The Historian

© RodeoWriter Publications [email protected] Yr. 3 • No. 3 p 11 The Official Newsletter The Huerfano County Historical Society Autumn • 2014 Circulation TRIPS & TOURS This Official Newsletter of The Submitted by Carolyn Newman HCHS board member Bruce Johnson the only Spanish fort on Colorado Huerfano County Historical Society is led two trips this summer — to soil. A beautiful day and great vistas printed and mailed to 66 members, Williams Ranch to view the dinosaur on the upper Huerfano River valley, quarterly. With an increase in both footprints and petroglyphs, plus a even though the exact spot could not postage rates, and the cost of the climb up the Huerfano Butte. Great be confirmed. necessary supplies and time spent, the expense of mailing each single reviews from all trippers and f h newsletter is about 84¢, or $55.44 per climbers. Really, the Huerfano HCHS member John Van Keuren mailing, or $221.76 annually. It really County Historical Society is earning a spent five weeks on the archaeology adds up. The newsletter is also reputation in Southern Colorado for dig at Fort Massachusetts (1860s) on e.mailed to 52 members. The cost is being an active group! the San Luis Valley Trinchera Ranch. about 5¢ in time spent. Thank you f h Four HCHS members took a day trip for receiving this newsletter Only ten cars were allowed in the on to the dig with the director Dr. electronically and helping us to the private Houchin property at the Goddard. Next year we will try to reduce cost and waste. summit of old Sangre de Cristo pass arrange a trip for more to visit. July 25. That pass connects to La During our visit, and every day, a MINING MUSEUM Veta pass. Friends of Fort Garland replica cannon was fired by the The stark black-and-white Ludlow organized the limited outing to look college students at the dig as the massacre 100th anniversary banner for the site of the 1819 Spanish fort, United States flag was raised. hanging on the front of the courthouse has increased the number Our Board Of Directors of visitors to the Walsenburg Mining Carolyn Newman — President Sharon Vezzani — Vice President Museum and its Ludlow exhibit. Jerry Skryznear — Secretary Margaret Gleisberg — Treasurer Our Annual Ice Cream Social was Lois Adams, Kay Beth Faris Avery, Agnes Bechaver, William J. Bechaver, a success. Thank you to all who John Carlson, Bruce Johnson, Elaine Lenzini, Kim McKee, Dennis Rains, helped pull it all together at the last Lola Spradley, David Steffan, Sharon Biggi Vezzani, Sandy White, and Ken minute! Jerriann Vigil, her son and Willson. family and friends, the Spanish Peaks Foundation, Spanish Peaks Medical 2014 — CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS Center, the Museum board, and EVENT DATE TIME LOCATION many others.

Historical Society Meeting Wednesday, September 3rd 4:00 p.m. Francisco Fort, La Veta Mountain Mining Parade Saturday, September 20th 10:00 a.m. Walsenburg Main Street NEWSLETTER Historical Society Meeting Wednesday, October 1st 4:00 p.m. Walsenburg Library Historical Society Meeting Wednesday, November 5th 4:00 p.m. Francisco Fort, La Veta INFORMATION Events or Dates or Times or Locations may be subject to change. Information for the next quarterly issue should be submitted via e.mail to — Walsenburg – Crossroads Town [email protected] The deadline for submissions of articles, The acclaimed local history by Dorothy Ree, is still available announcements, and notices, is — to all H.C.H.S. Members at a special discounted price! Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 Contact Carolyn Newman, at 719-738-2840, or by e.mail at Newsletter Printing Courtesy [email protected] for details! Saint Mary Catholic Church Also available at www.lulu.com/rodeowriter. Walsenburg, Colorado The Historian Visit The H.C.H.S. Website! huerfanohistory.org MINING DAYS OLD TRAPPER TRAIL TOUR Miner’s Plaza (Main and Sixth, Submitted by Kay Beth Avery Walsenburg) fits the county’s mining More than one hundred people county seat used to be in the 1860s, history. Next up are Mining Days attended the August 2nd Old two century-old Catholic churches, beginning Saturday, September 20 Trappers’ Trail Tour sponsored by and a 150-year-old Hispanic with a 10 a.m. parade. the Huerfano County Historical homestead located on private All descendants of mining families Society. The event, deliberately held property. Along the way, participants have an opportunity to honor their in conjunction with the Gardner also learned a little about Open family by entering a vehicle of any ChuckWagon Dinner, was organized Range Round-ups and a great deal kind or a float with the family name by Kay Beth Avery and Carolyn about the history of a route over the or mine camp displayed. Ethnic Newman. Highlights of this five hour Sangre de Cristo Mountains dancers from the Pueblo Russian trip included the site of the Huerfano frequented by Native American Orthodox church will add color and Butte Valley settlement, the historic tribes, the Spanish military, French music and two bands will join the fun. cottonwood grove near the spies, fur-trading adventurers of That evening is a performance of Centennial Kimbrel Ranch, the many nationalities, and American Tomorrow We May Die, an original Badito Ruins where the pioneers. play with music based on the life of striking miners’ wives at Ludlow. HUERFANO BUTTE CLIMB Performances are to be Washington Submitted by Bruce Johnson School auditorium for four days, part Rushing along I-25 you pass the at the top of Huerfano Butte we were of the Celtic Festival. namesake of our wonderful County, able to visualize some of the human Huerfano Butte. Last month, a group history of the area thanks to our MONTOYA RANCH of 20 curious and fearless folks were speaker, Dave Steffan. The Huerfano The project is entering a new phase although the Huerfano County Historical standing on the very top of that River valley was a big trade route Society is no longer the sponsor. The landmark. They came together to even before white man made it to the State Historical Fund has awarded learn about the butte’s history, both area. It was called the Old Trapper’s $105,347 for building stabilization with geologic and humanistic. They also Trail or The Taos Lightning Trail. an equal amount to be matched by wanted to be able to claim the all- Did you know that the Huerfano donations or other grants within the next important statement, “I’ve been on River was a possible spot for the year before work can begin. This is the top of that”. As someone collects Transcontinental Railroad? If it had fourth grant to the Montoya Ranch, stamps or coins, others collect been chosen, there was a plan to have which is owned by Jim Gerkin. The Montoya Ranch at Farisita may be mountain or butte tops. As we heard a large statue of John Fremont, the most unique historic building in the about the geologic history before we mounted on a horse, waving a sword, county, with a fortified full adobe climbed and while at the top, you sitting on top of our Huerfano Butte basement dating back to the 1860-70s. could also see the changes that the greeting all of the folks on the Archaeologist Richard Carrillo sent his area has gone through. From passing trains. Dave did a wonderful report Aug. 1 to the State Historical Fund visualizing a great inland sea in the job of pointing out land features that and to HCHS, listing artifacts and area to a grand erosion of a mile or could be seen as we perched on top outbuildings found on the grounds. His more of sediment exposing the of Huerfano Butte. grant, also through the state historical Huerfano Butte, a volcanic plug. We This trip was a joint venture by the fund, was for $9,000 plus. A large sheep operation was once in place on the also learned that the volcanic plug Huerfano County Historical Society property and the animal pathways to the was at some time bisected by two and Cuchara Valley Recreation. As Huerfano River are still visible as are different volcanic dikes, giving it that we sat on top of our historical little remains of Hispanic and Lebanese sheep unique shape with a dip in the orphan butte, we feel better pens. Carrillo feels there is potential for middle of the plug, as explained by connected to this neat little spot as we more archaeology work, especially for our geology leader, David Moore. go buzzing by on I-25. And we didn’t some excavations. He is donating $500 to Also from our great vantage point see a single rattlesnake! HCHS to help increase public awareness of Colorado’s Hispano heritage.

The Historian courtesy of RodeoWriter Publications, a division of Nocturn Independent Publishing. www.lulu.com/rodeowriter h Our Member Partners h This newsletter made possible by the following, and Members like you!

The First National Bank In Trinidad Huerfano County Branch Shaklee Distributors h h h Olive Tree Denis & Betty Rains Bed & All Seasons Breakfast h h h Real Estate La Veta Scripture Quest Cuchara h h h La Veta h h h White & Jankowski, LLP h h h La Veta Loco Dakota Dukes Highway 12, La Veta Cuchara Colorado Huerfano World Journal

Huerfano County Grandote Peaks h h h Government Golf Club 5540 Highway 12, La Veta Antique Ave. h h h h h h & Boutique Blvd. 611 Main Street, Walsenburg Hollowpoint Timbers Sporting Goods 342 W. Seventh St., Walsenburg Restaurant Cuchara, Colorado

Thank You!