Journeys

“Journeys” will be a light and informational depiction or places in and around Prowers County, Southeastern Colorado, and other places. Most will be on a path chosen while looking for something to take a picture of, others will be of more importance; as they will be spent with family and friends. Either way, I hope to add some value to the information.

While the page is titled, “Journeys” it is the inner journey that provides the most knowledge and comfort. Finding something in ourselves that relates to the past, present, and future often times provides for a more enlightened journey in life. For me, personally, it is knowing that those who came before us worked hard and left not only physically things for us to find, but the sweat and blood followed by generations of heartfelt tears paving a way into the future.

As we struggle with day to day living conditions, we have it too easy. For the most part, we are incredibly lazy society, having forgotten everything that has been passed down in order to instill a sense of pride, considerable ethics that have been constrained by our inability to hold strong and true to what is most certainly right and wrong. This may have positive residuals in some cases; in some it has devastated our culture.  

Anyway, enough of the ramblings, on with the post! The first journey I share is a short trip my wife and I took to Camp Amache,  located  just outside Granada, Colorado.

                                                                                                                                                                           

Star date log: March 19th, 2011

Destination: End of the Line Arena/ Camp Amache

Course Set For: Towner Bus Tragedy 1931/ March 26-27 Melissa and I were recent attendants  of the Bent’s Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Associations excursion to the past. It all started out very informal and remained that way throughout; which was good for me as I do not do “formal”. We quickly came to believe that our fellow patrons had a more extensive knowledge of this areas history than we had expected.  But first, let’s talk about food!

The Santa Fe Trail Dutch Oven Cookers prepared all the necessary ingredients in which to get off with a bang! Chili, stew, home pickled okra, homemade pickles, and chocolate cherry cheesecake; all prepared in Dutch ovens over the flame. Although I am a primary heat seeker looking for serious spice, I gave in and enjoyed every last bite, chew, and gulp. These guys and gals can really throw on the vittles.

Sante Fe Trail Dutch Oven Cookers

As we settled in to get ready for the fixins’, Pat Palmer and Fred Dorenkamp set the tone and got the meeting going for the current members and let us newbs (gaming term for rookies) get a glimpse into what the Bent’s Fort Chapter is trying to do and succeeding at doing. They are a great group of folks that have invested a great deal of time and energy into preserving the past for generations to enjoy. It seems as if they are really looking for new and innovative ideas that can put the local history in public view via the Santa Fe Trail and Southeastern Colorado’s rich history.

As they set out detailing the upcoming tours and events slated to take place all along the Santa Fe Trail, ranging everywhere from Colorado through New Mexico and beyond, Melissa and I could only wonder about the adventures and sites that these tours might have in store for us and our boys. I can honestly say that having attended this event, I would highly encourage anyone with little or vast knowledge in this areas past, to entertain the idea of becoming a member of something that truly will mean something to others in the future. From Bent’s Fort and Boggsville, to Camp Amache, Granada’s own storybook start, and the division of Bent and Prowers County, this is definitely a history lesson to be enjoyed and passed on.

Jesse melton/ Towner Tragedy Presentation

Setting a more somber tone to the event, was Jesse Melton. He gave a stirring presentation on the Towner Bus Tragedy. As he settled in to the seriousness of the children’s lives that were lost, he accurately described the situation they faced. A burning cold, heart stopping storm that brought snow and freezing temperatures inside an old self-made “bus” stole away the lives of not only five children and an adult on that wreck of a vehicle, but decimated the lives of their families and the community. “Lost in a Blizzard” is only one title of a book that is out there; another being “Children of the Storm”, both paint vivid details of innocence, childhoods, and faith being stolen from the lives of many; if not all who had any ties to this tragedy. Do yourself a big favor and read the books, I am looking forward to them, myself.

All in all, after a wagon ride, pulled by mules and draft horses through what is left remaining of Camp Amache, west of Granada, Colorado, the memorial at the cemetery was a big highlight, if one can be found out there. For those of you unfamiliar with Camp Amache, it was a Japanese Relocation Camp that came to pass in the early 1940’s. This small “camp” quickly turned into a self-sustaining village that became not only a refuge, but home to many that lived there.

Arena Dust Tours Wagon Ride

Camp Amache Memorial

 

                                                                                                                                                                                         

Amache Sunset