The Boggsville Times
| The News From Boggsville Historic Site | Volume 2, Number 2, September 1999 |
Friday, July 9TH marked the end of the 1999 joint Boggsville Historic Site/University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Field School in Historical Archaeology. The field school was comprised of 14 undergraduate anthropology students and three instructors. The field school was carried out by Minette Church, UCCS Anthropology professor and Richard F. Carrillo, Boggsville HS Administrator and resident historical archaeologist and of Cuartelejo Historic Preservation Associates. This was the fourth joint field school conducted with UCCS. The first summer field school was held at Boggsville in 1994. The aim of the 1999 field school was to map Bent’s New Fort; map and test excavate at Fort Wise (early Fort Lyon); map
The
Boggsville Times is a supplement to the Pioneer Spirit, and
is published four times a year by the Pioneer Historical Society of Bent
County, a Non-Profit Corporation.
The 1999 Pioneer Historical Society Officers and Board of Directors
| Robert Appel | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | President |
| Jerri Peterson-Zimmerman | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Vice-President |
| Barbara Busey | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Secretary-Treasurer |
| Wayne G. Banta | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Director |
| Richard F. Carrillo | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Director |
| Robert Ham | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Director |
| Dale Leighty | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Director |
| Philip L. Petersen | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Director |
In 1849, William Bent abandoned his first trading post located on the north bank of the Arkansas River and built in the early 1830s. He moved to a location "below the bluffs" in the Big Timbers area near present-day Lamar and is purported to have built three log cabins. The archaeological testing tentatively indicates the presence of a deeply buried cultural deposit, and minimal amounts of scattered bottle glass suggest a ca. 1850s-1860s occupation. In about 1853, he began to trade from the newly completed fort known as Big Timbers. He also operated a freighting operation delivering military freight to the newly built forts at Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos and in the San Luis Valley (Fort Massachusetts built in 1852).
In 1859 the army sent a detachment headed by
Colonel Sedgewick to establish a military post to be used to control the Native American
population. The army needed a secure location to house ammunition and supplies. The only
available location was Big Timbers. Bent leased the fort to the army and moved to a
location near the future site of Boggsville, where he built a house of cottonwood pickets
or a jacal near the mouth of the Purgatoire.
The Arkansas River from Bent's New Fort
Additionally, test excavations in a few selected areas that included the officer’s quarters revealed evidence of military items such as an officer’s button, lead balls, percussion caps, in addition to many items such as fragments of dishes, bottles, cut nails and other items. At the third location investigated, the proposed Bent Cabin site, evidence of a cultural occupation was found nearly 1 meter (3 feet) below the present ground surface. The depth of the deposits precluded further investigations. Further work at this site will necessitate remote sensing (i.e. ground penetrating radar) to detect the buried features. The analysis of the artifacts, the historical documents, and completion of the mapping information will be carried out during the summer and fall by UCCS students.
The joint Boggsville/UCCS project was funded by Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development, Inc. of Lamar. Ms. Jan Anderson, Executive Director and the SECED board of directors are thanked and acknowledged for their support of this important historical project.
The
Boggsville Times Volume 2, Number 2 September, 1999
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Boggs Family on Boggs House Porch
HOLDS REUNION
AT BOGGSVILLE,
For the occasion, The Pioneer Society of Bent County and the Las Animas Community Coalition hosted a barbecue dinner consisting of barbecued pork, potato salad, beans, corn-on-the-cob and dessert and drink. At 7 PM, Richard Carrillo, Boggsville HS Administrator and resident historical archaeologist conducted a tour of the site for the family members and interested individuals. At 7:45 PM, Phil Petersen presented a talk and slide program on the history of Boggsville.
The Boggs family donated funds and a half hog for our "2nd Annual Boggsville Days" barbecue to take place on Saturday, October 9th. They also donated a quilt that they made during the reunion and purchased many items from the "Trade Room". The PHSBC wishes to thank all the Las Animas and Bent County residents who came out to Boggsville for the reunion dinner.
The PHSBC was especially pleased to have the Boggs
Family at Boggsville and they were heartedly invited back for their next reunion.
The
Boggsville Times Volume 2, Number 2 September, 1999
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New Restroom/Shower Facilities
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Bathroom/Shower Construction – The bathroom
construction is progressing. The preliminary plumbing has been completed and the
foundations and slab have been poured..
Boggsville has collected $15,300 toward the construction of the bathroom/showers.
The major contributors, to date are:
City of Las Animas $ 1,000.00 Bent County $ 2,500.00 Rawlings Foundation $ 2,500.00 El Pomar $ 2,700.00 Southeast RC&D $ 2,000.00 Boggsville $ 2,000.00 Phil Petersen $ 1,000.00 Richard Carrillo $ 1,000.00 Bank of Wiley $ 100.00 John Dove $ 100.00 Class of 1944 $ 100.00 Marian Wilson $ 300.00 TOTAL $15,300.00 Donations are still being accepted to install a heating system for the building. Any individual, group or organization donating $100 to $500, or $500 to $1,000+, will have their name inscribed on either a silver or gold plaque, respectively. The plaques will be unveiled at the future dedication of the building.
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Creighton Smith, a UCCS archaeology field school student, served as intern (receiving credit from UCCS) from July 19th through August 20th. He assisted with both research, and other needed tasks such as mowing, and other maintenance activities. He and Chris Ecker, a second UCCS field school student volunteer, stayed in the Prowers House.
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New Interpretive Signs with Boggs House in Background
Lion’s Club luncheon was held at Boggsville on July 20th. A presentation on the 1999 field work at Bent’s New Fort, Fort Wise and the Bent Cabin site was presented to approximately 12 members and visitors. A Boggsville mug was provided as a door prize.
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On Thursday, July 9, from 6-8 p.m., the Boggsville History Project, sponsored by the Las Animas Community Coalition, presented Mr. Henry Crawford, Curator of History at the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He presented an historical perspective of African American involvement in America’s 19th century western expansion. The program included the history of the integration of African American cultural tradition in the American West. Mr. Crawford focused on aspects of the pre-Civil War trade era, in relation to Bent’s Fort. Also outlined was the African American presence in culture, living history and historical resources. The program was sponsored by the Las Animas Community Coalition.
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2nd Annual Boggsville Days Planned for October 9-10.
Plans are currently underway for the 2nd Annual Boggsville Days Trade Fair
planned for Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10 at Boggsville. The tentative plans call for
a rendezvous and trade fair, farm market, archaeological tours, and the Boggsville
"Trade Room" will be open. A barbecue will be held Saturday evening at 5 p.m.,
and a breakfast on Sunday from 7:00-9:00 a.m. Pat Mendoze, musician and storyteller, will
entertain both days. Two historical presentations on Colonial Women (wool dying, cooking
and herbal healing) and Cheyenne Beadwork (participants will learn and create their own
beadwork) will be held on Saturday. Other events and entertainment are being planned. The
events is sponsored by Boggsville Historic Site, Pioneer Historical Society of Bent County
and the Las Animas Community Coalition. For more information on sponsorship, event
details, etc., contact Richard Carrillo
(719) 456-1358 or 384-8054 (boggsvil@ria.net
and/or Jeri Zimmermann (719) 456-0400 or 456-2058. (lacc@ria.net).
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Boggsville Times Volume 2, Number 2 September, 1999
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*Acknowledgments*
As the 1999 visitor season at Boggsville begins to draw to a close the following individuals are thanked for their assistance throughout the summer. Bob Appel, President, PHSBC for fencing pasture, and initiating construction of bathroom/shower facility; Wayne Banta, Maintenance; Steve Whitehill, Caretaker; Jean Gravell, Trade Room Clerk; Marian Wilson, Volunteer Trade Room Assistant; Ashley Trujillo, Student Trade Room Assistant; Creighton Smith, UCCS student intern and Trade Room Assistant; and Chris Ecker, UCCS student volunteer. Seniors! Inc. is thanked for sponsoring Ms. Gravell and Rocky Mountain-SER, La Junta, is thanked for sponsoring Ms. Trujillo. Jeri Zimmermann and the staff of the Las Animas Community Coalition are thanked for their assistance throughout the year. Everyone’s assistance throughout the summer has made the 1999 visitor season at Boggsville a successful one.
*2ND ANNUAL BOGGSVILLE DAYS - OCT 9-10*
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Boggsville Times Volume 2, Number 2 September, 1999
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We have already received $1,000 from the City of Las Animas, and have applied for a grant from the Rawlings Foundation in the amount of $2,500, and will be applying for funds from the Bent County Commissioners in a similar amount. A fund-raising project will be carried out in Las Animas and the general area between March 15 through May 15. The project is anticipated to be completed prior to June 15 to facilitate the field school students.
Additionally at the building’s dedication two plaques will be placed on the building. The plaques will have the inscribed names of individuals, families, businesses, government agencies, and other entities who make contributions. A silver plaque will have the names of those who contribute $100-$500 or more to the project. Contributions of between $501-$1,000 or more will be eligible for the gold plaque. A total of approximately $5,000 needs to be raised.
The
Boggsville Times Volume 2, Number 2 September, 1999
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Subscribe to be a “Friend
of Boggsville”.
You are cordially invited to join in the support of the on-going revitalization of
Boggsville Historic Site.
Your support is needed to continue to interpret this early and important southeastern
Colorado historic settlement!
Prepared and Edited by Richard F. Carrillo, Boggsville HS Administrator
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Privileges include: 1) Subscription to quarterly newsletter - The Boggsville Times: 2) 10% off Trade Room Purchases. Return form and check to: Friends of Boggsville, P.O. Box 68, Las Animas, Colorado 81054 Call
(719) 384-8054 or E-mail -boggsvil@ria.net for details.
We are in the process of completing our web page. There is still some additions, corrections, etc. that need to be made, as it is still under construction. If you would like a preview it is located at http://members.tripod.com/~boggsville.
Edited by Richard F. Carrillo, Boggsville HS Administrator