Russell — A Name That Still Lingers

Once a small community in northern Costilla County, Russell — also known as Placer — has largely disappeared from the landscape, but its name survives in old records and a cemetery.

Some Lost Places leave behind weathered buildings or mine ruins. Others disappear so completely that almost nothing remains to tell you a community was ever there.

Russell is one of those places.

The former settlement, also associated with the name Placer, was located in northern Costilla County. A post office served the community from 1876 until 1956 — an 80-year span that hints at a place with a much longer life than its nearly vanished footprint might suggest today.

A Name From Colorado's Gold-Rush Era

The name Russell is associated with William Greenberry Russell, one of the prospectors connected with Colorado's early gold discoveries. The alternate name Placer reflects the language of mining, referring to deposits of valuable minerals found in streambeds and loose sediments.

Like many small settlements across southern Colorado, Russell never grew into a large town. Its importance was local — a name on the map, a post office, nearby families and a point of reference for people living and working in that part of the Valley.

The Cemetery Remains

One of the clearest reminders of the old community is the Placer/Russell Cemetery. Cemeteries often outlast the settlements they served, preserving family names and pieces of local history long after stores, homes and post offices have disappeared.

Today, Russell is easy to miss. There is no busy main street and no cluster of buildings announcing that a town once stood there.

Instead, its story survives in records, place names and the cemetery — small traces of a community that once belonged to the everyday geography of the San Luis Valley.

Sometimes a Lost Place doesn't leave ruins. Sometimes all that's left is a name.

Valley Murals — Stories Painted Across the San Luis Valley

Around the Valley takes a colorful turn this week with a look at murals scattered across the San Luis Valley.

From the historic blue Madonna at Penitente Canyon to the painted history outside the San Luis Valley History Museum, public art tells stories that might otherwise be easy to miss.

Travel south and the mural trail grows even richer, with works in La Jara, Manassa and Antonito depicting wildlife, faith, regional history and hometown heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.

Conejos County alone has documented 20 murals, including several large works by Valley native Fred Haberlein, known as Lightning Heart.

Together, these walls and silos create an outdoor gallery stretching across the Valley — and a good reason to slow down on your next drive and take a closer look.

Read the full Valley Murals story →

🎃 Halloween Around the Valley

Halloween is creeping closer, and communities across the San Luis Valley are filling the calendar with haunted attractions, fall festivals, costume parties, trick-or-treating and family activities. Here are a few highlights from the growing list.

Haunted Forest — La Jara

October 23–24 & 29–31 · 7:30–10 p.m.
18651 County Road 13, La Jara
$15 per person

Let the Ghoul Times Roll Haunted Maze — South Fork

October 23 · 5–9 p.m.
South Fork Community Center
5–6:30 p.m. is the “not so scary” session; 7–9 p.m. is “come if you dare.” Donations welcome.

Halloween Craft & Costume Party — Del Norte

October 24
The Cosmic Cloud, 610 Grand Ave., Del Norte
Halloween crafts and costumes for a fun community celebration.

The Farmstand SLV Fall Fest — Monte Vista

October 31 · 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
1514 S. County Road 4 E., Monte Vista · Free entry
Pumpkin painting, straw maze, vendors, apple tasting, live music, a photo booth and more.

SLV Makers Market & Fall Festival — Monte Vista

October 31 · 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
The Church Project Community Art Center, 256 S. Broadway St., Monte Vista
Local art and handcrafted goods, free photos and family activities.

And this is only the beginning. We’ve received more Halloween events from around the Valley, and we’ll keep adding them to the full guide as new flyers and details arrive.

 Meet Phoebe

Meet Phoebe, a medium adult female Pit Bull Terrier mix who is available for adoption through the Upper Rio Grande Animal Society's Conour Animal Shelter in Monte Vista.

Phoebe is estimated to have been born around August 29, 2023. Her shelter profile describes her as friendly with new people, good with cats and house trained.

With her brown-and-white coat and attentive expression, Phoebe is looking for a home of her own. Anyone interested in adopting her should contact the shelter directly to learn more about her personality, needs and whether she might be a good fit for their household.

📍 Adoption Information

Upper Rio Grande Animal Society
Conour Animal Shelter
2825 Sherman Ave
Monte Vista, CO 81144
📞 (719) 852-3366
📧 shelter@urgasconouranimalshelter.org

👉 Contact the shelter directly to learn more about Phoebe or arrange a meet-and-greet.

Quick Facts

• Breed: Pit Bull Terrier / Mixed (short coat)
• Sex: Female
• Age: Adult — born approximately 8/29/2023
• Color: Brown/Chocolate with White
• Good With: Cats
• Reaction to New People: Friendly
• House Trained: Yes

Not ready to adopt? Sharing Phoebe's story could help her find the right home.

 Slow Cooker Beef & Potato Stew

Tender beef, potatoes, carrots and onion simmered low and slow in a rich, savory broth — an easy, hearty meal for a cool San Luis Valley fall day.

Cooler October weather calls for something warm and filling, and this week’s Around the Table keeps things simple with a classic beef and potato stew.

The slow cooker does most of the work. Put it together in the morning and by dinnertime the beef is tender, the vegetables are cooked through and the broth has developed plenty of flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef chuck or stew meat, cut into 1½-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1½ pounds potatoes, cut into bite-size chunks
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

Directions

1. Brown the beef.
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches for 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer it to the slow cooker.

2. Add the vegetables.
Add the onion, garlic, potatoes and carrots to the slow cooker.

3. Add the broth and seasonings.
Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in the tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, black pepper and salt.

4. Cook low and slow.
Cover and cook on Low for 7–8 hours or on High for 4–5 hours, until the beef and potatoes are tender.

5. Thicken the stew.
About 20 minutes before serving, stir together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Stir the mixture into the stew, cover and continue cooking until the broth thickens slightly.

6. Taste and serve.
Taste the stew and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot with crusty bread, biscuits or rolls.

Cook's Note

Browning the beef first adds extra flavor, but if you’re short on time you can skip that step and put the beef directly into the slow cooker.

Around the Table Tip: Cut the potatoes and carrots into fairly large, even pieces so they hold their shape during the long cooking time.

Make It Your Own

Add sliced mushrooms, celery or frozen corn during the last hour if you want more vegetables. For an even richer broth, replace ½ cup of the beef broth with additional concentrated beef stock.