crotch in order of Native American origin as it desire compelled to examine the appeared to have been made on a me to again mount burns more potter’s wheel, which the of our my trusty motorbike and head for closely, I uncovered an old powder area never had, and the decoration this spot. horn lying across the opening in was a maze of circular, zigzag the stump. lines which are not of local origin. On February 20, 1972, I went It was lying on its side at almost a to this same Old Spanish Trail The horn is of the type used forty-five degree angle so that campground and spent another half by most of the pioneers and no frost or moisture could harm it. day. I found a few more frontiersmen. The shell of a There had been a small mouse nest hieroglyphics, took some pictures, cow’s horn was used and the large in it at one time. but found nothing more until end was plugged with a piece of reaching my bike. I was looking wood which was water-proofed Needless to say I was highly around the huge old cedar tree, and fastened securely in the horn. delighted at making this find. wondering what might have taken In the center of this plug was a Having hunted many long hours, place there in its shade--or the smaller, removable plug that could in many parts of the country, protection it may have given from be removed for the purpose of and having found thousands of a cold north wind--when I noticed filling the horn with gun powder. broken potsherds, this was the only some burn marks. The trunk is The plugs in this horn were long complete pot or vase I had ever about two and one half feet high since rotted out and gone. The found. I sat and tied to visualize and then branches into two large smaller end contained a groove the circumstances under which branches. I have sawed trees of around the outside for the purpose it might have been left. Was it similar size and have counted the of fastening a carrying thong, forgotten in their preparation to annular growth rings, and from usually of buckskin, and in its end move on? Was it forgotten or this experience I estimated the of was a small hole for the purpose was it left by one man with food short stump to be approximately of dispensing a charge of powder

22 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 into the old muzzle-loading while Neal, Zella, and the children shops along the street there were guns, which were used from the returned to the car. Kevin left a large bailing wire rings filled with Thirteenth century until the middle short time later leaving JoAnn larger than usual keys. I began Eighteen-hundreds when the and me, and we continued to look looking for one large enough that cartridge ammunition came into around. Coming to some rocks I could bore a hole in the shaft use. with hieroglyphics on them we to make a replica of the Spanish found a large rat’s nest in a hole Trail castle key pistols I had read When I found this horn it was formed by a misplaced boulder. I about. Finding one that suited me damp and soft from the moisture decided that if someone had been I asked the clerk how much it was. from the inside the stump, and sitting on top of these rocks and He answered curtly “$6.00.” “You though fried out it was still very had dropped anything, it could don’t want to sell it very bad,” I soft and chalky, almost to the point well have dropped into this hole said, and turned to leave. “Oh, of falling to pieces. I imagined and been lost. $4.00,” he said. “No,” I said, “I what adventures this horn could won’t pay even two dollars,” and I tell if able to talk, telling stories of On this assumption I started to started out the door. He came and early trappers and traders. Could pick into the rat’s nest. I had the took me by the arm and turned me it have been left by one of Father nest all pulled out and was about to around. “Fifty cents?” he asked in Escalante’s men or by one of the give up, but on one side I could see a rather timid voice. I paid him the early Spanish tail traders? It was what appeared to be a deep crack fifty cents. found at one of their favorite between the rocks that camps—why not? Or was it an was filled with sand. I raked my Upon arriving home I started to early pioneer or Native American pick through the sand, loosening bore out the shaft of the key to who laid it there while resting or it, going deeper each time. To my make the replica pistol as I had eating a meal of grass seeds and surprise, my pick hooked into a planned, and to my surprise I jerky. Its stories are dead, as is metal ring. As I pulled it out bored into one-half inch of lead, its voice—gone except for the my first thought was that it was then into about three-fourths inch viewer’s imagination. what is called a running iron, used of black powder. I then looked for for branding cattle in the absence a touch-hole, which I found under During the first part of July, of a regular branding iron, but on a coat of rust. I had a very rare 1972, my son Neal and his family closer examination, it was a large item which I would gladly have spent their vacation with us, key about nine inches long. paid several times the $6.00 if I having driven from their home in Across the shaft, close to the ring had known what it was. Now I Michigan. On July 7th we were on the end, was a piece of metal have two extremely rare antiques deciding how to spend the day shaped like a trigger and a hammer with no known history except that when Neal said, “Dad, I would for a gun. I knew then that it was a they were made in Spain for use by like to go out where you found very old Spanish jail or castle key the Spanish conquistadores the stone doll.” The rest of the pistol. I had read about this type as jail and castle keys. From family agreed so in a few minutes of firearm several years earlier but history books and pictures we lunch was packed and we were on because they are so rare I never know that there was always an oil our way. It was a hot day and we expected to see one. lamp near the door or gate. These found the shade of a large cedar pistols usually had a cotton cord tree very inviting. Parking the I went to Phoenix, Arizona with attached to them with a live coal car in the shade we all walked Neal. He took us to Nogales, smoldering on the end, or the over to the outcropping of rocks, Mexico for the experience of going cord could be quickly lighted by hunting around them. After a into Mexico. In several of the touching it to the oil lamp, and it

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 23 was ready to ignite the powder in “Try digging over there,” he said, decided to see what was in this the touch hole. If necessary, one nodding toward the direction of one. I used my rock pick and dug could shoot through the keyhole the large, flat boulder mentioned out a wheel barrow full of sticks, with the key in place in the door. before with the hieroglyphics on prickly pear, rocks, and cow chips, the top of it. Then he was gone but could not reach all of it. I got In early August of 1972, the Iron and I was wide awake. a tree branch with a right angle Mission Park Commission had Usually my dreams are gone when branch out from the end and using decided to open a museum to the I wake up, but I kept thinking it for a rake, worked out more public. In thinking of material about this one, probably because sticks and prickly pear. I then for it, I had been reflecting on the of the location. Being Sunday decided to work out a rock that items mentioned as a possible morning, I went to church and then had been hindering the removal display. Saturday, August 5th, I started to get ready to do my work of the rat debris. When the rock was having trouble with my back at the Cedar City Library. Still finally came out, I was surprised but had kept working anyway. I thinking about the dream, I told to find that it was a hand-shaped went to bed too tired and sore to Zella about it, “I want to go out stone, oval in shape, about seven sleep or rest very well. During my the one more time to see if there is and one-half inches long by five sleeplessness I did some dreaming. something I have overlooked.” and one-half inches wide, and two As I dreamed, I seemed to be busy inches thick, with a one and one doing something with tools and It was a nice day so I hurried half inch hole at one end, and was working in the dirt in a place through my work, climbed on my somewhat flatter on one side similar to the area where I found motorbike and was soon at the than on the other. It was of the stone doll, bowl, powder horn, side of the flat-topped boulder. I grayish-blue rock that was rather key pistol, and arrow points. I studied it for some time. It seemed porous. It had been worn smooth, looked up to see a man to be of volcanic origin and was apparently by grinding away on on a large grey horse standing on much finer grained and much another rock, with a certain size, a mound slightly higher than the harder than any of the surrounding shape, and weight in mind. What surrounding ground with a large terrain which was composed of the maker had in mind is more pile of rocks to the side of him, in coarse-grained, rotten granite. I than I can comprehend. It must about the same position as the rock looked and walked around and have been a weight for some outcropping I have spoken of. over the ground, back and forth, purpose, but no one seems to be and could find nothing. I finally able to figure what that purpose As I looked up, he was tired of looking and came back to could have been, and whether it nonchalantly leaning on the horn the boulder to see if I could make was Spanish or Native American. of the saddle in a careless, sitting heads or tails of the drawings on It may have been a tool of some position. He looked at me for a top of it. As I started to climb, sort. By inserting the thumb in the moment, and then asked what I my eyes looked at the same thing hole and grasping the edge with was digging for. I answered that I had seen many times before, the fingers it could have been used it was as good a place as any I but I saw it somewhat differently as a sort of hammer for pounding knew of, and besides it was easy now. There was a wedge-shaped hides in the tanning process, or for digging. “Well,” he said, “You’re part of the boulder that had broken pounding jerky or other dried food digging in the wrong place.” I away from the parent rock and had stuffs before cooking them, but the said, “Do you know of a better moved out about twelve inches, Indians seldom went to that much place?” I mentioned finding the leaving quite a crevice. Now trouble when any common rock or other things and he said, “Well, anyone knows that a rat will drag club would do as well, so I believe there’s more.” “Where?” I asked. anything it can into its nest. I there must have been some other

24 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 reason for its size and shape. bent it into a hook with which I when I made a find. After getting Since finding the Spanish Castle could reach under the rock. I had it home and cleaning off the key pistol in July of 1972, I had pulled out most of the nest when accumulated dirt from the many harbored an uneasy feeling that Zella exclaimed, “Oh, what is years it had lain under the rat’s I must go back again. I tried to that?’ It looks like an old rusty nest, we had a beautiful, lavender- console myself with the mental door knob.” I raked it out and as I colored quartzite stone that had argument that I had been hand polished to almost a been looking pretty well mirror finish. Zella said she could over the surface of the see it hanging around a Spanish ground, as well as in Monk’s neck. This old Spanish the cracks and crannies amulet is the sixth object I have around the rocks, but found at this old Spanish camp. still the feeling persisted through the fall and From the time I was a teenager, winter. From early fall when I found the stone doll, there was too much this place has held a fascination snow to venture out but for me, and there had been a as spring came and the certain urgency to go there. An ground dried out, that indescribable something had kept feeling of urgency grew tugging at my subconscious with steadily greater until each article found. But since Photo circa 1955: S. Alva Matheson on Sunday, June 10, 1973 (Alva’s finding this amulet, the feeling 70th Birthday). of being drawn to that area has picked it up she said, “Oh, it’s just subsided and I no longer feel that I I decided to do something about an old cobblestone, but how did it must go back. it. I had taken care of my church get under the rock?” As I tuned it duties and the work at the city over we were amazed to see that it To our family these Spanish Trail library and it was four o’clock in had been hand shaped into roughly artifacts are of great value. the afternoon. I asked Zella if she the shape of an Indian stone axe. wouldn’t like to go for a little A hole had been drilled edgeways ride. She was anxious to go, and though the thick end and it still in a few minutes we were on our contained a piece of rawhide way. Parking the car in the shade string, dried and old, but still in of a tree, we walked to the area place. On one flat side, of all of my other finds. We looked things, a Catholic Cross one and casually over some of the ground, three-fourths inches by three- but I seemed to be drawn like a fourths of an inch, was carved, magnet to the one rock with the with a small hole at each point hieroglyphics on the flat top, and of the cross, apparently for the from which I had pulled the stone purpose of containing a gem stone. weight from a rat’s nest. However, no gems were in place. Contemplating more work on the There is no need to state that we rat’s nest before leaving home, I were astonished and very pleased. had flattened the end of a piece Zella was delighted because it was of electrical conduit and had then the first time she had been with me

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 25 Bluffs area and has updated their Lectures News from the Trail maps. At one point last year, Cliff Walker gave a talk to the this information was completely Barstow Optimist Club in June. removed from the GIS survey of In December, Walker presented North Branch Chapter, the area. I want to check with Bill an OST program to the Desert Colorado Chenoweth on its accuracy but it Institute in 29 Palms (jointly Victoria Gipson, Chapter President appears to be correct. sponsored by the 29 Palms Historical Society & School House The North Branch Chapter updates We hope to get the "Adopt a Trail" Museum and Joshua Tree National include submitting concerns and program through BLM to instate Park). In January 2009, he gave recommendations to the BLM the OST as part of their program an OST talk to the Mohahave Local field office for their 20-year this year. Historical Society in Victorville. scoping report. Several members In February, Bob Hilburn led submitted comments individually Rancho Chapter, Southern a field trip for the University as well as the chapter submission. California of California at Riverside Our overall objective was to Clifford J. Walker, CA Director Undergraduate Anthropology promote recognition of the trail Club; later the club was hosted and removal of disposal and partial Research and Exploration overnight at Paradise Springs with disposal of BLM designation of Cliff Walker and Bob Hilburn, an OST talk by Walker. properties that are a part of or with the Mojave River Valley affect the OST in our area. Museum (Barstow), led a Writing and Research December exploring trip west Walker did research for his We further encouraged and of Barstow to check the 1854 forthcoming book, Gone the Way supported any efforts of the BLM U.S. Survey map to first find of the Earth: Indian Slave Trade to assist with trail preservation, remnants of the Los Angeles-Salt in the Old Southwest. Two trips to cleanup, signage, etc. Lake Wagon Road in an area not Santa Fe, three to the Huntington searched before. Library, one to the Great Basin I will be attending a meeting the Anthropological Conference in end of March with the OMNIA and Joint Field Trip Portland, OR, and two trips to the Mesa County Planning to promote Another joint field trip involved State Library in Sacramento. The our concerns and learn what their Jim Mustra of the Mohahve book will be out in April of 2009, current status is regarding the trail. Historical Society (Victorville) and about 200 pages in length, and will the Mojave River Valley Museum be published by the Mojave River The chapter is now a recognized in January. We traced the wagon Valley Museum Association. review agency for development road until it disappeared in the plans that impact the trail. This railroad tracks in the west and a Fall Board Meeting designation is advisory only but it huge wash in the east. We GPSed Walker and David Romero were is a great step toward promoting it, and also found a possible trace heading to pick up Leo Lyman the acknowledgement of the trail of the Old Spanish Trail (mule to attend the Fall OSTA Board by the City of Grand Junction. road) west of Barstow before it meeting in Colorado, but in Las disappeared into the tracts. Plans Vegas Walker had to go to the The city planning department has are to continue to pick up trails and hospital because of an inner ear reestablished the GIS location of possible OST paths on both sides infection. It ruined their Board the trail in the Gunnison River of where it disappeared. Meeting plans!

26 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 Walker has since recovered from The Spring lecture series Native American Consultant and the prodigious task of hosting sponsored by LEF Foundation Chief Trail Scout. He heads the the 2007 OSTA Conference in has been taking place at the Taos chapter’s trail-finding committee. Barstow. Public Library on Saturdays from April 4th to May 30th. They start Based on George and Brad’s at 10:15 AM. A big thanks to discovery, the chapter sought La Vereda Chapter, Colorado Lloyd Rivera for all his work on funding to explore and Pat Richmond, Chapter President this project. (see article on pg. 33) scientifically record the trace. In June, 2007, the chapter—under With most of us out of the area, Tecopa Chapter, California the aegis of the Old Spanish not much has been happening with Jack Prichett, Chapter President Trail Association—signed a Task La Vereda. Ken Frye continues Agreement with the National Park to work with Lorrie Crawford on In 2008 the Tecopa chapter made Service. The agreement provided her FS/BLM interpretive project. exciting finds by locating and funding for a year-long project We ordered another 3,000 copies recording segments of a trace to perform trail-finding and data of the San Luis Valley Time- dating from the early phase collection by chapter volunteers Event Chart to insert into the (roughly 1829 to 1849) of the Old working in conjunction with a West Fork Trail brochure. The Spanish Trail, when mule trains qualified archeological consultant. San Luis Valley State Tourism traversed the route from Santa Fe Data collected would be organized Center in Alamosa has distributed to Los Angeles. The discovery into a report for filing with national the several thousand West Fork and documentation is described in and state agencies. Should the brochures they had on hand. Ken a forthcoming report, as described findings warrant it, they would be has delivered a new supply to below. used to apply for National Register them. Suzie Off takes on the task of Historic Places. of inserting the charts into each Here’s how the discovery came West Fork brochure. to pass. In 2006, then chapter member Brad Mastin and chapter member, George Ross, brought to Salida Del Sol Chapter, New the attention of the Tecopa chapter Mexico board a well-worn horse or mule Pat Kuhlhoff, Chapter President track crossing the California Valley and the South Nopah Range. they The Chapter held its April 18, suggested it might be a remnant of 2009, at the home of members Pat the early mule caravan track. and Walter Farr. Pat demonstrated sabanilla weaving. Sabanilla is the George, now 83, (see photo, right) fabric on which the Colcha stitch is the son of prominent Paiute Julia is done. Julia Gomez presented the Weed Ross. He was taught trail- history of Colcha in New Mexico finding by his family and has spent (see article on page 16). Mark a lifetime exploring the southern Henderson also spoke to the group California desert. He knows the about trail stewardship. Tecopa region and its history as In 2008, the chapter conducted perhaps no other living being. field surveys, including sessions Today he is the chapter’s in March and May, in which the archeological consultant, Discovery Works, Inc., of Long

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 27 Beach, CA, participated. This Since January 1, 2009 the trail as president and Scott Smith as “ground-truthing,” i.e., following committee has continued its chapter director. Cynthia will the trace on the ground and eastward tracking of the trace. continue to participate as a board recording its location across We’ve been bolstered in this effort member. the desert and over the Nopahs, by the contributions of committee via GPS waypoints, led the members, Jack Prichett, Scott The current board consists of: archeologist to conclude that we Smith, Sarah Bennett, Ila Ross, Jack Prichett, president (term had found portions of the early Dixie Ross Collins, JB Collins, 2009-2010) mule route of the Old Spanish Whit Smith, Judy Palmer, and Cynthia Kienitz, board member Trail. This finding is a major Travis Edwards. (2009 - 2010) historical discovery. George Ross, Native American In 2009, once the 2007-2008 task consultant, chief trail scout and The findings are presented in an agreement report is issued, the head of trail committee (lifetime) as-yet-unreleased report prepared chapter plans to begin pursuing Scott Smith, secretary and chapter by Discovery Works in conjunction funding for further work to extend director (2008 - 2011) with the chapter. The report is the finding and scientific recording Travis Edwards, treasurer (2008 currently under review by a BLM of the mule trace and, in some - 2011) archeologist in the Bureau’s cases, the parallel or adjacent John Pawlak, board member Barstow, CA office. In 2008, wagon trail. The long-term goal (2008 – 2011) OSTA requested an extension is to track the trace westward through Dec. 31, 2008 to complete from the Nopahs, through Tecopa Strategic Planning. The chapter is the work. In February, 2009, the and then southward along the completing a 2009-2010 strategic chapter and OSTA forwarded to Amargosa River and the Silurian plan to guide activities over these NPS a second request to extend Valley to Impassible Hill two years. the deadline until June 30, 2009. (described in Hal Steiner’s book). OSTA is seeking to get the report At this point the trail enters the In addition to the trail-finding released from the BLM to permit present-day Fort Irwin. activities just described, the printing and distribution as per strategic plan includes: terms of the Task Agreement. Elections and Current Chapter Board. Cynthia Kienitz was one 1. Preparation of a PowerPoint Meanwhile, with a trace to follow, of the chapter’s founders, and presentation to promote the the Trail Committee has continued has been a guiding light, along OSTA within the Tecopa Chapter its efforts to plot its track through with George Ross, for the vision boundaries. The presentation the desert. Since May 2008, of locating the mule trace in the would be used for showing at several field expeditions have Tecopa area. She has served public events, schools and other succeeded in recording the trace as chapter president since its institutions, and for recruiting. It eastward toward Formidable Hill, formation in 2005. will feature maps, photos, and a landmark cited by pioneers in video segments to be recorded by later wagon trains that followed Due to the pressures of managing board member John Pawlak. We the Trail. The chapter’s 2009 goal her growing business, Cynthia will be seeking guidance from is to track the trace to the Nevada chose not to continue as president the Comprehensive Management state border. or chapter director in 2009. In Team and our National Board. elections held in January 2009, the board elected Jack Prichett 2. Recruitment of Sustaining members, sponsors, and partners

28 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 which would strengthen our page on the OSTA web site. that the Chapter was now eleven chapter activities. The chapter page would feature years old and in good heart. Six photographs, maps, news and members had attended the 2008 Sustaining members. These articles, contact information and, Conference in Espanola, New would be members who make perhaps, logos of and links to Mexico and thoroughly enjoyed a substantial financial donation partner organizations and sponsors. the experience. to the chapter. The chapter is considering levels such as Silver We will work vigorously with Apart from the New Mexico sec- ($2500), Gold ($5000), and our OST National Board, the tions of the trail, members were Platinum ($10,000). Sustaining Comprehensive Management also in the OST towns of Green members will be recruited through Team, and other interested parties River UT, Durango CO, Barstow invitations to visit China Ranch, to ensure that our chapter is CA and Las Vegas NV. where they will receive a briefing viewed as a trusted partner and on chapter activities, view the receives full disclosure on all Elections: PowerPoint presentation, enjoy a future reports and findings within Bill Ramsay was re-elected dinner, and be taken to see a trail our chapter boundaries. President. segment. We will be consulting David Fallowfield was re-elected with Mark Franklin on the logistics In short, the chapter has ambitious Secretary/treasurer. of such funds. plans for 2009 and 2010, both in finding more segments of the mule Board of Directors: Corporate sponsors. These would trace and in building our strength Re-appointed were be companies that make financial as an organization. K.Bruce Alderson and or in-kind donations in support of Donald Harrison. the chapter’s work. They might Annual General Meeting of the include, for example, a geographic William Workman Chapter New Director- Appointed in information systems company Bill Ramsay, Chapter President place of Nick Swinscoe was John that would assist in preparation of Thompson. maps and animations. The Chapter AGM was held at 2pm, Saturday, 21 March 2009, John has now attended three Partner organizations. These at the home of members John and Conferences in the US, namely would be non-profit organizations Anne Thompson, Bradley Foot, at Green River 2006, Barstow 2007 (for example, Sierra Club, Nature Ousby, Penrith, Cumbria, England. and Espanola 2008. Conservancy, and history and/or archeology departments of major Chapter President Bill Ramsay Future Projects: universities) with educational called the meeting to order and The Secretary gave details of those or conservation aims that would received apologies. The Minutes attending the Tours arranged for partner in efforts to preserve the of the previous meeting were US OSTA Members on the dates trail. These alliances would be of read and adopted. The President 18-23 May 2009. Director John help in mustering public support thanked members for attending Thompson volunteered to assist for trail preservation, fund-raising, and the Thompson’s for kindly with the guiding over the whole 6 and recruiting expert advisors. providing the venue and days. This was appreciated by the refreshments. He was happy to Secretary. continue as President. 3. Increased visibility on the Other members would join in as Internet. The chapter plans to The Secretary, David Fallowfield and when convenient to their establish a Tecopa Chapter web gave his report. He pointed out

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 29 From the Editor personal arrangements. Everyone continued from page 1 expressed interest and pleasure at the numbers attending. snow-dusted grey mountains and great expanses made me feel anxiously disoriented. Shouldn’t we have been in Utah by now? Where were the The 2009 Conference at Ignacio, Salt Flats? The Great Salt Lake? CO was discussed and at present time four members are possibles I then realized we were flying south of those points and were most likely for attending. over central Utah. In the distance I saw what I thought was Canyonlands National Park, looking much like a computer-generated fractal, with The Secretary produced a copy of fish bone-like escarpments etched into the reddish lands. Were those Paul Spitzzeri’s recent book, undulating outcroppings below me the Book Cliffs? Had we passed the The Workman & Temple Families Green River? Was that the Grand Mesa far out on the horizon? purchased via Amazon. He recommended it to members as a I was hopelessly lost, but I took heart by reminding myself that finding wonderful historic record of the one’s way along the Old Spanish Trail has never been easy. I recalled the two families. There being no times I had traveled between Colorado and Southern California on Route further business the meeting 66 before the era of the Interstates, and I remembered my father once closed at 3.15pm with tea and saying to my mother--as we were on yet another expedition through the homemade scones. deserts I loved, with our station wagon’s windows rolled down and the hot air blowing in--“I think Danny likes to travel; he’s always looking out the window.” And maybe that’s how I came to be editor of Traces.

At times I have felt a little diminished by what I don’t know about the Old Spanish Trail, which prompted me to email a brief five-question survey concening Traces to OSTA members (see next page). To the sixty members who replied, muchas gracias, and to those of you who did not receive the survey, please feel free to get in touch by mailing your responses to my address listed on page two. The survey results should be reaffirming to our readers. Ninety percent of the respondents are happy with Traces in its current format. So why does a color masthead appear in this issue? Not because I believe it will make Traces better, but because the printer offered to give us one page with an extra color, gratis!

As a traveler who has lived in many locales associated with the Trail, Ignacio, Colorado, as a child; La Puente, California, as a teenager; and San Bernardino, California, as an adult--I feel at home as editor of Traces. I would like to thank the previous editors, Jon and Deborah Lawrence, for helping me take the reins, thanks also to Editor Emeritus, Lorraine Carpenter, for filling me in on the details of bulk mailing, and thanks to those who submitted articles and photos for this issue. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and suggestions. My destination is the same as yours--to preserve The Old Spanish Trail, to make its history come to life, and to reach out to those who have not yet heard of this wonderful National Historic Trail. Daniel Lewis

30 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 Spanish Traces Survey 7. Don’t read all of it but skim searched articles!! titles. Would like to see news or 7. It should be a trail “tool” for 1. Are you happy with Traces in facts about other historic trails and information. its current format? the people who volunteer in them. 8. Fewer book reviews, but more

The same for other trails in the US interviews with those that know YES: 88.7 and abroad and are in the Partner- the history of the trail. NO: zero percent ship of National. Trail System. 9. Could be smaller if not enough WITH SUGGESTIONS: 11.3 Facts about trails from PNTS. material. Simplified understanding of laws 10. Not enough time to read all of 1. Yes with suggestions. I would affecting trails. them. like to see more articles about here 8. I like the newsletter. The maps 11. Book Reviews can be more and now preservation activities. I are the best part. Whatever chang- interesting than the books them- appreciate the scholarly aspect of es you consider, make sure you selves. The reviewer’s opinion Traces but it gives the publication keep the maps. always helps. a somewhat “exclusive” aura, if 9. I am happy with Traces but I you will. It would be much easier would like it e-mailed to me to to promote the OSTA and gain save paper and postage. 3. Regarding photographs, members if the publication was would you like to see— less formal.

2. We like it now and read every 2. Regarding research articles MORE: 56.7 bit. We see no need to change, but and book reviews in Traces, FEWER: Zero percent don’t mind if it does. would you like to see— THE SAME AMOUNT: 43.3 3. The colored paper makes it a bit hard to read, perhaps just use white MORE: 40.7 1. Better quality with an occasion- or a lighter sand color. Also, is that SAME: 50.8 al color photo. paper stock expensive? Seems like FEWER: 8.5 2. Would like to see Traces on a lighter stock might be better and recycled paper. more cost-effective? 1. More book reviews (if pos- 3. More photographs about what 4. Format could use a little updat- sible). is happening with trail projects ing; however, NOT at the expense 2. Be nice to have something in would help. of the contents, which have been Spanish or a Native language once 4. Space and cost allowing... EXCELLENT!! in a while. visuals add a lot. 5. If you mean layout?... yes. If 3. Need info on current activi- 5. Include photos of interpre- you mean content then no, need ties at most rural towns along the tive paintings to show how OSTA more stories, ephemera, vignettes, Trail...no one knows what’s hap- member artists use art to revive etc pening anywhere...we are all memory of traders, Native Ameri- 6. What got me interested in the fragmented. cans, camps, trail ruts. Old Spanish Trail from the very 4. Be sure have research papers 6. But do not include more photos beginning was its history & that give references. by shortening or eliminating any there were VERY few remnants of 5. Maybe a bit more edited to articles the trail remaining. I would LOVE reduce length and get to the nub of 7. Photos add accent but don’t to have some details on where the issues. print very well. those remaining traces are, how to 6. This is what I appreciate most 8. Current & old photos are all see them, and perhaps some stories about Traces---the very well-re- good!!!!! of travelers/trail blazers that are 9. They add a needed perspective applicable to those traces.

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 31 to history. traces as being an entertainment SUNSET ORANGE: 48.6 10. I do not want a thick newslet- source; don’t think the contests TEAL: 16.2 ter with page after page of photos. add anything. SKY BLUE: 35.1 11. The photos give us an appre- 13. Stories from those that have (23 skipped question) ciation of what there is to see if we seen/traveled the remaining traces should travel to a location. of the trail. 1. No preference. 14. I don’t understand why there 2. Color not important...content should be contests. Why not just is... 4. What Spanish Trail-themed publish the above categories? 3. Whatever. contests do you think would be 15. Why not a one paragraph (up 4. Why add color? appropriate? to 250 words) themed essay? Long 5. Irrelevant. enough, yet short enough as to not 6. I would leave that up to you as ART/PHOTOGRAPHY: 66.7 take too much space (one or two editor. POETRY/SHORT STORY: 29.2 per issue). 7. Sage green. FIRST PERSON 16. I like first person stories, of 8. You decide. NONFICTION: 54.2 which there probably aren’t very 9. No preference. (12 skipped question) many. Biographies, genealogy and 10. Don’t care. how to do it. 11. Turquoise. Be sure color 1. More on Hispanic use of the 17. None. Maintain your academic doesn’t obscure black type and trail--genealogies should be help- credibility. logo. ful. 18. Doesn’t matter to me, what 12. No opinion. 2. Little interest in contests. everyone else wants. 13. Change color from issue to 3. Who is doing what, encourage issue. news and articles from folks 14. Depends on the color of the working along the trail 5. The spring issue of Traces will paper. 4. None. have the traditional masthead 15. None. It’s too distracting. 5. We definitely need to build up with a color background. What 16. Status quo. our digital library. masthead background color 17. Trail dust tan works..... 6. Visual Art---not sculpture. Taos, would you prefer? 18. I like the current color, but Los Angeles should be major play- have no problem with an appropri- ers in the Art strategy. ate change. 7. Stick with history. 19. Don’t have an opinion - I 8. OSTA-sponsored walks of trail guess I’m content-oriented. segments as fundraisers, along the 20. As only seen in the high des- lines of 5 Km runs or AIDS walk ert! could raise both awareness and 21. More interested in content than funds. color 9. You’ll need to set parameters 22. What we have is very nice, as so written submissions aren’t too well. Southwest colors of turquoise long. and salmon. 10. All are good. 11. I do not want to see Traces turned into a chatty newsletter. I do not see the need for contests. 12. Might try it, but I don’t see

32 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 The Taxing Side of 4. A really big tax saver is donat “Rituals and Societies” at Charitable Contributions to ing appreciated property rather Taos Public Library than cash. You can deduct its full OSTA fair market value and thus escape income tax on any appreciation, by Judy Knudson if it has been held for over a year. You may need to get appraisals on Helping OSTA can be good for some property donated. your bottom line. If you itemize deductions, you can write off your 5. For your Volunteer Services, charitable contributions. But IRS you can write off many out-of- has rules that can trip you up, if pocket expenses you incur to help you’re not careful. Here is how to OSTA, including what you pay max out on tax savings when you for materials, stationery, stamps, Dr. Jose A. Rivera donate to a nonprofit as OSTA. parking, tolls. You can deduct the cost of driving to your volunteer Dr. Jose A. Rivera, Ph.D., 1. For your donation to be de- work, at a rate of 14 cents per mile spoke to about 50 guests at the ductible, it must go to a nonprofit (2007). Public transportation is Taos Public Library April 18th as group approved by the IRS. Check deductible as well. Your meals are part of a nine-week lecture series us out at http://apps.irs.gov/app/ deductible with a receipt. The key on OST-related topics. pub78 OSTA is registered as a is keeping good records and maybe nonprofit 501(c)(3). having a bland chart ready to fill Dr. Rivera’s presentation, entitled out with dates of travel, mileage, “Rituals and Societies: Acequias, Publication 78, Cumulative List of meal costs with receipts, motel Cofradias y Mutualistas del Rio Organizations described in Sec- costs, and other expenses you are Grande Superior,” emphasized tion 170(c) of the Internal Revenue donating to OSTA. the historical importance of self- Code of 1986, is a list of orga- government in northern New nizations eligible to receive tax- 6. The bad news: The value of Mexico communities, as seen deductible charitable contributions. time and services you provide as a especially in the “acequias” This online version is offered to volunteer does not merit a write- (irrigation delivery systems) which help you conduct a more efficient off. are still a vital part of daily life. search of these organizations. From Kiplinger and TurboTax Rivera, who is a research scholar 2. Cash contributions, no matter and professor of community how small, cannot be written off planning at the University of unless you have a canceled check, New Mexico, was introduced bank record, or a receipt with by his brother, OSTA member the OSTA’s name and donation Lloyd Rivera of Taos, who played amount. a major role in arranging and promoting the lecture series. 3. You cannot write off a contri- bution to the extent that you get something in return. For example, the value of a meal must be de- ducted from a contribution.

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 33 2009 National Conference Old Spanish Trail Association June 5-6-7, Ignacio, Colorado, Sky Ute Resort Conference Center FRIDAY June 5 9 a.m. -11:30 a.m National Board Meeting.

1:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Exhibit & Poster set-up Retail Sales set-up and operation Registration and materials 1:30 pm or 7:30 pm OSTA Committee Meetings as arranged by Chairmen See scheduled meeting times in registration area.

SATURDAY June 6

8:00 a.m Registration and gathering of materials. Books and goods sales in registration area Chapter and Committee Posters available for all to peruse. Meet and greet Ute hosts and Participants

8:45 Call to Order –OSTA President •Blessing and Welcome -- Dr. James M. Jefferson, Southern Ute Tribe •Theme: Keeping Alive OST Heritage–President D.M. Knudson Announcements: Chapter lunches, etc.: Pat Fluck, OSTA Colorado Director

9:30 Introduction of speaker by Dr. James M. Jefferson, OSTA Director-at-Large * Tom Givón, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Linguistics, University of Oregon, and resident of Ignacio. Ute Vocabulary in the Dominguez-Escalante Journals 30 minutes talk, 10 minutes questions 10:10 Break

10:30 Introduction of speakers President * Aaron Mahr, Ph.D.(National Park Service) and Sarah Schlanger, Ph.D. (BLM) Federal Emphasis on Heritage along National Historic Trails 25 minutes talk, 10 minutes questions

11:05 Introduction of speakers: Dr. James Jefferson * Lynn Brittner, Director, Southern Ute Museum and Cultural Center and others on Museum staff or board Experiencing Ute Heritage through Museum Programs and OST Adventures 25 minutes talk, 10 minutes questions

34 Spanish Traces Spring 2009 LUNCH We suggest Sky Ute cafes or dining atrium. Where possible Chapters may choose to eat together.

1:05 p.m. Annual Membership Business Meetings: All members, all Directors and Officers, Chapter officers. Guests and observers are welcome. ≤50 minute

2:00 Moderator: Pat Fluck Announce field trips/food arrangements Introduce Brief trail tidbits--Heritage Information Sharing: * Pablo Vigil, M.D., Las Vegas, New Mexico Family Matters in Old Spanish Trail Heritage * Richard Archuleta, Tourism Director, Taos Pueblo, NM Community Matters in Heritage Tourism * E. Leo Lyman, Ph.D., Leeds, Utah Chair: OSTA Research Committee Research Matters in Sustaining Heritage

3:00 Introduction: Pat Fluck * Chris and Stephanie Ribera, Allison, CO The Heritage of Churro Sheep along the Old Spanish Trail (outdoor demo)

4:15 Chapter Meetings; Committee follow-ups; Last chance for OSTA purchases. New Board of Directors brief meeting

Banquet for Many Heritages

6:00 Gather and socialize. Meet Ute Royalty. Greet dignitaries from several tribes. Hear Rolling Thunder Drum See OSTA Slides 6:35 Served Banquet for ticket-holders 7:30 Introduce Ute cultural feature Dr. James Jefferson 7:40 Introduce Living History Presenters: * Harry and Alice Murray, Las Cruces, NM, as: Mr. & Mrs. George C. Yount, Pioneers of the OST Main Branch Recognition of tribal leaders and members present Dr. James M. Jefferson 8:35 Announce field trip starting time and leaders. 8:40 Rolling Thunder Boys Drum.

Sunday, June 7

8:30 a.m. Field Trip #1 meet ready to leave in parking lot outside Events Center. This group will travel West to Cortez, then down US 491/160 past Towaoc to the Ute Mountain Tribal Park entry station (about 90 miles). Parking available at that site for low-clearance cars; carpool into the park; bring hiking boots, food.

8:50 a.m. Field Trip #2 meet ready to travel E to see OST in S. Ute Reservation, on to Chimney Rock for picnic and archaeological tour.

Spring 2009 Spanish Traces 35 Establishment of the Old on the design of the park and Spanish Trail Park in Las the final signage. On November Vegas 15, 2008 the park was officially dedicated. by Nick Saines Clark Count Commissioner Nevada Director Chip Maxwell and Nick Saines gave speeches. Clark County The Old Spanish Trail Parks established a docent Park is located at Cimarron and Ambassador program for the park. Tara on the west side of Las Nick Saines and Stan Rolf (former Vegas and has the trace of the BLM archaeologist) were the first Gary Beckman were working Old Spanish Trail running through graduates, and will be docents at on an environmental site it as a walking path. Along the the park. Liz Warren and others assessment for a nearby property. Trail are informational signs that will soon join the ranks. They discovered a ten-acre tell the story of the Old Spanish site, surrounded by housing Trail, including signs on the developments that had the OST Mexican mule caravans, Fremont running through it. and his scouts, and the Mormon The property was owned Battalion. by the BLM and leased to the A kiosk near the parking Clark County School District lot (below) has maps and land with a school planned for it. and air photos of the Old Spanish Nick began an effort to get the Trail, and a map of the park. A property into the hands of Clark western-themed playground sits County Parks and Community along the trail that invokes a Services to build an Old Spanish caravan making camp on the Trail Trail Park. Stan Rolf of the BLM played an important role in Next time you are in Las the property transfers. The ten- Vegas drive west on Sahara from acre parcel was swapped with I-15 about six miles to Cimarron, another ten-acre parcel leased to go south 0.5 mile on Cimarron and the Parks Department, on which you are there. Call Nick (702-896- the school was built. At one point 4049), Liz (702-874-1410) or Stan in this long process the trail was (702-402-5000) in advance and we obliterated by a bulldozer and may be able to give you a guided had to be resurrected using aerial tour! photos and surveys. Nick Saines led the OSTA team, which included Liz (right). Elsewhere in the park Warren, Ashley Hall, and Hal are informational signs on other Steiner, in preparation of the aspects of Las Vegas history and historical signs. Liz and Nick physiography. worked with Brian Patterson of The origin of the park the WLB Group and Patrick goes back to February 2001, Gaffey of Clark County Parks when Nick Saines (above) and

36 Spanish Traces Spring 2009