mdog,
In response to Post #219:
I copied most of the following information for sites 1 – 8 from The San Luis Ecosystem Council (SLVEC) website. They are investigating an area called the Rio Grande Corridor Project Area.
Within the Rio Grande Corridor Project Area
1) Pike’s Stockade -
Pike’s Stockade National Historic Site
Address: 22862 County Road 24, Sanford CO 81151
37.2939091, -105.81035
I found the following text in a National Park Service Reconnaissance Survey Report (2011):
“Pike’s Stockade, near the town of Sanford, Colorado, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and represents early exploration of the trans-Mississippi West, as well as the collision of American and Spanish expansionist frontiers. Following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewi and William Clark to explore the northern portion of the purchase. In 1806, Jefferson sent Zebulon Montgomery Pike on the second official expedition into the Louisiana Purchase, focusing on the southern portion. Among Pike’s goals was to find the Red River, which was then believed to be the boundary between America and Mexico. The expedition built a stockade at this time in 1807, and Pike raised the America flag over Spanish soil. Pike and his men were then taken into custody by Spanish forces. The location of Pike’s Stockade was determined through descriptions of the terrain contained in Pike’s journal and supplemented by accounts of settlers who attested to the former existence of surface remains. The site is on the bank of the Conejos River, and includes a reconstruction of the Fort that is based on notes in Pike’s journal. The site is owned and interpreted by the State of Colorado as part of Fort Garland Museum& Pike’s Stockade state historic site.”
2) Sierro del Ojito - This hill overlooking the Conejos River contains both Indigenous and European historic artifacts. Remnants of an old rock wall runs along the hillside, built to contain livestock. This style of containment is traditional to Western European countries, such as England and Wales. On the other side of the wall exists an old petroglyph site with an unknown date of origin.
According to The Place Names of New Mexico, by Robert Julyan (Univ of New Mexico Press, 1996):
“OJO, OJITO (general) - the word used in Spain for a spring is fuente, but this typically refers to a full-flowing upwelling of water from the ground, which is rare in NM, so the term is used here is ojo, a Spanish archaism referring to a small, slow flow of water. The diminutive is ojito.” Sierro might be a Spanish archaism for a small mountain/hill. If true, Sierro del Ojito could mean a hill with a low flowing spring. The spring could be McIntire Spring or Dexter Spring shown below on the topographic map. (The “flowing wells” shown on the map are wells that were drilled by ranchers/farmers to a depth typically greater than 50 feet below ground surface. The wells are tapping a pressurized aquifer, creating artesian wells.) If this was a reliable water source in the San Luis Valley, it could have been a camping spot for Native Americans, prospectors, trappers, and others traveling between the San Juan Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
3) Cross Arrow Ranch - Built at the turn of the 20th century, this 7,000 ft. ranch house was originally built as a vacation home for a Denver businessman. The property includes around 3,000 acres of land. Locals from Las Sauces often sought out employment on the estate. This property marks a moment in time where distinct social classes (working and affluent) in the San Luis Valley were taking shape.
4) Las Sauces Church - Founded in the mid to late 1800s, the small church in Las Sauces has been a meeting point for over a century. Spanish Catholicism and culture were further institutionalized in the SLV through the establishment of churches like this one. Across the way is an old trail established by Native Americans, leading to a petroglyph site.
5) King Mine - King Turquoise Mine – “Believed to be the oldest known prehistoric turquoise mine in North America.” Native American workings and tools were discovered at the site.
East of Manassa, CO, south of CO State Highway 142
37.1748, -105.7616
37° 10’ 29” North, 105° 45’ 42” West
This prehistoric turquoise mine was once believed to be the largest in Colorado. It is reported that a 9 lb. chunk of turquoise was pulled from this mine during its production period from the late 1800s into the 1900s.
6) De Vargas Crossing - Don Diego de Vargas, the governor-general of New Mexico, crossed the Rio Grande in 1694 with his Spanish troops. The river was reportedly 200 feet wide at the time. The party was escaping an attack by Pueblo tribes who de Vargas had earlier stolen food reserves from and ambushed. This Crossing echoes the rising tensions between Native communities and Spanish colonizers in the late 17th century. Above this area are remnants of an old Native rock structure, as well as various metates (stone tools for grinding grains and seeds). This stretch of the Rio Grande was likely a popular site for indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
7) Costilla Crossing Bridge (AKA Lobatos Bridge) - In 1892, this bridge was brought by train to Antonito, and hauled by wagon to its current location. It once was a very popular bridge used by many travelers. Local historian Loretta Mitson called it the “Interstate 25” of its time! At the time it was built, it was the largest crossing bridge west of the Mississippi. Below the bridge are various petroglyphs with dates unknown and an ancient fire pit.
8) Los Rincones - The historic community of Los Rincones is one of the oldest Hispano settlements in Colorado, having been founded in the mid 1800s. It was originally part of the Conejos Land Grant, awarded by the Country of Mexico. At its peak, 35 families lived in Los Rincones, living simply with no electricity or indoor plumbing. Pottery shards from Native tribes have been found in this community, reflecting the trade relationships established between Hispano residents and local indigenous populations.
Pile’s Stockade is marked as “Pike Ft. 1807” on this portion of Map of Early Trails, Forts, and Battlefields of Colorado: prepared for Municipal Facts Magazine, by Dr. LeRoy R. Hafen. The map was published by Clason Map Company, Denver, 1925. A digital map can be viewed online at Colorado Historical Maps, administered by the University of Colorado Boulder.
I got the information about the west and east forks of the North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail from books by Ronald E Kessler:
Retracing The Old Spanish Trail North Branch: Today’s OST Travel Guide, Adobe Village Press, 1995.
Old Spanish Trail North Branch and its travelers, Sunstone Press, 1998.
San Luis Valley Rock Art, Adobe Village Press, 2000.
Information from The Diggings™ website:
Plomo (San Luis) Gold District, also known as The El Plomo Mining District
37.2535, -105.3442
37° 15’ 20” North, 105° 20’ 22” West
The Plomo Mine. Also known as Plomo and Rito Seco Mine. Last year of production: 1946. No development info.
San Luis Mine. Initially discovered in 1890. Various owners. Last operator was Battle Mountain Gold Company which operated open pit mining with heap leaching between 1991 and 1996. Reported gold recovery was 360,000 ozs. of gold. Mining closed in 1997.
In response to Post #219:
I copied most of the following information for sites 1 – 8 from The San Luis Ecosystem Council (SLVEC) website. They are investigating an area called the Rio Grande Corridor Project Area.
Within the Rio Grande Corridor Project Area
1) Pike’s Stockade -
Pike’s Stockade National Historic Site
Address: 22862 County Road 24, Sanford CO 81151
37.2939091, -105.81035
I found the following text in a National Park Service Reconnaissance Survey Report (2011):
“Pike’s Stockade, near the town of Sanford, Colorado, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and represents early exploration of the trans-Mississippi West, as well as the collision of American and Spanish expansionist frontiers. Following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewi and William Clark to explore the northern portion of the purchase. In 1806, Jefferson sent Zebulon Montgomery Pike on the second official expedition into the Louisiana Purchase, focusing on the southern portion. Among Pike’s goals was to find the Red River, which was then believed to be the boundary between America and Mexico. The expedition built a stockade at this time in 1807, and Pike raised the America flag over Spanish soil. Pike and his men were then taken into custody by Spanish forces. The location of Pike’s Stockade was determined through descriptions of the terrain contained in Pike’s journal and supplemented by accounts of settlers who attested to the former existence of surface remains. The site is on the bank of the Conejos River, and includes a reconstruction of the Fort that is based on notes in Pike’s journal. The site is owned and interpreted by the State of Colorado as part of Fort Garland Museum& Pike’s Stockade state historic site.”
2) Sierro del Ojito - This hill overlooking the Conejos River contains both Indigenous and European historic artifacts. Remnants of an old rock wall runs along the hillside, built to contain livestock. This style of containment is traditional to Western European countries, such as England and Wales. On the other side of the wall exists an old petroglyph site with an unknown date of origin.
According to The Place Names of New Mexico, by Robert Julyan (Univ of New Mexico Press, 1996):
“OJO, OJITO (general) - the word used in Spain for a spring is fuente, but this typically refers to a full-flowing upwelling of water from the ground, which is rare in NM, so the term is used here is ojo, a Spanish archaism referring to a small, slow flow of water. The diminutive is ojito.” Sierro might be a Spanish archaism for a small mountain/hill. If true, Sierro del Ojito could mean a hill with a low flowing spring. The spring could be McIntire Spring or Dexter Spring shown below on the topographic map. (The “flowing wells” shown on the map are wells that were drilled by ranchers/farmers to a depth typically greater than 50 feet below ground surface. The wells are tapping a pressurized aquifer, creating artesian wells.) If this was a reliable water source in the San Luis Valley, it could have been a camping spot for Native Americans, prospectors, trappers, and others traveling between the San Juan Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
3) Cross Arrow Ranch - Built at the turn of the 20th century, this 7,000 ft. ranch house was originally built as a vacation home for a Denver businessman. The property includes around 3,000 acres of land. Locals from Las Sauces often sought out employment on the estate. This property marks a moment in time where distinct social classes (working and affluent) in the San Luis Valley were taking shape.
4) Las Sauces Church - Founded in the mid to late 1800s, the small church in Las Sauces has been a meeting point for over a century. Spanish Catholicism and culture were further institutionalized in the SLV through the establishment of churches like this one. Across the way is an old trail established by Native Americans, leading to a petroglyph site.
5) King Mine - King Turquoise Mine – “Believed to be the oldest known prehistoric turquoise mine in North America.” Native American workings and tools were discovered at the site.
East of Manassa, CO, south of CO State Highway 142
37.1748, -105.7616
37° 10’ 29” North, 105° 45’ 42” West
This prehistoric turquoise mine was once believed to be the largest in Colorado. It is reported that a 9 lb. chunk of turquoise was pulled from this mine during its production period from the late 1800s into the 1900s.
6) De Vargas Crossing - Don Diego de Vargas, the governor-general of New Mexico, crossed the Rio Grande in 1694 with his Spanish troops. The river was reportedly 200 feet wide at the time. The party was escaping an attack by Pueblo tribes who de Vargas had earlier stolen food reserves from and ambushed. This Crossing echoes the rising tensions between Native communities and Spanish colonizers in the late 17th century. Above this area are remnants of an old Native rock structure, as well as various metates (stone tools for grinding grains and seeds). This stretch of the Rio Grande was likely a popular site for indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
7) Costilla Crossing Bridge (AKA Lobatos Bridge) - In 1892, this bridge was brought by train to Antonito, and hauled by wagon to its current location. It once was a very popular bridge used by many travelers. Local historian Loretta Mitson called it the “Interstate 25” of its time! At the time it was built, it was the largest crossing bridge west of the Mississippi. Below the bridge are various petroglyphs with dates unknown and an ancient fire pit.
8) Los Rincones - The historic community of Los Rincones is one of the oldest Hispano settlements in Colorado, having been founded in the mid 1800s. It was originally part of the Conejos Land Grant, awarded by the Country of Mexico. At its peak, 35 families lived in Los Rincones, living simply with no electricity or indoor plumbing. Pottery shards from Native tribes have been found in this community, reflecting the trade relationships established between Hispano residents and local indigenous populations.
Pile’s Stockade is marked as “Pike Ft. 1807” on this portion of Map of Early Trails, Forts, and Battlefields of Colorado: prepared for Municipal Facts Magazine, by Dr. LeRoy R. Hafen. The map was published by Clason Map Company, Denver, 1925. A digital map can be viewed online at Colorado Historical Maps, administered by the University of Colorado Boulder.
I got the information about the west and east forks of the North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail from books by Ronald E Kessler:
Retracing The Old Spanish Trail North Branch: Today’s OST Travel Guide, Adobe Village Press, 1995.
Old Spanish Trail North Branch and its travelers, Sunstone Press, 1998.
San Luis Valley Rock Art, Adobe Village Press, 2000.
Information from The Diggings™ website:
Plomo (San Luis) Gold District, also known as The El Plomo Mining District
37.2535, -105.3442
37° 15’ 20” North, 105° 20’ 22” West
The Plomo Mine. Also known as Plomo and Rito Seco Mine. Last year of production: 1946. No development info.
San Luis Mine. Initially discovered in 1890. Various owners. Last operator was Battle Mountain Gold Company which operated open pit mining with heap leaching between 1991 and 1996. Reported gold recovery was 360,000 ozs. of gold. Mining closed in 1997.
