the study and documentation of the animas city and hermosa cemeteries · animas city and hermosa...

The Study and Documentation

of the

Animas City and Hermosa Cemeteries

Calvin McGrew Headstone 1893, Animas City Cemetery

Prepared for the State Historical Fund

Project Number 2012-M1-040

San Juan Mountains Association

The Study and Documentation

of the

Animas City and Hermosa Cemeteries

Prepared for the State Historical Fund

Project Number 2012-M1-040

Prepared by

Ruth E. Lambert, Ph.D.

San Juan Mountains Association

PO Box 2261

Durango, Colorado 81302

September 2014

This project is partially funded by a grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund

(Project Number 2012-M1-040). The opinions expressed in this report do not

necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the staff of the Colorado State

Historical Fund.

Heritage Educations: Preserving Our Past

The Study and Documentation of the Animas City and Hermosa Cemeteries

SHF # 2012-M1-040

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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1

Goals and Objectives........................................................................................ 2

Methods ............................................................................................................ 2

Historic Cemeteries ....................................................................................................... 4

Development of Cemeteries .............................................................................. 4

Cemeteries as Cultural Places ........................................................................... 6

Local Cemeteries ........................................................................................................... 8

Cemetery Documentation............................................................................................. 10

Project Goals and Objectives .......................................................................... 10

Project Methods ............................................................................................... 11

File Search ............................................................................................ 11

Documentation Procedures .................................................................. 11

Cemetery Data ...................................................................................... 12

Interviews ............................................................................................. 12

Project Participants............................................................................... 12

Educational Materials........................................................................... 13

Project Cemeteries ....................................................................................................... 14

Animas City Cemetery ..................................................................................... 14

Hermosa Cemetery ........................................................................................... 36

Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................ 55

References ................................................................................................................... 57

Appendix ................................................................................................................. After 58

Table One – List of All Properties Surveyed Organized by State Site

Number

Table Two – List of All Properties Surveyed Organized by Resource

Address

Sample Individual Grave Marker Form

Monument Types

Protocols for Cemetery Work

Back of Report

Animas City Cemetery Map

Hermosa Cemetery Map

Cemetery Data Disks



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List of Figures

Figure 1 Map of Animas City Cemetery ..................................................................... 17

List of Maps

Map 1 Animas City Cemetery ........................................................................... End of report

Map 2 Hermosa Cemetery ................................................................................. End of report



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List of Tables

Table 1 Cemeteries in La Plata County ...................................................................... 8

Table 2 Project Objectives and Strategies .................................................................. 10

Table 3 Individuals Buried in Animas City Cemetery ............................................... 21

Table 4 Burial Frequency by Date Range .................................................................. 24

Table 5 Marker Type .................................................................................................. 26

Table 6 Marker Material Type ................................................................................... 26

Table 7 Marker Condition .......................................................................................... 28

Table 8 Priority of Treatment .................................................................................... 29

Table 9 Recommendations for Marker Treatment .................................................... 29

Table 10 Grave Enclosures at Animas City Cemetery ................................................ 30

Table 11 Early Residents of Hermosa Area ................................................................ 35

Table 12 Individuals Buried in Hermosa Cemetery .................................................... 42

Table 13 Burial Frequency by Date Range ................................................................. 46

Table 14 Marker Types .............................................................................................. 48

Table 15 Marker Material ........................................................................................... 49

Table 16 Marker Condition ......................................................................................... 51

Table 17 Priority of Treatment for Markers ................................................................ 53

Table 18 Recommendations for Marker Treatments .................................................. 53



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List of Photographs

Cover Photograph: Calvin McGrew Headstone at Animas City Cemetery, 1893

Photograph 1 Huguenot Church Burying Ground ..................................................... 4

Photograph 2 Cemetery at Dolores Mission, Purgatory River ................................... 5

Photograph 3 Riverside Cemetery, Denver ................................................................ 6

Photograph 4 Elco Cemetery, Rural La Plata County................................................ 9

Photograph 5 Volunteer Documenting Grave Enclosure ......................................... 13

Photograph 6 Lavender Family Headstone ............................................................... 15

Photograph 7 Archaeological Survey at Animas City Cemetery .............................. 19

Photograph 8 Remote Sensing Survey at Cemetery ................................................. 20

Photograph 9 Headstone Documentation At Animas City Cemetery ....................... 21

Photograph 10 McGrew Headstone ............................................................................ 25

Photograph 11 Military Headstone of Jesse Potts ....................................................... 25

Photograph 12 Fredricka E. Hafling Headstone ........................................................ 27

Photograph 13 ‘Empty’ Enclosure Prior to Stabilization ............................................ 30

Photograph 14 City Staff Mapping at Animas City Cemetery ................................... 31

Photograph 15 Stabilization at ‘Empty’ Enclosure ..................................................... 32

Photograph 16 Unstable Headstone and Collapsing Enclosure .................................. 33

Photograph 17 Hermosa School, prior to 1925 ........................................................... 37

Photograph 18 Hermosa Cemetery ............................................................................. 38

Photograph 19 Military Headstone of John W. Hammer, 1899 .................................. 39

Photograph 20 Hermosa Cemetery Burial Certificate ................................................ 40

Photograph 21 Animas Valley Grange Marker for Ethel Scott .................................. 41

Photograph 22 Gravestone of Mary Dalton ................................................................ 47

Photograph 23 Temporary Marker for Nevada Davis................................................. 48

Photograph 24 Thomas Family Marker ...................................................................... 50

Photograph 25 Detail of Mary Dalton Headstone ....................................................... 50

Photograph 26 Military Marker of Michael Dougherty .............................................. 52

Photograph 27 Collapsing Wooden Enclosure at Hammer Family Grave ................. 54

Photo Credits

Edward Mead: Photo 17

Riverside Cemetery: Photo 3

All other photos from project.



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Acknowledgments

We thank all who helped with this project. Our sincere appreciation to those who

shared their interest in our history and particularly these historic cemeteries. This

project benefited by their interest and knowledge. A special thanks to the

cemetery caretakers for permission to visit and document the cemeteries. At the

Animas City Cemetery, thanks to Cathy Metz and Ron Moore for permission and

field assistance. For the Hermosa Cemetery, we thank the Hermosa Cemetery

Association and particularly Jim and Ed Mead for their assistance and interest in

the project. Without the support of these individuals, the cemetery documentation

would not have moved forward.

Thank you to the staff of the project partners. At the State Historical Fund, thanks

to Elizabeth Blackwell for her interest in the project and her suggestions and

guidance throughout. The La Plata County Historical Society has been a partner in

all aspects of this project. We thank the Society’s Animas Museum staff and

volunteers who assisted with many aspects of this project. Our gratitude to

Director Carolyn Bowra, Museum Assistant Kellie Cheever, Curator Jan Postler,

Interim Curator Susan H. Jones, former Museum Assistant Brianna McCormick,

and the Museum volunteers who assisted us behind the scenes.

This project would not have been completed without the field and other assistance

of workshop participants and volunteers. Their enthusiasm sustained them through

lectures and taxing field conditions. John and Linda McClleland photographed all

of the headstones at the Animas City Cemetery as a first step in documentation.

The Hands-On! workshops were focused on a particular cemetery, however many

participants worked at both cemeteries and continued working after the workshops

ended to complete documentation of the entire cemeteries. Our thanks to the

following participants for their help in documenting the cemeteries: Wendy Allen,

Marilyn Barnhart, Ann Felty, Susan H. Jones, Susanna Jones, Eilene Lyon,

Brianna McCormick, Ed Mead, Judy Mitz, Jana Newport, Ellen Noonan, Julie

Pickett, Rod Pickett, Naomi Riess, Steve Studebaker, Kendall Walden, and Lisa

Watters. A special thanks to Ed Mead for sharing historical cemetery records and

his historical knowledge and to Susan H. Jones for hours of database design and

input. At the San Juan Mountains Association, many thanks to our Board and staff

for their interest and support and especially to Executive Director Susan Bryson.



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Introduction

The documentation of the Animas City and Hermosa Cemeteries was conducted as

History Hands-On! workshops that were part of a larger heritage education project

organized and directed by the San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) in

partnership with the La Plata County Historical Society (Society).1 Other activities

included in this education project were historical fieldtrips and history orientated

youth day camps. These activities were designed to provide participants with

increased knowledge about local history and the processes of historic preservation,

including information about building documentation, historical research, oral

histories, and cemetery documentation.

This project is a result of a previous County-wide historical survey completed in

2009 that produced an overview of County history and the documentation of 100

important buildings and structures that were representative of the County’s

history.2 During the survey project, considerable local interest in the La Plata

County history was generated. Other projects that developed from the large survey

included the study of rural country schools, and the documentation of four rural

ethnic cemeteries.3 The goal of the heritage education project was to continue local

historical interest and to acquaint residents and visitors with the diverse historical

resources that are close to home; the history in our own backyard. In addition, it

was hoped that the participants would increase their knowledge about local history

and the processes of historic preservation, cemetery documentation and historical

research.

The History-Hands On! workshops provided attendees with an opportunity to

participate in the preservation of important local resources. This project trained

participants in historic cemetery documentation at two local cemeteries; the 1877

Animas City Cemetery and the Hermosa Cemetery. These hands-on workshops

utilized documentation protocols developed under other SJMA cemetery

documentation projects. At the conclusion of the formal workshops, many

participants continued with the documentation for several more months. The

1 This project was partially funded by the History Colorado, State Historical Fund (SHF)

Project # 2012-M1-040. The opinions expressed in this report do not necessary reflect the

opinions and/or policies of the SHF or staff. Additional project support has been provided

by the La Plata County Historical Society, the City of Durango, the Hermosa Cemetery

Association, and the San Juan Mountains Association. 2 Seyfarth, Jill and Ruth Lambert. A Historic Resource Survey of 100 Sites in La Plata

County, Colorado.Project 2008-01-012. 2010. The San Juan Mountains Association and

Cultural Resource Planning conducted the project for La Plata County and the State

Historical Fund. 3 State Historical Fund Projects # 10-02-054 and # 2011-M1-040.



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documentation efforts exceeded the expectations and both cemeteries were

completed.

Two workshops were conducted. The first session involved marker re-recording at

the historic Animas City Cemetery, the oldest existing community cemetery in La

Plata County and the only remaining identified cemetery that pre-dates the

establishment of Durango. The cemetery was first studied under an archaeological

assessment (SHF # 2006-AS-006). Information gathered from that project,

including surface archaeological reconnaissance survey, remote sensing, archival,

genealogical research, and marker documentation, was used as base information

for this History Hands-On! project. This project re-record the markers at the

Animas City Cemetery using more detailed recording forms to update the field

information previously collected. The project participants learned about the

preservation issues and challenges at historic cemeteries and helped update

information based on the current conditions.

Session Two of the History-Hands-On! project applied the procedures and

techniques of cemetery documentation to the Hermosa Cemetery. The Hermosa

Cemetery was formally established in 1906, but burials date to the late 1880s and

1890s. Some headstone and family history information had been collected at the

Cemetery, and this project will supplement and update any existing information.

Goals and Objectives

The overarching goal of the History Hands-On! workshops was to raise awareness of,

appreciation for, and education about the value of historic cemeteries. With this

knowledge, the likelihood of the preservation of these special places is increased. To meet

this goal, the project’s objectives were 1) to introduce participants to procedures to fully

document cemeteries using consistent methods; and 2) to provide participants with hands-

on training in these documentation methods. Specifically, this project helped to preserve

historic information contained in the headstone inscriptions and iconography, cemetery

features, and context. It provided a basis for recommendations for future preservation

activities at the cemeteries.

Methods

To meet these objectives, participants attended in-class training sessions and then worked

on-site with a professional archaeologist to document the cemetery. Participants learned

and used procedures that included inscription recordation, headstone material and

condition analysis, grave mapping and spatial analysis, associated artifact analysis,

photography, and historic and genealogical research. These documentation practices

helped to standardize data collection. In addition, these data provided baseline

information for future cemetery work.



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This cemetery documentation is provided to the State Historical Fund, the Center of

Southwest Studies, the La Plata County Historical Society, the City of Durango, the

Hermosa Cemetery Association, and the Durango, Bayfield, and Ignacio Libraries.



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Historic Cemeteries

Development of Cemeteries

Although traditions in countries differed, the earliest European American

cemeteries were formally established within church yards in the 17th

century.

These appeared as graveyards associated with churches along the eastern seaboard

of the United States. The graveyards tended to be adjacent to the churches and

were often surrounded by fencing to establish the boundaries. Although often

crowded, they tended to be somewhat formal in layout with artistic iconography.

Burials were generally restricted to church members.

Photo 1. Huguenot Church Burying Ground, ca. 1800. Charleston, S.C.

During the 17th

and 18th

centuries, city cemeteries were established. These were

not necessarily operated by churches and burials were not restricted to church

members and included residents of the town or city. These cemeteries tended to be

regular in design with minimal plantings and landscaping. Roadways were narrow

due to the lack of motorized vehicles during burials and/or grave visitation.

Potter’s Fields were included in cemeteries to bury the indigent with plain

markers.

Cemeteries were also developed on private land during the 17th

through the 21st

centuries. Family cemeteries were developed on family property with a variety of

markers that reflected social and economic status and/or religion. During the 17th



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and 18th

centuries, slave cemeteries were located on plantations in the South. In

the West, rural cemeteries began in the 1830s as eastern populations moved west.

Rural cemeteries tended to be in picturesque locations with natural vegetation,

three-dimensional markers and located outside of town limits.4

Photo 2. Cemetery at the Dolores Mission, Purgatory River, ca. 1900

From the mid 19th

century to the mid 20th

century cemeteries became parks with

vast lawns. They were pastoral with some upright markers. Elaborate markers,

denoting family wealth and/or social status, were mixed with headstones that were

smaller without ornamentation. Memorial Parks evolved from park-like

cemeteries with in-ground markers, a few centralized or representative sculptures

promoting uniform maintenance and lawn care. Cemeteries became for-profit

entities with concerns dictated by the ease of maintenance and a loss of social

status with markers.

4 In Colorado, the first formal cemeteries were established in the 1850s along the eastern

slope of the Rocky Mountains, in the Denver area, and the San Luis Valley. The earliest

cemeteries in La Plata County are the Animas City Cemetery (1877) and the Parrott City

Cemetery (1876). The Parrott City Cemetery location is currently (2014) unknown and

the subject of a future SJMA research project.



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Photo 3. Riverside Cemetery, Denver. Ca. 1900

Cemeteries as Cultural Places

To understand past societies and groups, we study their material remains.

Prehistoric archaeologists combine the puzzle pieces of physical remains and data

to make inferences about the past while historical archaeologists combine the

physical properties of objects and artifacts and their context, with historical

documentation from records and oral accounts. In historical settings, these

remains come in many forms and may include remnants of buildings and roads,

tools, household and personal items, and written documents. Together these

elements provide information about the economy, society, religion, and politics of

the group.

Cemeteries and their artifacts can tell us about past life; they provide information at the

scale of the individual or family. Cemeteries can be an important clue to learning about

the past because they provide information on past activities, social relationships, religious

beliefs, health and disease, economics and technology. Headstones provide genealogical

information while marker iconography can indicate religious and social information.

Individual graves can provide information about social status and health; information from

several graves can provide data on the community population. The fabrication of

headstones relates information on technology, acquisition of the materials, and financial

abilities.



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In the West, rural cemeteries tended to be community cemeteries associated with towns or

settlements or small family plots on ranches or farms. In addition, some cemeteries were

associated with particular ethnic groups or churches. Together, these cemeteries played

an important role in the lives of the early settlers and allowed them to fulfill their burial

practices and religious customs as they honored their families and friends. The cemeteries

provided a mechanism to record testaments to loved ones, giving future generations an

intimate glimpse into their lives, personalities, and pasts.



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Local Cemeteries in La Plata County

Several cemeteries are located in La Plata County. These include cemeteries that

are abandoned, inactive and active. The earliest known cemetery is Parrott City

Cemetery (1876), however, its exact location has not been identified. Table 1 lists

the cemeteries.

Table 1. Cemeteries in La Plata County5

Name Location Dates of Use Status References6

Allison-Tiffany CR 329 1908 - Active 1,2,5

Animas City Durango 1877-1965 Inactive 1,2,6, 7, 8

Bayfield CR 501 1885- Active 1,2,3

Crestview CR 172 1925 - Active 1,2

Elco CR 213 1901- Active 1,2

Florida/Hood CR 225 1880- Active 1,2,6

Fort Lewis Hwy 140 1881-1891 Inactive 8

Greenmount Durango 1888- Active 1,2,3,6

Hay Gulch CR 120 1889-1926 Inactive 6

Hermosa Hwy 550 1889 - Active 1,2,3,6, 7

Hesperus Hwy 140 1881-1965 Inactive 1,2,3

Ignacio/Catholic Ignacio 1911- Active 1

Ignacio/Protest. Ignacio 1911- Active 1

Kline CR 119 1904- Active 1,2,3

La Boca Hwy 172 1899 - Active 1,2, 7

La Posta CR 213 1902- Active 1,2,3,6

Marvel CR 131 1907- Active 1,2,3

Oxford CR 311 1925-1978 Active 1,2

Red Mesa Hwy 140 1909 - Active 1,2,3

Rockwood CR 200 1890 - ? Inactive 1,7,8

Sheck Family CR 240 1910s Inactive 1, 7

Thompson Park CR 105 1896-1988 Inactive 1,2,6,7

Tiffany CR 326 1925 - Active 1,2,6,7

Ute/Ouray Mem Ignacio 1916- Active 1

5 This listing of cemeteries includes only community cemeteries and not private family

burial locations. 6 References include: 1) Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies, “Colorado Cemetery

Directory”, 1985; 2) Genealogical Research Society of the Four Corners, “La Plata

County Cemetery Index” 1997; 3) Tombstone Project, Colorado, U.S. Genealogical Web

site; 4) D. Ellis, Serious and Grave Plots, 2002; 5) Allison Tiffany Cemetery Committee,

Obituaries and Community History for the Allison-Tiffany Cemetery, 2011; 6) La Plata

County Historical Society, Animas Museum, Durango; 7) R. Lambert, San Juan

Mountains Association, on-going research 2013, 2014; and 8) M. Charles, Fort Lewis

College.



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Note: Unmarked/unknown cemeteries include:

Gold King Cemetery

Parrott City Cemetery

Two cemeteries were selected for this project; the Animas City Cemetery and the

Hermosa Cemetery. The cemeteries are small and they have no on-site caretakers.

The Animas City Cemetery is the oldest identified cemetery in La Plata County

(1877); the Hermosa Cemetery is located north of the historic settlement of

Hermosa in the upper Animas Valley and dates to the 1880s/1890s.

Photo 4. La Plata County Rural Elco Cemetery, 2013



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Cemetery Documentation

This project results from previous historical work in the county, work at historic

cemeteries, and the interest and concern by community members on the

deterioration and loss of these special places.7

Project Goals and Objectives

As noted, the goal of this project is to increase awareness, appreciation, and

education about the value of historic cemeteries. To meet this goal, the project’s

objectives are the documentation of two cemeteries. This project incorporates

information collected from past cultural resource work and inventories to help

preserve historic information contained in the headstone inscriptions and

iconography, cemetery features, and context. Recommendations for future

preservation activities have been developed.

To meet these objectives, several procedures have been incorporated into this

project. Table 2 summarizes the objectives and the strategies to accomplish the

objectives.

Table 2. Project Objectives and Strategies

Objective Strategy

1) Document cemeteries to preserve

historic information

- Conduct field visits to cemeteries to

record graves

- Map cemeteries

- Obtain copies of historic photos

- Conduct historical research

- Photograph graves and cemeteries

2) Encourage preservation of cemetery

and the historic features

Document current condition of cemetery

Share project results with property

owners

Share preservation information &

resources with cemetery

caretakers/owners

3)Increase public interest and

knowledge about historic cemetery

documentation

Use trained volunteers to assist with

project

Provide education materials such as:

reports, maps, photographs

7 Seyfarth and Lambert, 2010. Also see “Final Archaeological Assessment Report of the

Animas City Cemetery, August 2008” by R. Lambert for the La Plata County Historical

Society. 2008.



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Project Methods

File Search

To achieve these goals and objectives, information was collected from a range of

sources. The sources included historical data from public and family archives and

organizational files. Searches were conducted at the State Archives, Center of

Southwest Studies Delaney Library, La Plata County Historical Society’s Animas

Museum, and La Plata County Assessors and land records. The holdings at the

Denver Public, Durango, Ignacio, Bayfield, Mancos, and Reed (Fort Lewis

College) Libraries were also consulted.

Documentation Procedures

To meet these objectives, cemetery information was collected from historical sources

(archives, obituaries, and other records). Information collected during archival and

historical research was incorporated into cemetery histories.

Field documentation included compiling information about the cemetery and the

documentation of the individual graves and features. To document the individual graves,

the project participants photographed the headstones, recorded the inscriptions and made a

sketch map of the grave. The graves were documented using the Individual Grave Marker

Form developed for this project. 8 A Marker Form was completed for each identified

grave, including graves without headstones and illegible headstones.

The documentation of the cemetery included assembling existing maps and photographs

of the cemetery and the completion of the Colorado Historical Society Office of

Archaeology and Historic Preservation’s forms. Previously, the cemetery map for the

Animas City Cemetery had been made by the City of Durango. The Hermosa Cemetery

map had been provided by the Hermosa Cemetery Association.

The cemetery documentation procedure followed the guidelines of the Colorado Historical

Society Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation’s Colorado Cultural Resource

Survey Manual. After the cemetery was visited and the field recording completed, the

Hermosa Cemetery (5LP10655) was recorded on the Colorado Historical Society

Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Management Data Form (#1400) and the Colorado

Cultural Resource Survey Historic Archaeology Component Form (#1402). The Hermosa

Cemetery had not been recorded prior to this project. Consequently, the above forms were

completed for this site. USGS topographic maps and aerial photographs were used to

define the project area. The Animas City Cemetery had previously been recorded and a

Revisitation Form (#1405) was completed. However, because there were many changes,

8 A copy of the Individual Grave Marker Form is included in the Appendix.



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new forms were prepared and submitted. Terms from the various lexicons were used

whenever possible. Past inventories were updated based on current field conditions.

The field visits to document the cemeteries were oriented to visible gravesites;

there was no attempt at subsurface investigations. However, the project director is

a trained field archaeologist and she used her field survey skills when documenting

and assessing the cemeteries.

Cemetery Data

Cemetery data collected during documentation is included with this report. These data are

summarized in this report. The complete files for all data are included on the CDs that

accompany this report. Included on the CD for each cemetery are: 1) a data file with all

information recorded for each grave at the cemetery; 2) the roster of cemetery burials; 3)

the grave photographs; and 4) the cemetery map. The original Individual Grave Marker

Forms, maps and cemetery maps are housed at the San Juan Mountains Association in

Durango.

Interviews

Some interviews were conducted for this project. Family members and

descendants and other knowledgeable persons were interviewed when possible.

Information provided by these individuals is cited within the report. Information

about the cemeteries was solicited from the public. Research flyers, newspaper

ads, and organizational newsletters were used to contact individuals and acquire

information. There was some success with these efforts.

Project Participants

To further the educational goals of this project, community members were trained

and supervised to assist with the project. Participants were recruited from

interested organizations and project partners via newsletters, a project brochure,

email lists, a public presentation, and public announcements. 15 volunteers

assisted with this project. Volunteers enrolled in a multi-day workshop for a

cemetery and attended an orientation lecture, participated in approximately 12

hours of in-field training and they were provided with a training handbook.9

Volunteers were required to adhere to project protocols that relate to respectful

visitation, site confidentiality, preparedness and safety.10

Volunteers assisted with

grave recordings, grave mapping, data base, photography and some historical

research. Evaluations were provided to the volunteers for future suggestions and

projects and the results were positive. At the conclusion of the multi-day hands-on

workshop, most volunteers continued with the cemetery documentation.

9 A copy of the History Hands-On! Cemetery Documentation Handbook, the volunteer

training handbook is available for review at the San Juan Mountains Association. 10

A copy of “Protocols for Cemetery Work” is included in the Appendix.



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Volunteers donated about 300 hours to this project over a period of about five

months.

Photo 5. Volunteer Documenting Grave Enclosure at Animas City Cemetery, 2012

Educational Materials

Several types of educational materials have resulted from this project. These

include public presentations about historic cemeteries; in-field cemetery

documentation; a training handbook; a project brochure highlighting the

cemeteries, the project and the results; cemetery data base; and the project report.

The cemetery documentation is compiled in this report it is provided to the State

Historical Fund, the Center of Southwest Studies, the La Plata County Historical Society,

La Plata County, the Hermosa Cemetery Association, the Southwest Colorado

Genealogical Society, and the Durango, and Bayfield Libraries.



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Project Cemeteries

Two cemeteries were selected for this project; the Animas City Cemetery and the

Hermosa Cemetery. The cemeteries are small and they have no on-site caretakers.

The Animas City Cemetery is the oldest identified cemetery in La Plata County

(1877); The Hermosa Cemetery is located north of the historic settlement of

Hermosa in the upper Animas Valley and dates to the 1880s/1890s.

The objective at the Animas City Cemetery is to update past documentation using

consistent data collection. At the Hermosa Cemetery, some past documentation has

occurred. This has been primarily genealogical. The objective of our workshop at

Hermosa is to fully document the cemetery. At both cemeteries, previous data will be

incorporated if consistent with this data collection.

Animas City Cemetery

The Animas City Cemetery is the oldest existing community cemetery in La Plata

County and the only identifiable cemetery that pre-dates the establishment of

Durango.11

The Animas City Cemetery was established to serve the new

community of Animas City founded in 1876.

Photo 6. Lavender Family Headstone, 1878

11

The Parrott City cemetery is believed to date from 1876 and the founding of Parrott

City as the first county seat of La Plata County. However, the cemetery is unmarked and

its exact location is unknown. Future work to locate the cemetery is planned.



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It is an important historic reminder of that early settlement. The first burials in the

cemetery are reported to be in 1877. Many long term La Plata County residents

have ancestors buried in this cemetery along side civil war veterans, infamous

local outlaws, and young children. The last burial was interred in 1960.

During the establishment and growth of Animas City, a plot of land was

designated that became known as the Animas City Cemetery. A common practice

for rural settlers was the burial of family members on their land. However, with

settlement in the growing Animas City, burial on in-town properties was not

possible and a cemetery was necessary. Early ownership records of the Cemetery

property begin in the late 1880s. From the time of the first burials until the record

of the first deed, the Cemetery land was probably unclaimed federal land. Other

cemeteries in existence during the time of the Animas City Cemetery were at

Parrott City (about 1876 to 1879) and at Fort Lewis (1880 to 1891). The Parrott

City cemetery was abandoned when Parrott City residents moved away and the

county seat was moved from Parrott City to Durango in 1881. The cemetery at

Fort Lewis was abandoned in 1891 when the military graves were moved to a fort

in Kansas. The Animas City Cemetery is the only cemetery that predates the

founding of Durango in 1881 and continued to be used. Recent research indicates

that a traveling pastor, James H. Tilghman and two others were buried in the

cemetery in 1877. 12

The first burial date on a headstone in Animas City Cemetery

is May 1, 1878 for Henry Lavender, an eight year old boy. This burial was

followed by several others with the 1880s representing the period of the most

burials. The last burial occurred in 1960.

Following the establishment of Durango in the early 1880s, there was community

interest in establishing another cemetery. This effort was initiated by the Masonic

Lodge that had a mandatory policy for lodge members to accompany the deceased

on foot to the cemetery, unless aged and infirmed. The Animas City Cemetery

was about 2 miles from the Temple and travel was arduous. In June 1885, a lodge

committee began looking for a closer location for burials and in 1887, the lodge

purchased 20 acres which later became present day Greenmount Cemetery. There

are three recorded Masonic burials in Animas City Cemetery prior to the first

Masonic burial at Greenmount Cemetery in 1888.

The establishment of Greenmount Cemetery signaled the decline of the Animas

City Cemetery. Greenmount Cemetery was closer to Durango, larger, and

ultimately managed by the new growing town of Durango. Burials in Animas City

Cemetery continued to decline and the last burial occurred in April 1960. In 1970,

the family moved that individual to Greenmount Cemetery. Today the Animas

City Cemetery appears as a gently sloping bench covered with sage, currant,

juniper, grasses, and pinyon. The occasional headstones are visible surrounded by

12

On-going research by genealogist Julie Pickett.



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vegetation, and the overall impression is that time and the community have

forgotten the cemetery.

Cemetery Ownership

Prior to 1985, the Animas City Cemetery was privately owned. The chain of

ownership begins in October 1888 with a land purchase under the Homestead Act

that included the cemetery parcel with a final patent date of 1890. Past owners

included the Folsom family, Austin C. Myers, Worthy C. Myers, Alonzo

Brinkerhoff, and the Turner family. The property was under Turner family

ownership in 1985, when ownership was transferred to the City of Durango.

The cemetery property was annexed into the City in June 2002 (Ordinance O-

2002-13). In 2004, the Cemetery was designated as a Historic Landmark on the

Durango’s Register of Historic Places (Ordinance O-2003-50). The cemetery was

placed on the Register because it was found to meet these criteria for historic

landmark significance: it was the site of historic events that had the effect upon

society; it exemplified cultural political, economic or social heritage of the

community; it is associated with a notable person; it enhances the sense of identify

of the community; it is in an established and familiar natural setting or visual

feature of the community; it represents a built environment of a group of people in

an era of history.



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Figure 1. Map of Animas City Cemetery Indicating Distribution of Graves, 2010

(Courtesy of City of Durango)

Previous Work at the Cemetery

Early Work

Community interest and concern for the preservation of Animas City Cemetery

began in the 1950s when members of the Sarah Platt Decker Chapter of the

Daughters of the American Revolution recorded some of the grave markers in the

Cemetery. In the 1970s, members of the La Plata County Historical Society

(LPCHS) and other community members expressed concerns with the City of

Durango about the condition and preservation of the Cemetery. Clean up efforts

and additional grave recording were conducted over several years. In 1985, a fire,

caused by children playing with matches, swept over the Cemetery and burned all

of the wooden markers that had remained at the Cemetery. Following the fire,

additional clean up and preservation efforts by the Historical Society, the Boy

Scouts, and community members occurred. Attempts at repairing some stones

were made during the Boy Scout project.



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In 2004, the ‘Friends of the Cemetery’ group was formed by the late Henry Ninde

to help preserve the Cemetery. The Friends group was a program of the LPCHS

and members helped conduct archival research, field recording of grave markers,

survey and inspection of Cemetery features, genealogical research and contact

with descendents, property clean up, and photography. Some marker photography

and documentation was conducted by the Friends, although methods appear to

have varied.

Colorado State Historical Fund Research

Archaeological Assessment – 2006

In 2006, an archaeological assessment was conducted to compile existing and new

information about the Cemetery. 13

The project partners included the La Plata

County Historical Society, the City of Durango, the San Juan Mountains

Association, and Fort Lewis College, Department of Anthropology. The goal of

the assessment was the comprehensive documentation of the Cemetery through

systematic on-site survey, non-invasive remote sensing subsurface survey,

mapping, records search, photography, genealogical research, and compilation of

other materials.

The data collected during this assessment provided new information, indicated

information deficiencies, suggested areas for future research and study, and made

management recommendations. 14

13

SHF grant # 2006-AS-006. 14

Final Archaeological Assessment Report of the Animas City Cemetery, 2008.



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Photo 7. Archaeological Survey at Animas City Cemetery, 2007

Historical research indicated that there were more individuals interred in the

Cemetery than was previously thought. Although it has been known that all the

buried individuals do not have extant headstones, the compilation of these data

indicated that several more individuals were buried in the Cemetery. Past

estimates of burials at the Cemetery have been approximately 108 individuals.

New research indicated that at least 148 individuals were buried at the Cemetery

and that there may be a minimum of 20 additional burials not recorded as yet.15

In

addition, many of these burials were children. The burial census data indicate that

17% of all burials (25 of 148) at the Cemetery were children less than 5 years of

age. Burials of children 10 years and younger (34 of 148) constitute 23% of the

total burials at the Cemetery. The number of child burials at the Cemetery had not

been recognized before. Research continues on the roster of buried individuals.

The subsurface data indicated that there are several areas where unmarked graves

are present based on the orientation, spacing and size of subsurface anomalies.

These data compliment the historical research conducted for this project. While

the subsurface data can not be absolutely verified without excavation, the data

from this study are strongly suggestive of these graves. It is hoped that additional

15

Julie Pickett genealogical research.



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research may help to identify some of these individuals. Genealogical research

and contacts with descendents may provide the best avenue to locate additional

information.

Photo 8. Remote Sensing Survey at Cemetery, 2007.

The compilation of surface information from the archaeological survey confirmed

77 grave stone recordings that had been collected prior to the assessment. When

these data were collected, the condition of the markers was noted. The majority of

the markers were in poor condition and there were several that require

stabilization. The categorization of the headstones by condition provided one

method of prioritizing necessary work for their repair and preservation.

History Hands-On! Workshops - 2012

The most intensive and extensive documentation has occurred through the History

Hands-On! component of the Heritage Education project (2012-M1-040).

Volunteers were educated and trained during the lecture and in field recording.

Each volunteer received about 15 hours of education during the workshop. At the

conclusion of the workshop, volunteers continued to work with other SJMA

trained cemetery volunteers to complete the full cemetery documentation at both

the Animas City and Hermosa Cemeteries.



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Photo 9. Headstone Documentation at Animas City Cemetery, 2012.

Summary of Burial Data

Seventy-three markers/graves were identified and recorded at the Cemetery. Most

of these graves included formal markers, although several graves are marked by

boulders or shaped stones. Thirteen graves are the burial sites of unknown

individuals and 22 markers represent the burial of more than one individual. Table

3 lists the individuals that are reported buried in the cemetery based on field

observations. A map of the Cemetery is included with this report. In total, 84

individuals are believed to be buried in the Cemetery based on field reporting.

However, on-going research into other burial records, obituaries, and descendant

interviews indicates many more individuals are likely buried at the Cemetery. 16

Table 3. Individuals Buried at Animas City Cemetery

Number Name Date of

Birth

Year of

Birth

Date

of Death

Year of

Death

Age at

Death

1 Nelson Ackerman 8-Aug 1878 23-May 1881 3

16

Julie Picket, personal communication, 2012.



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2 Mabel Barrie 2-Apr 1881 17-Oct 1881 0

3 James Barrie 24-Apr 1837 30-Oct 1891 54

4 R.W. Belmear 25-Mar 1827 26-Aug 1879 52

5 Richard R. Bridgeland 1833 10-Jul 1881 48

6 Hugh "Jacob" Emmett

Casey

13-May 1837 20-Mar 1879 42

7 James Clements 1841 16-Jun 1883 42

8 Clifford Culver 1876 10-Dec 1880 4

8a Albert Culver 1878

9 Culver Infant & Children 3-Dec 1881

10 Daniel Culver 1837 11-Dec 1881 44

11 Bessie Culver Dale 1874 1941 67

12 Melanie Faigle 1836 29-Sep 1882 46

13 Washington Findley 1833 19-May 1883 50

14 Stephen Emott Firebaugh 4-Nov 1882 19-Mar 1900 18

15 Pearl Firebaugh 2-Dec 1895 9-Dec 1895 0

15a Dora E. Firebaugh 19-Sep 1885 3-Jan 1899 14

16 Charles Bailey Folsom 1822 20-May 1903 81

17 Frances Mary Cowdy

Folsom

1860 12-Apr 1919 59

18 Monty Lee Folsom 10-Nov 1954 10-Nov 1954 0

19 Emily Pratt Folsom 1829 16-Apr 1899 70

20 William Henry Charles

Folsom Sr

13-Sep 1857 18-May 1945 88

21 Wadene Folsom Conway 5-Feb 1927 14-Jan 1955 28

22 Unknown

23 Sarah Moore Freed 19-Jan 1828 19-May 1888 60

24 Amanda Fulcher 1823 1911 88

25 John W. Fulcher Jan 1852 27-May 1886 34

26 Sarah Galloway 9-Jan 1881 18-May 1882 1

27 Mary (Rowley) Garbanati 17-Aug 1853 21-Mar 1892 39

28 George Wilson Hafling 4-May 1841 16-Jan 1906 65

29 Louisa C. Hafling 24-Jun 1899 10-May 1900 1

30 Rosa Belle Hafling 30-Mar 1881 11-Jul 1883 2

31 Sylvia L. Hafling 16-Jun 1872 17-Oct 1889 17

32 Fredricka E. Hafling 17-Feb 1842 27-Dec 1890 48

33 Martin L. Heck 1847 3-Apr 1886 39

34 Edmund M. Hopson 1837 18-Nov 1880 43

62 Infant & children of C.S.

& L.J. Triplett

35 Mary Ellen Jimerfield 27-Mar 1883 Unknow

n

1942 59

35a Thomas Jimerfield 21-Sep 1863 3-May 1928 65

36 Riley Lambert 16-Nov 1852 28-Nov 1883 31

37 Henry Lavender 29-Nov 1875 1-May 1878 3

37a Ellen Lavender Sept or

Oct?

1836 5-Feb 1884 48

37b Orvil Lavender

1877 16-Aug 1889 12

38 Calvin L. McGrew 20-Oct 1825 4-Nov 1893 68



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23

39 John Miller 24-Jun 1833 7-Oct 1889 56

40 Mary E. Miller 10-Oct 1857 8-Apr 1887 30

41 Albert K. Nail 1861 18-Aug 1891 30

42 Andrew Nichols 2-Apr 1902 8-Nov 1920 18

43 Agnes M. Nichols 14-Oct 1897 26-Nov 1905 8

43a William E. Nichols 7-Feb 1909 6-Jan 1913 4

44 Samuel T. Nichols 13-Sep 1846 8-Sep 1906 60

45 Rosa Parker 2-May 1876 2-Jul 1880 4

46 George Washington

Pinyan

1852 24-Jan 1886 34

47 Robert H. Pinyan 1885 17-Dec 1902 17

48 Jesse Potts 1842 29-Jun 1887 45

49 Hulda Rohrig 12-Jun 1877 17-Jan 1881 4

49a Darla Rohrig 24-Jun 1881 24-Jun 1881 0

49b Bertha Rohrig 18-Nov 1856 7-Jun 1881 25

50 Lyletha Savage 14-Jun 1877 29-Nov 1880 3

50a Inez Savage 31-Dec 1887 6-Jun 1891 4

51 Louisa Christiane Schnee 26-Oct 1854 17-Feb 1883 29

51a Robert Schnee 8-Feb 1883 3-Apr 1883 0

52 Rebecca Elizabeth

Samuels Scott

11-Mar 1796 18-Jul 1882 86

53 Robert John Sisley 18-Nov 1890 21-Sep 1900 10

54 Alfred James Turner 10-Aug 1874 23-Dec 1904 30

55 Emma E. Turner 27-Apr 1897 8-Apr 1901 4

56 Emma S & John Turner 1850 1894 44

56a John Turner March 1836 20-May 1902 66

57 Little Kate Westcott 14-Aug 1868 19-Sep 1881 13

58 Anna 'Maria' Will 16-Dec 1831 17-Sep 1893 62

58a Hermann Will 30-Jan 1873 13-Sep 1878 5

59 Mina Will 19-Jun 1870 14-Aug 1945 75

60 Franz 'Francis' Joseph

Will

27-Mar 1827 23-Apr 1912 85

61 George Napoleon Woods 1848 23-Jun 1882 34

63 Unknown-'empty'

enclosure, Wickline?

64 Unknown - Hafling #2



67 Unknown - Triplett #1

68 Unknown - Triplett #2

69 Unknown Stockton #1

70 Unknown Stockton #2

71 Unknown- Lambert #1

72 Unknown - Freed #1



75 Isaac Stockton 29-Feb 1852 27-Sep 1881 29



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A review of the known death dates for individuals buried in the cemetery indicates

that the most active period was the early period of the Cemetery establishment in

1877 to the early 1900s. The establishment of Greenmount Cemetery in 1888

likely reduced the number of burials at the Cemetery. The last burial is reported to

have been Reverend Folsum who was disinterred in 1970 and reburied in

Greenmount Cemetery.

Table 4. Burial Frequency by Date Range 17

Marker Types 18

Marker types at the cemetery are varied with a wide range of types. The most

common types of markers were a die on base and a die in socket marker. Equally

prevalent were temporary markers. Fieldstone/boulders and Civil War government

markers were also recorded. Less common, but numerous, were plaque type and

temporary markers.

17

Only burials with known death dates are included in this table. 18

See “Monument Types” in the Appendix for images of marker types.

Decade

of Burial

Number

of Burials

1870-1879 4

1880-1889 34

1890-1899 11

1900-1909 11

1910-1919 3

1920-1929 2

1930-1939 0

1940-1949 4

1950-1959 2

1960-1969 1



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Photo 10. McGrew Gravestone, Die on Base Marker type

Photo 11. Military Headstone of Jesse Potts



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Table 5 provides information on the marker types identified during field recording.

Table 5. Marker Types

Marker Type Number Percentage

Headstone/Tablet 6 8

Die on Base 12 17

Die in socket 11 16

Obelisk 1 1

Sculpture 1 1

Pedestal w/urn 4 5

Pedestal w/vaulted top 5 7

Raised top 6 8

Government- Civil War 6 8

Plaque 3 4

Pulpit 1 1

Fieldstone/boulder 5 7

Temporary 12 17

Total 73 100%

Marker Materials

The majority of the inscribed headstones in the cemetery were made of marble and

granite followed by sandstone and concrete markers.

Table 6. Marker Material 19

Marble 38

Granite 13

Sandstone 8

Wood 0

Iron 0

Bronze 2

Fieldstone 5

Concrete 9

Painted 0

Temporary-Tin 6

Temporary-

other metal

4

19

More than one material type may be present on a headstone.



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Marker Inscriptions and Iconography

All of the inscriptions on the markers at the Animas City Cemetery were in

English. There was a Latin phrase included on the Woodmen of the World

headstone.20

Decorative motifs on the headstones were varied and included

botanical, religious, landscapes, fraternal (Masonic), Woodmen of the World, and

military themes. Examples included willows, daisies and leaves, praying hands,

angels, lambs, stylized flowers and leaves, Masonic symbols, and Civil War

military shields (Photo 12).

Photo 12. Fredricka E. Hafling Gravestone with Weeping Willow, 2012

Marker Condition

Sixty-eight markers were evaluated for condition during this project. Temporary

markers were not included in the assessment. The evaluated markers included

20

The Latin phrase Dum Tacit Chamat is located below the Woodmen of the World Seal



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markers of named graves and headstones that were illegible. The condition of

each marker was evaluated when recorded. The stones were studied for evidence

of several possible conditions such as chipping, erosion, displacement, cracks and

breaks, and soiling/growths (usually lichen). Several of these conditions existed on

a single stones. Although 25 of the 68 markers were considered ‘sound’ most of

the markers exhibited several problems. The most serious include fallen, broken

and severely cracked or chipped markers. Table 7 lists the condition observed

during recordation. Percentages are based on the number of stones exhibiting a

specific condition for the evaluated markers.

Table 7. Marker Condition

Condition Number Percentage

Sound 25 37

Chipped 29 43

Cracked 16 24

Crumbled 9 13

Eroded 17 25

Tilted 17 25

Fallen 10 15

Broken 21 31

Sunken 4 6

Displaced 12 18

Stained 7 10

Rusted 4 6

Soiled/Biological Growth 38 56

Repaired 4 6

Marker Priority for Treatment

Markers were evaluated for the priority of treatment based on the observed

condition(s). Priority was low, medium, or high and based on the totality of

conditions recorded by the field worker. The majority of the markers were judged

to be ‘low priority based on their current condition, however some exhibited

serious conditions that make their treatment a higher priority. Table 8 provides

information on the priority for treatment.



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Table 8. Priority of Treatment for Markers

Priority Number Percentage

High 14 21

Medium 4 6

Low 50 73

Sixty-eight markers were evaluated and 14 were considered ‘high’ priority,

including one marker that needs critical attention due to weathering and erosion.

Four markers were evaluated as ‘medium’ priority and 50 markers were

considered low priority, although periodic monitoring of all markers is

recommended. Of the high priority markers, several serious problems were

evident. These include fallen and very unstable stones that could fall at any time.

Many markers are broken into several pieces and their integrity has been

compromised. Prompt attention to address these conditions is strongly

recommended. Table 9 lists these markers and the recommendations for treatment.

Table 9. Recommendations for Marker Treatments

Grave

Number

Priority

Condition

Recommendation

8 High/Critical Stone needs to be put upright immediately due to

water erosion and loss of inscription

1 High Stone needs to be re-set and cleaned

12 High Broken, remove old improper repairs and re-set

25 High Repair and re-set urn on top

26 High Re-assemble pieces on backing to retain

remaining integrity and inscription

31 High Fallen stone, re-set and stabilize

34 High Re-assemble broken stone and re-set

36 High Repair and re-set urn on top

41 High Re-set stone; attempt to fully repair (WOW stone)

44 High Stone very unstable; needs to be re-set

49 High Broken stone, re-assemble & needs to be re-set

58 High Fallen stone, needs to be re-assembled & re-set

4 High Broken fallen stone, needs to be re-set & off

ground due to water erosion & loss of inscription

9 High Broken stone, re-assemble & re-set

55 Medium Stone needs to be straightened & stabilized

52 Medium Broken stone, needs to be re-set

37 Medium Repair and re-set urn on top

15 Medium Level & stabilize, remove lichen to retain

inscription



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Grave Enclosures

Six grave enclosures are present at the Cemetery. These surround graves and are

constructed of various materials. One enclosure, the ‘empty’ enclosure contains

one unmarked grave. On-going research strongly suggests that it is the burial site

of Sarah Wickline. The enclosures are listed in Table 10.

Table 10. Grave Enclosures at Animas City Cemetery

Enclosure Description

Turner Constructed of pipe with concrete bases as

corner posts

Riley Lambert Woven Wire with decorative floral ornaments,

wire gate

Sarah Freed Scored cut sandstone posts and iron pipe; chain

closure

Fulcher Iron pipe with twisted wire between pipes,

decorative posts

‘Empty’[Wickline] Earliest hand-forged decorative iron work

known in Durango. Decorative scrolls on upper

edge, wire gate

Firebaugh Scored cut sandstone posts with iron pipes, no

entrance

All of the enclosures required stabilization and some minor repairs. These tasks

were accomplished in December 2012 (see below).

Photo 13. ‘Empty’ Enclosure Prior to Stabilization, 2010.



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On-Going Preservation And Educational Activities

Efforts for cemetery documentation are on-going. In 2011, all headstones were re-

photographed, providing valuable data on the condition of the stones. The City

developed a map of the cemetery that is being reviewed prior to finalization.

Genealogical research on veteran burials and pioneer families continues. The

genealogist has continued to work with twenty families to gather additional

information.

Photo 14. City Staff Mapping Cemetery, 2010.

In December 2012, minor stabilization was conducted by the Friends with

assistance from City personnel at the six cemetery grave enclosures shown in

Table 10. The treatments for these enclosures were necessary for the stabilization

of the structures through the winter. These treatments were minor, temporary,

reversible and sensitive to the historic nature of the enclosures and the cemetery.

The treatments consisted of replacing critical missing or broken bolts, installation



SHF # 2012-M1-040

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of temporary posts and some wiring for stability. The removal of vegetation was

critical for the integrity of all of the enclosures.

Photo 15. Stabilization Work at ‘Empty’ Enclosure, December 2012.

Summary

The Animas City Cemetery is the earliest identified cemetery in La Plata County.

The cemetery has been inactive since 1966 and has received sporadic attention

from community groups and, for the last twenty years, the La Plata County

Historical Society. Inventories and recordings have been undertaken by groups and

individuals over the last several years, each documenting the on-going

deterioration of the cemetery. Most recently, some temporary stabilization to the

six enclosures has been accomplished, however, the lack of regular maintenance is

evident in the fallen, unstable and deteriorated gravestones.



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Photo 16. Unstable Headstone and Collapsing Enclosure, December 2012



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Hermosa

The settlement of Hermosa is located about 12 miles north of Durango in the

verdant north Animas Valley. The San Juan Mountains and Animas Valley were

visited by the Baker Party in 1860/1861 as a result of the lure of mineral wealth,

stimulated by gold discoveries in the Denver area and California. In spring of

1860, a party under the leadership of Charles Baker explored the Silverton area for

minerals. Placer gold discoveries were made and many miners flocked to the area.

The placer gold recovery techniques were not sufficient for the numerous miners

and some people moved south to establish the first Animas City in 1861 in the

north Animas Valley approximately 18 miles north of present-day Durango.

With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, many miners left the area to later return in the

early 1870s. However, the influx of miners during this time was slowed by the federal

government’s discouragement of settlement due to the protests of the Ute Indians and their

claims of trespass. The land was a part of the traditional Ute homeland and was not open

for non-Indian settlement under the terms of the treaty of 1868.

However, the regional and national interest in mineral mining continued to grow and

conflicts arose. The US government attempted to resolve the problems through

negotiations that resulted in the Brunot Agreement. Under the terms of the Agreement the

Utes ceded some of their traditional lands to the US Government in exchange for hunting

rights and annual payments.

The opening of these lands was highly anticipated after Ute ratification of the Agreement

in September 1873, and settlers were anxiously awaiting the right to legally mine and

homestead in the territory. With the congressional ratification of the Brunot Agreement in

April 1874, settlement boomed as mining areas and mountain valleys were open for legal

use and settlement. 21

As a result, several small settlements were soon established in the

San Juan Mountain mining areas and throughout the Animas Valley. Silverton (1875),

Howardsville (1874), Hermosa (1873/74), the second Animas City (1875) and Rockwood

(1875) were established. Mining activities were expanded and supplies and materials

were needed in the mining towns and the Animas Valley provided food, supplies and later

coal for mining towns and operations. Transportation was by trails and roads, toll roads,

and in 1882, by train from Durango to Silverton.

The Hermosa settlement is situated west of the confluence of the Hermosa Creek and the

Animas River; it may be the earliest permanent settlement in the north Animas Valley.

Scattered references indicate that settlers were establishing farms and homesteads as early

as 1873, in anticipation of legal settlement and later to provide food supplies to the mining

region. Some documents reference ‘deeds’ for farm lands for John Dunn, Andy

21

A. Nossaman. Many More Mountains Volume 1. Denver, Colorado: Sundance

Publishing 2006.



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35

Richardson, and Billy Quinn. In addition, there are references to a Hermosa Townsite,

although to date no plat map has been located in existing records. 22

Records indicate that

the first settlers in the valley were concentrated in the Hermosa area and numbered fifteen

in July 1875. Table 11 lists the early residents. 23

Table 11. Early Residents of Hermosa Area

Name Date of Arrival Comments/occupation

Seth Sackett 1874 Returning member of Baker Party

Hugh Lambert & sons 1874 Farmers-Settled Waterfall Ranch

Candacy Lambert 1874 First white woman

Frank & Rufina Trimble 1874 Operated Trimble Hot Springs

Charles “Al” Trippe 1875 Operated Hermosa general store

Andrew A. Fuller 1875 Hermosa Postmaster (1876)

John Thomas 1875 Rancher

Andrew Johnson 1875 Miner

Hans Aspaas Up to 1875 Rancher

Edward Harris Up to 1876 Deputy Sheriff (murdered 1876)

Dana Hersey 1875 Sheep ranch

Wake Catlett 1875 Farmer

Alfred Shepard 1875 Employed by Hersey

William Webb & wife 1875 Farmers -east of Animas River

Richard & Cyrus Gaines 1875 Farmers & Ranchers

Carl Stebbins 1875 Rancher

Pinkerton Family 1875 Ranch at Pinkerton Springs

Benedito Martinez 1875 Earliest ‘Mexican’ at Hermosa

Augustine Roberts 1875 Farmer & grist mill owner

Martha Roberts 1875 Second white woman

John Paterson Lamb 1876 Farmer

Thomas A. Kerr 1876 Millwright

John Sullivan 1876 Alfalfa farmer

C. E & Mary Dudley 1877 Fruit orchards growers

Hight family 1877 Farmer & school teacher

Henry & Mary Hathway 1874-1877? Farmers

Ervin Mead 1878 Farmer

William Girardin 1879 Farmer

David Duffield 1879 Farmer

Charles Idle 1879 Farmer

Milton Schaeffer 1879 Farmer

Daniel Wallace 1879 Farmer

22

A. Nossaman, 2006, pg. 151. 23

M. Roberts. 1936, “Pioneering on the Hermosa”. In Pioneers of the San Juan Country.

Daughters of the American Revoluntion, Sarah Platt Deckerr Chapter. Reprint of

Volumes I-IV in One Edition, Bountiful, Utah: Family History Publishers, 1998.



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Records indicate that the small settlement and surrounding farms were well established

and beginning to produce crops by the 1874 fall election when records indicate that 20

votes were cast by males in the area. This provides the only known record of valley

residents in 1874.24

In 1877 or 1878, F.M. Goodykoontz was commissioned to record

male residents in La Plata County for possible military conscription. This report provides

additional information about residents in the Hermosa area. 25

By spring 1875, the farms in the area were beginning to supply food to Silverton. Trade

supplies were arriving from T. D. Burns stores in Tierra Amarilla and were delivered to

Trimble’s hot springs. The Trimbles had established a small boarding house and way

station on their property at the hot springs and this was likely the point of distribution of

the goods from the New Mexico territory. These trade activities may have been stimulated

by the family connections of Rufina Gallegos Burns Trimble, daughter of T.D. Burns. 26

The commerce with Tierra Amarilla may predate the establishment of C.A. Trippe’s

general store at Hermosa in 1875.

Farming activities continued during the late 1870s in Hermosa; John Sullivan

experimented with cultivation of alfafa on his homestead, C. E. Dudley established an

orchard in the warm air drainage along Hermosa Creek, and Gus Roberts developed a grist

mill for graham flour. 27

In July 1876, a post office was established and operated by

Andrew Fuller out of Trippe’s general store.

In April 1876, a tragedy shook the Hermosa area with the shooting of the Deputy Sheriff,

Edward Harris by farmer Hugh Lambert. The event began with the diversion of water

from Lambert’s land by neighbor John Lamb. This resulted in threats to Lamb and a

warrant issued for Lambert. The warrant was served by Harris and a posse. Gun fire

broke out and the Deputy Sheriff was shot by Lambert. Lambert was arrested, charged

and found guilty in a trial held at Lake City. He was sentenced to serve a sentence in the

Colorado Penitentiary in Canon City but he was later pardoned by Governor Routt.28

The

Lamberts later left the valley selling the Waterfall Ranch to Thomas Wigglesworth, the

surveyor for the Rio Grande Southern Railroad.

Less dramatic community developments included the continuation of hay, produce, and

fruit production in the area, the establishment of the first log school at Trimble in 1879

and the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad planning activities and construction camp in

24

A. Nossaman, 2006, pg 204. 25

F.M. Goodykoontz, “ Goodykoontz Survey of Old La Plata County in 1877 or 1878”, in

Great Sage Plain To Timberline “Our Pioneer History”. Montezuma County Historical

Society. Volume 11, 2010. Pgs. 30-38. 26

F. L. Swadesh, Los Primeros Pobladores: Hispanic Americans of the Ute Frontier.

Notre Dame, University of Notre Dame Press. 1974. Pgs. 82-85. 27

M. Roberts, 1936. 28

A. Nossaman, 2006, pgs. 305-306.



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1880/1881. In summer of 1882, Mr. Hight petitioned for a school in Hermosa to be held

in a vacant railroad building. This was the first of three schools in Hermosa.

About 1890, Richard Gaines gave land for the Hermosa School. The one room wood

frame school was built on the Gaines ranch and accommodated grades one through eight.

In 1925, a second room was added and grades nine and ten were taught. The school

closed in 1948 when it was consolidated with the Durango school system.

Photo 17. Hermosa School, prior to 1925 (Photo courtesy of Ed Mead).

In 1906, Richard Gaines sold land for the Hermosa Cemetery to a newly formed cemetery

association. Although this is the beginning of the formal cemetery, it is reported that

several individuals were likely buried at this location as early as the 1880s.29

The history

of the Cemetery is discussed in the following section.

Today, Hermosa is a picturesque small settlement surrounded by farm lands and some

new homes. Many of the early pioneer homes are still evident and there are several

orchards that remain. Descendants of early pioneers continue to live in the area.

29

Ed Mead, personal communication, August 2012.



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Hermosa Cemetery The Hermosa Cemetery is located about one mile north of the Hermosa settlement.

The cemetery is located on the west side of Highway 550 that runs between

Durango and Silverton. The cemetery parcel is about 2.5 acres and is a rectangle

that is oriented north/south. The northwest portion of the parcel has a diagonal

northeast/southwest boundary making it an incomplete rectangle. The cemetery

slopes to the southeast and pinyon, juniper, and oak are found on the site. There

are designated dirt roads that run north/south and east/west throughout the parcel.

The cemetery is still in use and visitors are frequently present. The cemetery was

fenced in 1995 and access is via a gate at the southeast corner.

Photo 18. Hermosa Cemetery, 2012

The Hermosa Cemetery is located on land first homesteaded by the Richard

Gaines family in 1881. In November 1906, Richard Gaines sold the land to the

Hermosa Cemetery Association to establish as a formal cemetery, although burials

had occurred prior to the formal designation.30

The earliest headstone in the

30

Quit Claim Deed from Richard Gaines to the Hermosa Cemetery Association,

Reception # 49535, La Plata County Records.



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Cemetery is John Hammer (1899) a Civil War Veteran. However, the Association

believes that the first burial at the Cemetery was Mrs. Mary Dudley, the first wife

of Charles Dudley. She died sometime between 1886 and 1888, but there is no

headstone. Charles Dudley’s obituary (1920) says that he is buried next to her. 31

The Cemetery is still active and tended by the Association.

Photo 19. Military Headstone of John W. Hammer, 1899.

The Hermosa Cemetery Association was formed in 1906 to care for the Cemetery.

The Articles of Association were filed in 1906 listing three trustees, J. L. Day,

R.E. Gaines and Charles Idle. The Association holds annual meetings and

continues to sell cemetery certificates for burial. The certificates owners are

authorized to bury within a specific Block and Lot, however the certificates are not

deeds to land ownership of the lot. The first certificate was issued to R.E. Gaines

on January 1, 1917. 32

31

Durango Evening Herald. Friday, September 10, 1920, page 6. 32

Ed Mead, a trustee of the Association has graciously provided copies of the cemetery

quit claim deed, Articles of Association, meeting minutes, and Cemetery Certificates.



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Photo 20. Hermosa Cemetery Certificate. (Courtesy of Ed Mead)

The Association minutes indicate that the cemetery plots were staked and mapped

at various times in the past. In 1956, the cemetery entrance was changed from the

east side directly off the highway, to the current southeast corner. The changes

were likely prompted by the increased use and widening of the highway. In spring

1958, the Animas Grange conducted a project to mark several of the graves in the

cemetery. 33

The new markers were constructed of cement with a copper

nameplate, usually with both first and last names. The locations and identification

for the new headstones were provided by knowledgeable individuals from the

Association working with the Grange volunteers. 34

These headstones are still

present today (Photo 21).

33

Durango Herald-News, April 1958. 34

Ed Mead personal communication, August 2012.



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Photo 21. Animas Valley Grange Marker for Ethel Scott. Bronze Name Plate on

Concrete Base, Installed Spring 1959.

Some documentation has occurred at the Hermosa Cemetery. This includes

selected photography and genealogical information about some of the buried

individuals.35

The documentation collected for this project supplements and

updates the existing information with the addition of archaeological, contextual,

headstone recordation, photographic, and mapping data. A copy of the collected

data for this project is included with this report. The original data field forms are

housed at the San Juan Mountains Association.

Summary of Burial Data

One hundred seventy-eight markers/graves were identified in the Cemetery. Most

of these graves included markers, although a few did not have markers but were

determined to be graves based on the appearance of the ground. Table 12 lists the

individuals that are reported buried in the cemetery based on field observations

and a list of burials provided by the Hermosa Cemetery Association. The block

35

La Plata County Historical Society, Animas Museum records.



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42

and lots are shown below. Within the lots, individual plots are indicated. A map

of the Cemetery is included with this report. In total, 181 individuals appear to be

buried in the Cemetery based on field observations and burial records. With one

exception (Oscar Ernest Day), these data are reported through 2012. It should be

noted that the Cemetery is still in use and there may be a very few more recent

burials.

Table 12. Individuals Buried in Hermosa Cemetery 36

NBN BBlock, Lot, &

PlotPP Plot

Name

Date of

Birth

Year of

Birth

Date of

Death

Year of

Death

01-01-01 Leo T. Offutt 8-Aug 1907 14-Nov 1974

01-01-02 Unknown

01-02-01 Ruth Thelma Offutt 22-Dec 1908 5-Jun 1996

01-02-02 Walter Floyd Offutt 2-Jun 1904 15-Jan 1980

01-02-03 Mary E. Offutt 16-Nov 1874 26-Jul 1946

01-02-04 Dona Mae Offutt 1926 1972

01-03-01 Kathryn Erler 22-Apr 1908 16-Apr 1998

01-03-02 Richard E. Gaines 1848 1919

01-03-03 Cora D. Gaines 1852 1936

01-03-04 Roderick E. Gaines 1883 1934

01-03-05 C. Millicent Gaines 1897 1935

01-03-06 Gaines, Charlie 11-Mar 1927 13-Mar 2011

01-03-06a Gaines, Ivy 26-Feb 1929

01-04-01 M.J. "Marcie" Gaines 1951 1973

01-04-02 CM Gaines 1895 1969

01-04-02a Julia Gaines 1892 1981

01-04-03 Chester Williams 19-Oct 1880 21-Jun 1911

01-05-01 Myrtle M. Billings 1877 1958

01-05-01a Edward Billings 1871 1954

01-05-02 Anna C. Billings 1848 1919

01-05-03 Edward Williams 8-Jan 1854 8-Aug 1915

01-05-03 Julia Ann Williams 18-Jul 1856 28-Oct 1930

01-05-04 Herbert Williams 1885 1944

01-05-05 Charles E. Williams 1882 1955

01-06-01 Billings, Herbert 1909 1980

01-06-01a Billings, Emily 1909 2001

01-07-01 Robert Lee Mead 18-May 1912 28-Sep 1993

01-07-01a Anna Tushar Mead 31-Dec 1916 15-Jul 1990

01-11-01 Eleanor Schenfeld 5-Jun 1906 4-Jul 1980

01-14-01 Lois E. Munson Hood 11-Sep 1919 12-Feb 2012

01-14-02 John W. "Jack" Hood 4-Sep 1918 26-Dec 1995

01-15-01 Richard R Albrecht 3-May 1920 27-Nov 1992

01-15-01a Eileen L Albrecht 28-May 1923

36

These data are assembled from the Association’s list of burials in the cemetery

and field recording conducted in 2012.



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01-16-01 Vicky L. Wertz 20-Oct 1950 17-Nov 2000

01-16-02 Samual Gene Albrecht 2-Aug 1980 5-Dec 1980

03-20-01 William Reed 1850 11-Apr 1924

03-20-02 Ethel Scott 1902 28-Jun 1903

03-23-01 John W. Hammer 1899

03-23-02 Mary Hammer 1841 1930

03-23-03 Clara Embling

03-24-01 Theodore Grabowsky 23-Sep 1889 4-Aug 1966

03-24-01a Nettie Grabowsky 7-Aug 1891 24Jul 1983

03-25-01 Frona C. Burns 1889 16-Apr 1946

03-26-01 Mark E. Thomas 10-Feb 1903 9-Dec 1978

03-26-01a Billie Thomas 28-Sep 1908 3-May 1981

03-27-01 James J. Duffield

04-32-01 Jeanette Dalton 1896 1983

04-32-01a Ted Dalton 1905 1966

04-32-02 O.W. Dalton 18-Jan 1895 21-Sep 1956

04-32-03 Mary L. Dalton 21-Jun 1878 31-Jan 1918

04-32-04 Carl William Dalton 13-Feb 1902 1-Apr 1902

04-31-01 William Teel 1897 1918

04-29-01 Joseph P. Bedes 3-Mar 1920 11-Sep 1991

04-29-01a Beatrice J. Bedes 17-Jun 1934 12-Jul 2007

05-34-01 Jesse Allan Bryce 6-May 1926 2-Feb 1999

05-35-01 Archie McTagart 1861 20-Dec 1918

05-36-01 Georgia Grabowsky 1933 1933

05-36-02 Andrew J. Buchanan 1861 2-Aug 1931

05-36-03 Clara E. Buchanan 8-Sep 1865 17-Apr 1907

05-36-04 Irma Buchanan 19-Aug 1904 1-Sep 1906

05-38-01 Theodore Leroy Cooper 26-Sep 1902 11-Dec 1992

05-38-01a Geneva Eva Cooper 14-Nov 1904 13-Sep 1992

05-39-01 Walter L. Reeder 14-Feb 1927 1-Mar 2001

05-39-01a Leonore L. Reeder 11-Oct 1926 25-Sep 2006

08-45-02 Deanna J. Mize 15-Mar 1941 18-Jan 2004

02-45-02 Inez M. Johnson 1917 1994

08-45-03 Roy W. Johnson 1913 1997

08-47-01 Adrian Locke 30-Nov 1895 7-Dec 1984

08-47-01a Catherine Locke 9-Mar 1902 18-Sep 1995

08-49-01 Kenneth Ivor Periman 6-May 1925 27-Apr 1991

08-50-01 R. A. Craig 16-Jan 1830 14-Jan 1900

08-50-02 Unknown [Marion Craig?]

08-51-01 Baldwin [Frank?] 10-Nov 1926

08-51-02 Marion S.Baldwin 1862 1905

08-51-03 Dorinda Jane Craig Baldwin 1863 1927

08-51-04 Robert Bruce Baldwin 1889 1917

08-51-05 Herbert S. Craig 1883 1943

08-51-06 Edith Baldwin [ and infants

Thelma & Eva ?]

1892 1907

08-52-01 Bruce Baldwin



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09-53-01 Frank Deputy 1850 9-Feb 1920

09-53-02 James Moore

09-53-03 Al Brown 1918

09-53-01E Gabriel G. Love 1857 27-Oct 1918

09-53-02E Nina C. Tyler 1890 12-Feb 1920

09-54-01 James L. Day 1844 7- Sep 1916

09-54-02 Elenor B. Day 1850 13-Dec 1917

09-54-03 Orpha Marie Day 25-Oct 1919 10-Aug 2009

09-54-03 Oscar Ernest Day 21-Jul 1919 2014

09-54-1E Ole O. Brooten 1830 1916

09-54-02E Webster Downing 1862 24-Oct 1946

09-54-03a Debbie Rummel 28-May 1957 2-May 1960

09-55-01 Harriett Idle 1859 1916

09-55-02 Charley Idle 1839 1922

09-55-01Eb William Earle Kerr 2-Oct 1910 21-Nov 1913

09-56-01W Donnie Dalton&Louise Miller 3-Feb 1929 27-Feb 2004

09-56-02W Pearl C. Dalton 10-Mar 1906 7-Apr 1957

09-56-03W Glenn Dalton 17-Nov 1899 8-Jun 1976

09-56-01E Joe W. Wallace 1898 1935

09-56-02E Zelma Wallace 1903 1971

09-57-01E Dorothy M. Sweat 13-Apr 1927 4-Aug 1982

09-57-02E William Wallace Lines 8-Jul 1932 13-Jan 1997

09-57-03 Alma G. McMahon 18-Mar 1937 18-Jan 1998

09-57-04E Birdie A. Williams 1907 1970

09-57-05E William E. Lines 1904 1939

09-54-06E Bessie W. Lines 1882 10-Dec 1943

09-57-07E Robert J. Lines 1935 1943

10-58-01 Nevada Davis 1878 1953

10-58-02 Albert Davis 1866 1940

10-58-03 Leroy & Davis Children 26-Nov 1902

10-62-01 Grace Rushling 19-Jul 1918 29-Aug 1996

10-36-1 Chuck Norris Blair 14-Jul 1918 19-Dec 2008

10-36-2 Helene Kralicek Blair 12-May 1917 8-Feb 2004

10-63-4 Bob Blair 16-Oct 1951

10-63-5 Patricia Blair 26-May 1954 1-Nov 2007

12-68-01W Mercedes Schultz Mayer 2-May 1917 26-Oct 2005

12-68-02W Fritz Rapczinski 5-Dec 1891 1-Nov 1980

12-68-03W Albert Mayer 7-Nov 1888 3-Jul 1976

12-68-04W Unknown

12-69-01W Albert Joseph Mayer 19-Mar 1915 12-Mar 2008

13-72-F-E Arvella Higby 15-Feb 1931

13-72-F-E John Higby 30-Oct 1928 3-Nov 2006

13-72-B-W Arthur August Albrecht 2-Aug 1922 16-Oct 2011

13-73-01E Melvin Brazier 1891 12-Feb 1902

13-73-02E Martin Brazier 1900 27-Aug 1902

13-73-03E Thomas Brazier 1903 30-Nov 1903

13-73-04E Unknown



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13-73-01W John "PA" Peterson 2-Dec 1943 28-Jul 2012

13-74-01 Jesse C. Dickinson 30-Jul 1901 13-Jul 1975

13-74-02 Luella P. Dickinson 2-Apr 1902 18-Oct 1981

13-76-02W Michael O. Roberts 1952 1972

13-77-01E John Wesley Evans 1913 25-Dec 1917

13-77-02E Sarah Chivington Pollock

Girardin

1844 1900

13-77-03E [Sarah?] Garardin [sp] 23-May 1916

13-77-04E William. B Garardin [sp] 1841 1917

14-78-01W Robert Dale Farley 25-Nov 1933

14-78-02W Unknown [Genty Buskirk?]

14-78-03W Unknown [Buskirk?]

14-78-04W Unknown

14-78-05W Unknown

14-78-06W Nancy Daugherty

14-78-07W Sergt. Mich Dougherty

14-78-08W James P. St Clair 1855 24-Feb 1931

14-79-01E Truman Edward Mahon 1863 7-Nov 1915

14-79-01W Kenneth F. Wilkin 25-Sep 1903 12-Dec 1906

14-80-01W B. Lane Crue III 7-Oct 1946 1-Sep 2010

14-80-01E [Malyon Crue Family]

Marie Catherine Crue

30-Dec 1904 - 3-Mar 1999

14-81-01E Leeanna Byrd 6-Nov 1936 12-Oct 1939

14-81-02E Unknown [“Mann”?]

14-81-03E Lois Byrd 1925 1926

14-81-04E Ben Byrd 1897 1973

14-81-04Ea Neva Byrd 1898 1972

14-81-05E Jewel Leeson 1923 1982

14-81-05Ea Curry[Lenore?] Leeson 1931

14-81-01W unknown #1 [Richard Paul

Scribner?]

12-Jun 1927

14-81-02W unknown #2 [“Mann?”]

14-81-03-W Heath L. Rybacki 12-Jul 1984 23-Mar 1985

14-82-01E Jim "John" Boyd Stolworthy 13-Dec 1934 28-Feb 2007

14-82-02E Larry Dean Clark 1940 22-Jul 1942

14-82-03E Donna Jean Clark 1939 24-May 1939

14-82-04E Clinton Clifford Lemon 1916 25-Mar 1921

14-82-05E John Norman Stolworthy 19-May 1961 4-Oct 1977

14-82-06E Jodie Slack 1879 1971

14-82-06Ea Elsie Slack 1891 1963

14-82-07E Newton Slack 1852 16-Dec 1938

14-82-01W Barbara Ann Stolworthy 18-Jul 1935 7-Aug 2010

14-82-02W Norman Bryan Woods 5-Oct 1939 23-Feb 1963

14-82-03W Louella May Woods 1930 1931

14-82-04W Myrtle Iris Slack 1915 3-Sep 1922

15-83-01E Lawrence Cohen 17-Sep 1943 2-Aug 2010

15-84-01SE Nellie Lawson 1841 14-Aug 1924



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15-84-01W Michael Patrick Howley 8-Mar 1954 4-Jun 1972

15-84-02W Patrick Howley 9-Sep 1928 7-Jun 1983

15-84-02Wa Eddie Howley 25-Nov 1928

15-84-03W William Beggrow 8-Jun 1926

15-84-03Wa Jeanette Beggrow 12-Feb 1920 24-Jun 1989

15-86-01W Charles A. Dudley

16-93-01 Unknown [Mary Dudley?] 1886-

1888?

A review of the known death dates for individuals buried in the cemetery indicates

that the most active period was the early decades of use from the late 1880/1890s

through the 1940s. Following a period of fewer burials during the 1950s and

1960s, relatively consistent use has persisted from the 1970s through present.

These data may reflect the aging and burial of early pioneer family members

during the beginning of the 20th

century and later the burial of descendants of those

families.

Table 13. Burial Frequency by Date Range 37

Decade of

Burial

Number of

Burials

Pre 1900 2

1900-1909 12

1910-1919 17

1920-1929 9

1930-1939 14

1940-1949 10

1950-1959 6

1960-1969 6

1970-1979 16

1980-1989 15

1990-1999 17

2000-2009 15

2010-2019 8

Total 147

Unknown 34

Marker Types 38

Marker types at the cemetery are varied with a wide range of types. The most

common types of markers were a die on base and a raised top. Less common, but

numerous, were plaque type and temporary markers.

37

Only burials with known death dates are included in this table. 38

See “Monument Types” in the Appendix for images of marker types.



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Photo 22. Gravestone of Mary Dalton, Die on Base Marker Type. Note elaborate

iconography and associated urns, 2012.



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Photo 23. Temporary Mortuary Marker for Nevada Davis with Planted Iris.

Table 14 provides information on the marker types identified during field

recording.

Table 14. Marker Types

Marker Type Number Percentage

Headstone/Tablet 2 1

Die on Base 56 32

Die in socket 2 1

Obelisk 0 -

Pedestal w/urn 0 -

Pedestal w/vaulted top 0 -

Raised top 34 19

Lawn Type 2 1

Government- Civil War 4 2

Government- General 3 2

Plaque 15 9

Pulpit 0 -

Die, base & cap 0 -

Cross 4 2



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Fieldstone/boulder 10 6

Sculpture 2 1

Temporary 12 7

Other – Grange Marker 26 15

Other – Mortuary Marker 4 2

Total 176 100%

Marker Materials

The majority of the inscribed headstones in the cemetery were made of granite

followed by concrete markers with metal name plates. The Animas Valley Grange

markers were a combination of a bronze name plate mounted on a concrete base

(see Photo 21).

Table 15. Marker Material 39

Marble 7

Granite 90

Sandstone 7

Wood 2

Iron 0

Bronze 16

Fieldstone 9

Concrete 28

Painted 0

Other 2

--Boulders 2

--Animas Grange Markers 26

Marker Inscriptions and Iconography

With one recent exception, the inscriptions on the markers at the Hermosa

Cemetery were all in English. The exception was a Hebrew phrase on the

gravestone of Lawrence Cohen (2010). Decorative motifs on the headstones were

39

More than one material type may be present on a headstone.



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varied and included botanical, religious, landscapes, fraternal and military

themes. Examples included willows, daisies and leaves, praying hands, angels,

interlocking wedding rings, Teddy bears, Masonic symbols, and military shields.

Photos 24 and 25 provide some examples.

Photo 24. Thomas Family Marker with Western Landscape Iconography, 2012.

Photo 25. Detail of Mary Dalton Headstone with Dove and Leaves.



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Marker Condition

One hundred seventy-eight markers were evaluated for condition during this

project. These include markers of named graves and headstones that were

illegible. The condition of each marker was evaluated when recorded. The stones

were studied for evidence of several possible conditions such as chipping, erosion,

displacement, cracks and breaks, and soiling/growths (usually lichen). Several of

these conditions existed on several stones. Overall most of the markers in the

cemetery are in fairly good condition. The most common problem issues were

soiled markers (generally with lichen), chipped and displaced headstones (sunken

and tilted). The generally good condition of the markers as a whole is likely a

reflection of the on-going maintenance and care provided by the Cemetery

Association and families of the buried individuals. Table 16 lists the condition

observed during recordation. Percentages are based on the number of stones

exhibiting a specific condition for the evaluated markers. No fallen or repaired

stones were observed.

Table 16. Marker Condition

Condition Number Percentage40

Sound 114 64%

Chipped 9 5%

Cracked 3 2%

Crumbled 2 1%

Eroded 3 2%

Tilted 3 2%

Broken 2 1%

Sunken 3 2%

Stained 1 1%

Rusted 1 1%

Soiled/Biological

Growth

66 37%

Other41 24 13%

40

Percentages are based on the number of stones exhibiting a specific condition for the

178 markers evaluated. 41

The ‘other’ category included several conditions that were noted only once. These

included soil on base, glass cover broken, stone slightly offset, west side chipped, lichen

on north and west sides; photo removed after 1995, concrete base crumbled, soiled

concrete base, top chipped, "1829" scratched on bottom of plaque, die sound but base

cracked, left upper corner base crumbled, base crumbling, stake rusted, wreath at top may

be missing, paper inscription deteriorated, cement grave covering cracked, concrete grave

covering cracked, no name plate, base soiled, glass has slipped down & paper label

illegible, and glass is broken and missing.



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Marker Priority for Treatment

Markers were evaluated for the priority of treatment based on the observed

condition(s). Priority was low, medium, or high and based on the totality of

conditions recorded by the field worker. The vast majority of the markers were

judged to be ‘low priority based on their current condition.

Photo 26. Lichen on Marble Military Marker of Michael Dougherty



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Table 17 provides information on the priority for treatment for markers.

Table 17. Priority of Treatment for Markers

Priority Number Percentage

High 1 Less than 1%

Medium 11 6

Low 144 81

No Treatment 22 12

One enclosure surrounding a marker was considered ‘high’ priority and it is in

immediate need of stabilization or it will collapse. Eleven markers were evaluated

as ‘medium’ priority indicating problems including potential marker

destabilization, lichen deteriorating gravestones and inscriptions, and deteriorating

stone bases. One hundred and sixty-six markers were considered ‘low’ priority

or not in need of treatment. Table 18 lists these markers and the recommendations

for treatment.

Table 18. Recommendations for Marker Treatments

Grave

Number

Priority

Condition

Recommendation

03-23-03 High Enclosure collapsing, stabilize immediately

03-23-01 Medium Remove lichen, monitor chip on front of stone

01-04-03 Medium Clean, stabilize base

05-05-03S Medium Repair main body before displacement

01-11-01 Medium Cover paper inscription with clear coating

03-20-02 Medium Remove lichen from name plate

08-51-05 Medium Trim lilac bush away from headstone

08-52-01 Medium Remove lichen from marble military headstone

09-53-02 Medium Sunken stone, stabilize; remove lichen

09-57-06 E Medium Repair crumbled base to stabilize

14-78-07W Medium Remove lichen from marble military headstone

14-79-01W Medium Stabilize base



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Photo 27. Collapsing Wooden Enclosure around Clara Embling Grave, 2012.

Summary

In summary, the Hermosa Cemetery represents a view of early life in the north

Animas Valley and the settlement of pioneer families in the area. The Cemetery

continues these traditions with the more recent burials of residents and pioneer

descendants. Many of the markers document the short lives of the children of

pioneer families and the heartache that must have accompanied the loss of these

beloved young ones.

The Hermosa Cemetery Association and family members of the interred continue

to maintain and care for the graves in the cemetery. About ninety-five percent of

the markers require minimal if any treatment for preservation, an indication of the

continuing attention that the cemetery receives.



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Conclusions and Recommendations

The goal of this project was to involve the community in the preservation of our

historic resources through their involvement and participation in the preservation

process. Two History Hands-On! Workshops were developed and implemented to

train interested volunteers and to document two historic cemeteries in the Durango

area. The Animas City Cemetery predates the founding of Durango and was in use

from 1877 to the last burial in 1966. The Hermosa Cemetery is located about 12

miles from Durango in the small rural settlement of Hermosa and was formally

begun in 1906, although there is information suggesting burials as early as the late

1880s. The Cemetery is still in use today.

Workshop participants spent many hours recording cemetery graves. At the

Animas City Cemetery, individuals updated past documentation in a standardized

manner. This effort offered the opportunity to compare changes in the condition

of the cemetery headstones and features. The documentation accomplished under

this project will provide the basis for future preservation and educational efforts at

the Cemetery. The next steps include developing a plan for the marker treatments

identified and recommended in this report.

At the Hermosa Cemetery, documentation for this project provides a baseline for

future monitoring and maintenance by the Hermosa Cemetery Association.

Although some research on buried individuals had been done in the past, this

project represents the first comprehensive effort to record all the burials at the

cemetery.

The recordation at these cemeteries indicates that the condition of many of the

markers at the Animas City Cemetery is serious and treatments of high and

medium priority gravestones should be accomplished as soon as possible. At the

Hermosa Cemetery, more of the markers are in better condition, likely due to the

on-going monitoring and attention provided by the Hermosa Cemetery Association

and family members of the buried individuals. Several recommendations follow to

maximize the utility of this project and to help preserve the cemeteries.

Recommendations

There are several recommendations that result from the documentation conducted

during this project. These are offered with the desire that the cemeteries and their

unique attributes are preserved for future generations.

1) The City of Durango and the Hermosa Cemetery Association should

address high and medium treatment priority markers and the conditions

identified during documentation. These markers exhibit instability,



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destructive lichen growth, and other deteriorating conditions. At the

Animas City Cemetery, severe stone instability has been noted and these

stones could fall at any time, possibly causing injury. The San Juan

Mountains Association is prepared to assist in efforts to obtain professional

assistance, necessary volunteer labor, and to help seek funds if needed.

2) The cemetery caretakers should establish a plan to monitor the cemetery

and the marker conditions. Fortunately, very little vandalism has been

noted at Animas City Cemetery and none at Hermosa Cemetery. Periodic

systematic monitoring would assist in the on-going maintenance of the

cemetery. The extensive photographs of the cemeteries and graves

generated for this project provide a baseline for monitoring change in the

condition of the stones and the cemetery.

3) The Hermosa Cemetery Association is encouraged to nominate the

cemetery for listing on the La Plata County Register of Historic Places.

Although the Animas City Cemetery is listed as a Historic Landmark on

the Durango City Register of Historic Places, listing on the County’s

Register is encouraged. The San Juan Mountains Association is prepared

to assist with this process.

4) The cemetery caretakers are encouraged to work with local historical

groups such as the La Plata County Historical Society’s Friends of the

Cemetery, the Southwest Colorado Genealogical Society and other

interested individuals and organizations to expand the network of local

avocational preservationists. Local pioneer families and descendants of

buried individuals are especially encouraged to share information to

increase our knowledge of these special places. The San Juan Mountains

Association is prepared to help assist in the initiation these efforts.

The cemeteries studied during this project are unique places that represent our

early heritage and contribute to our collective history. Hopefully, the information

gained during this project and the involvement of participants in the educational

and documentation processes will aid in the cemetery preservation.



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References

Allison Tiffany Cemetery Committee. Obituaries and Community History for Allison –

Tiffany Cemetery. Privately published. Ignacio. 2011

Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies. Colorado Cemetery Directory. Kay Merrill,

editor. Denver. 1985.

Ellis, Darrel. Serious and Grave Plots. Fifth Raccoon Publishing, Mancos, CO. 2002.

Genealogical Research Society of the Four Corners. La Plata County Cemetery Index.

Privately published. Durango. 1997.

Goodykoontz, F.M. “ Goodykoontz Survey of Old La Plata County in 1877 or

1878”, in Great Sage Plain To Timberline “Our Pioneer History”.

Montezuma County Historical Society. Volume 11, 2010. Pgs. 30-38.

La Plata County Historical Society. “Final Archaeological Assessment Report of

the Animas City Cemetery”. SHF Project # 2006-AS-006. Prepared by

Ruth Lambert, August 2008.

La Plata County Records.

Quit Claim Deed, Reception # 49535, 1906.

Nossaman, Allen. Many More Mountains Volume 1. Denver, Colorado: Sundance

Publishing 2006.

Roberts, Martha. “Pioneering on the Hermosa - 1936”. In Pioneers of the San Juan

Country. Daughters of the American Revoluntion, Sarah Platt Deckerr

Chapter. Reprint of Volumes I-IV in One Edition, Bountiful, Utah: Family

History Publishers, 1998.

Seyfarth, Jill. and Ruth E. Lambert. Pioneers, Prospectors and Trout: A Historic

Context for La Plata County, Colorado. Report to La Plata County

Commissions and the Colorado State Historical Fund (#2008-01-012).

Swadesh, Frances Leon. Los Primeros Pobladores: Hispanic Americans of the Ute

Frontier. Notre Dame, University of Notre Dame Press. 1974.

Newspapers:

Durango Evening Herald, Friday, September 10,1920, pg. 6.

Durango Herald-News, April 1958.



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Appendix

the study and documentation of the animas city and hermosa cemeteries · animas city and hermosa...

Documents