Volume 6 , Issue 42

Duchess & Oakie's NW Corner

We have been busy transcribing, scanning the 1937 Ranger Annual of Northwestern State Teachers' College (NSTC), Alva, NW Oklahoma. Also... We want to share some of the history of the Pine River Valley, in Southwest Colorado. BUT... before we get to Bayfield & Pine River Valley, let us mention a little something about Alva's NSTC 1937 Annual.

Reading through this 1937 yearbook we learn that it was published under the direction of the Student Council in the Commerce Department by the students of the Commerce Department. The dream of a student council for Northwestern began in the spring of 1936 with the student classes of NSTC electing two members (a boy and a girl) to help draw up the constitution for the Student Council. It was with the help of the elected representatives: Nellie Burchfiel, Justin Bradshaw, Jamie Carol White, Dean Simon, Juanita MCClaflin, Ralph Clifford, Hallie Morgan and John B. Doolin -- the teachers: Dr. Morris, Dr. Wadley, Mr. Bush, Mr. Cameron and Miss Holland.

We also learned that after the fire and destruction of the Castle on the Hill, March, 1935 a total of $545,000 was obtained for the erection of Horace Mann Hall and Jesse Dunn Hall (named in honor of one of northwestern Oklahoma's earlier settlers) which was dedicated in a celebration during 1937 in front of the new Jesse Dunn Hall. The distinguished guest on that day was Mrs. Eleanor Delano Roosevelt (the first lady of the land). Jesse Dunn Hall now stands where the Old Castle on the Hill once proudly stood.

We finally finished transcribing the 1937-38 Student Directory for NSTC. We have over half of the the 1937 Ranger Annual scanned. After we finish the 1937 Ranger Annual, we will be working on the 1938 Ranger Annual. We hope this 1937-38 NSTC Student Directory helps some of you searching names, wheerabouts of your ancestors in 1937-38.

Now... Sheep Trailing in the Pine River Valley, SW Colorado... This is just one of many scenes that we saw in last Saturday's parade in downtown Bayfield, Colorado. Did you know that the Pine River Valley was known to some as the first valley of any consequence west of the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide was later renamed Wolf Creek Pass.

Another fact about this unique valley is that the average elevation is 6500 feet. In the 1890s many lumber mills sprang up because most of the forests had not been touched and with the coming of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, lumber was shipped to distant markets.

When the settlers moved into the Pine River Valley and Bayfield, they settled in the valley proper and also along small tributaries such as Wallace Gulch, North and South Texas Creek, Beaver Creek, Dry Creek, and Bear Creek saving the best logs for their cabins. Most of the days are sunny and dry, but heavy snows come in the winter. Spring can happen as early as February, although the valley has been known to get its heaviest snowfalls in March and April. In the spring the land is usually ready for cultivation, and alfalfa hay remains the major crop.

You can view the irrigation ditches that flow from Vallecito Lake through this valley as in this photograph that I took south of Bayfield on the a rural county road to our place here. You are viewing the mountains towards the northwest (I believe beyond Durango and towards Silverton). Lots of horses can be seen grazing in this little valley. It makes me homesick for my horses back in NW Oklahoma.

As to Vallecito Dam... The Newlands Reclamation Act of 1904 was advocated by an explorer, John Wesley Powell, and signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt. It created the Bureau of Reclamation to build dams to harness rivers and conserve western water. The act promoted conservation for the benefit of settlers and small farmers.

After the tremendous flood of 1927, the government stepped in and built the Pine River Dam which was later changed to Vallecito Dam, which impounds the Pine River and created the magnificent Vallecito Lake, which lies east to west between the high ridges of the San Juan Mountains. In 1957 the rains filled the lake -- the flood gates opened -- the Bureau of Reclamation staff went to close the gates -- the gates were filled with debris and could not be shut. That year the valley flooded again.

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