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 Alder — The Little Town That Helped Build the Railroad

Not every forgotten town in the San Luis Valley was built around a spectacular gold or silver strike.

Some existed because the booming towns needed lumber, supplies, transportation and people willing to do the work that kept everything moving.

Alder was one of those places.

Once located in northern Saguache County near Poncha Pass, Alder was a small lumber and mining community along one of the most important transportation routes into the San Luis Valley.

Today, little remains.

But for a time, this nearly forgotten settlement helped provide something essential to the railroad that connected the Valley with the rest of Colorado: lumber.

Alder — or Round Hill?

Alder can be a little confusing when it appears in old records because the community was known by two names.

The post office was Alder, while the Denver & Rio Grande railroad station was known as Round Hill.

An early U.S. Geological Survey gazetteer described Alder as a post village in Saguache County on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at an elevation of 8,677 feet, specifically noting that its railroad name was Round Hill.

Even today, historical references frequently identify the vanished community as Alder, also known as Round Hill.

The name Alder apparently came from nearby Alder Creek.

The Railroad Arrives

The early 1880s were a remarkable period for this corner of Colorado.

Mining activity was increasing around Bonanza and throughout the northern San Luis Valley, while the Denver & Rio Grande was pushing its narrow-gauge railroad across difficult mountain country.

Alder's post office was established on August 29, 1881, placing the community's beginnings squarely in that period of rapid railroad and mining development.

Its location gave Alder an advantage many small mountain settlements didn't have: direct access to the Denver & Rio Grande.

But Alder wouldn't become famous because of a rich mine.

Mining took place in the area, but historical accounts indicate that it never amounted to much.

Instead, Alder found its purpose in the surrounding forests.

The Lumber Camp

Building a railroad through Colorado's mountains required enormous amounts of timber.

Wood was needed for bridges, trestles, buildings, mine supports and countless other uses.

Alder became an important source.

Historical accounts credit the lumber operations at Alder with supplying much of the timber used to construct railroad bridges on the route between Salida and Alamosa.

The community also supplied lumber to Bonanza and other nearby mining camps.

That makes Alder's story somewhat different from many of the places we've visited in our Lost Places series.

Bonanza existed largely because miners were searching for valuable minerals beneath the mountains.

Alder prospered because those mining towns — and the railroad serving them — needed what was growing on the mountains.

Life Along the Tracks

Alder's location near Poncha Pass put it along an important gateway into the San Luis Valley.

Old accounts describe travelers being able to find food and lodging in the area, while horses and mules could be shod before continuing their journeys.

The railroad added another layer of activity.

Round Hill became a place associated with the difficult climb over Poncha Pass. Extra locomotives, commonly called helper engines, could be used to assist heavy trains negotiating the grade.

For a small settlement, the passing trains must have been a constant presence.

Steam locomotives brought people, supplies and mail while carrying lumber and other freight away.

In many ways, the railroad that Alder helped build also became the community's connection to the outside world.

A Surprisingly Long Life

Small railroad and lumber camps often disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared.

Alder lasted longer.

Its post office, first established in 1881, remained in operation — with a brief interruption — until November 30, 1927.

That's roughly 46 years between the opening of the first post office and its final closure.

By then, the world around Alder had changed considerably.

Mining booms had come and gone. Transportation was changing. Automobiles and improved roads were beginning to reduce the isolation that had once made railroad stops so important.

And the timber operations that had given Alder much of its reason for existing were no longer enough to sustain a community.

Eventually, Alder faded away.

What Remains

Today, Alder is classified as an extinct or ghost town, and very little remains to suggest that a community once stood there.

The trains are gone from this route as well.

But Alder left behind something far larger than the few physical traces that may survive at the old townsite.

Some of its lumber helped make possible the railroad route that connected the San Luis Valley to Salida and points beyond.

Its timber also helped support nearby mining communities during the years when people poured into the mountains looking for opportunity.

Alder wasn't the famous destination.

It was one of the places that helped make those destinations possible.

Another San Luis Valley Place Fades Away

That's one of the things that makes exploring the Valley's lost places so fascinating.

History tends to remember the boomtowns, successful mines, famous railroads and colorful characters.

It's much easier to forget the little communities that supplied them.

Alder was one of those communities.

For nearly half a century, mail arrived there. Trains passed nearby. Timber was cut. People worked, ate, slept and built lives in a place that has now almost completely disappeared from the landscape.

Today, most travelers heading through northern Saguache County would never know it existed.

But more than 140 years after Alder appeared near Poncha Pass, its story reminds us that sometimes the places history forgot were the very places that helped build everything around them.

SLV Habitat for Humanity — Building Homes, Communities and Hope

A home is more than four walls and a roof.

It is the place where families gather around the dinner table, children do their homework, birthdays are celebrated and memories are made. Having a safe and affordable place to call home can provide a foundation for everything else a family hopes to accomplish.

Here in the San Luis Valley, SLV Habitat for Humanity has been helping make that possible by bringing together families, volunteers and community supporters.

Building Together

Habitat for Humanity is probably best known for building houses, but an important part of its approach is found in two words: working together.

SLV Habitat works with volunteers and partner families to build simple, decent and affordable homes.

Partner families aren't simply handed a free house. Habitat's model is designed around partnership and affordable homeownership, including 0% interest mortgages.

That makes each completed home the result of cooperation among many people — from the family who will eventually live there to volunteers and supporters from throughout the community.

The Power of Volunteers

You don't necessarily have to be a professional carpenter to help Habitat for Humanity.

Volunteer-driven organizations depend on people willing to contribute what they can, whether that means helping with a project, supporting the organization financially or simply spreading the word about its mission.

Those individual contributions add up.

A few hours of someone's time may seem small, but when those hours are combined with the efforts of other volunteers, they can become part of something that lasts for decades: a family's home.

More Than a House

Affordable housing has an impact that extends beyond the people living beneath one roof.

Stable housing can help families establish deeper roots in their communities. Homeowners shop locally, send their children to local schools, participate in their neighborhoods and contribute to the communities where they live.

That's why Habitat's mission isn't expressed only in terms of constructing houses.

Its goal is to help build homes, communities and hope.

In a rural region as large as the San Luis Valley, where communities may be separated by many miles, that idea of neighbors helping neighbors carries particular meaning.

A Community Effort

One of the things we appreciate about organizations such as SLV Habitat for Humanity is that their work demonstrates what can happen when people pool their resources.

One person may donate money.

Another may volunteer time.

Someone else may contribute materials, skills or simply help connect Habitat with someone who wants to become involved.

No single contribution has to accomplish everything.

Together, they can accomplish quite a lot.

Learn More

SLV Habitat for Humanity is located at 507 Main Street in Alamosa.

The Habitat store can be reached at (719) 589-8688, while the organization office can be reached at (719) 589-8678.

Those interested in learning more about Habitat's work, volunteering or supporting its mission can visit SLV Habitat for Humanity .

Antonito — Where the San Luis Valley Meets the Rails

At the southern end of the San Luis Valley sits a community whose story is almost impossible to separate from the railroad.

Antonito was born because of the railroad, grew because of the railroad, and more than 140 years later, trains are still part of its identity.

I've had the opportunity to ride the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad several times over the years, and there is something special about leaving Antonito behind as the train begins its journey toward the mountains.

The whistle sounds, steam drifts past the cars, and before long the wide-open landscape of the southern San Luis Valley begins giving way to a much different country.

It isn't simply a scenic train ride. It's an opportunity to experience a surviving piece of the history that helped shape Antonito and this part of the Valley.

A Town Created by the Railroad

Antonito wasn't a community that happened to get a railroad.

The railroad essentially created Antonito.

The Denver & Rio Grande began extending its tracks south from Alamosa in 1879. When the railroad did not receive the concessions it wanted in nearby Conejos, the company established its own townsite southeast of the older community.

Originally known as San Antonio Junction, the settlement became Antonito — Spanish for “little Anthony.”

According to Conejos County's history, the first train arrived in Antonito on the evening of March 27, 1880.

A community quickly developed around the tracks.

The original Denver & Rio Grande Antonito Depot, dating to 1880, still stands as a reminder of just how closely the town's beginnings were tied to rail transportation.

A Junction to the West and South

Antonito became an important railroad junction.

From here, one line headed west across the mountains toward the booming mining country of southwestern Colorado. Another continued south toward Santa Fe.

Passengers traveled through Antonito. Freight passed through town. Agricultural products, livestock, supplies and minerals moved along the rails.

For isolated communities in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, the railroad provided something difficult to appreciate in an age of highways and automobiles.

It connected them with the outside world.

The line toward Santa Fe — eventually known as the Chili Line — disappeared in the 20th century, but the route heading west survived.

And that surviving railroad would eventually become something extraordinary.

The Railroad That Refused to Disappear

The tracks leaving Antonito for Chama were constructed in 1880 as part of the Denver & Rio Grande's narrow-gauge San Juan Extension.

“Narrow gauge” means exactly what it sounds like. The rails are only three feet apart, considerably narrower than the standard gauge used by most American railroads.

That smaller size made it possible to negotiate tighter curves and difficult mountain terrain while costing less to construct.

The railroad crossed Cumbres Pass and continued toward the mining country of the San Juan Mountains.

Eventually, automobiles, trucks and changing economics brought an end to much of the old narrow-gauge system.

By the late 1960s, it appeared this portion might disappear as well.

Instead, preservationists and local supporters stepped in.

In 1970, Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the railroad between Antonito and Chama, preserving the most scenic portion of the old line.

Tourist trains began running the following year.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was born.

64 Miles Through History

Today, the Cumbres & Toltec runs approximately 64 miles between Antonito and Chama, New Mexico.

From Antonito, the train begins on the broad, relatively level landscape of the San Luis Valley before gradually climbing into increasingly rugged country.

Eventually it reaches Cumbres Pass at 10,015 feet.

Along the way are tunnels, trestles, mountain meadows and stretches of railroad that remain remarkably removed from modern development.

That's part of what makes riding it so memorable.

You aren't simply looking at an old locomotive sitting behind a museum rope.

You're riding behind steam power over a railroad built nearly a century and a half ago.

The sounds, smells and motion are part of the experience.

For anyone who has made the trip more than once — myself included — it's also the kind of journey that doesn't seem quite the same twice.

Different weather, changing seasons and different light across the mountains can make every trip feel a little different.

Antonito Beyond the Railroad

Of course, Antonito is more than its trains.

The community reflects the deep Hispanic heritage of southern Conejos County and sits among settlements whose history reaches back even further than the railroad era.

There are also reminders that Antonito has always had a personality of its own.

Perhaps none is more unusual than Cano's Castle, the towering collection of structures created from beer cans, hubcaps and other scrap metal that has been under construction since the 1980s.

Whether someone considers it folk art, architecture or simply something that has to be seen to be believed, it has become one of Antonito's most recognizable landmarks.

But throughout town, the railroad remains difficult to escape — and perhaps that's appropriate.

Still a Railroad Town

Many western towns owe their beginnings to railroads that vanished generations ago.

Antonito is different.

The railroad that helped create the community in 1880 is still part of life there today.

Each season, visitors once again arrive at the Antonito terminal. Steam rises above the locomotives. Passengers climb aboard. A whistle sounds.

Then the train heads west toward Cumbres Pass on rails following essentially the same mountain route trains traveled more than 140 years ago.

I've taken that journey several times, and I wouldn't hesitate to take it again.

There are faster ways to get from one place to another.

Susan B. Anthony Returns to Del Norte — Sept. 17

History comes alive in Del Norte as the community marks the 149th anniversary of Susan B. Anthony's 1877 visit during her suffrage tour.

The evening will include reenactments of speeches from Anthony's tour along with a look at the history of women's rights through the years. Guests are encouraged to wear period dress or suffrage attire, and a hat/costume contest will also be held.

Thursday, Sept. 17
Welcome at 5:30 p.m.
Program begins at 6 p.m.
Windsor Hotel, 605 Grande Ave., Del Norte

The 1874 Distillery will also be open for dinner and drinks.

Creede Fall Colors Car Show & Airplane Fly-In — Sept. 18–20

Classic cars, mountain scenery and the beginning of fall color season come together for one of Creede's signature September weekends.

The weekend begins Friday with registration and a picnic BBQ. On Saturday, downtown Creede becomes the centerpiece of the event with the Show & Shine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by awards and the Rod Run to North Clear Creek Falls.

The celebration wraps up Sunday morning with the Airplane Fly-In Breakfast at Mineral County Airport beginning at 9 a.m.

Friday–Sunday, Sept. 18–20
Creede, Colorado

Saguache Fall Festival & Quilt Show — Sept. 19

Fall arrives in Saguache with a community celebration at Otto Mears Park.

The Fall Festival & Quilt Show will feature food vendors, live music, local vendors, a quilt show and a silent auction, offering a relaxed way to spend a Saturday enjoying the season and supporting the community.

Saturday, Sept. 19
10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Otto Mears Park, Saguache

America 250 • Colorado 150 Celebration — Sept. 20

Music, storytelling, food and cultural heritage come together in Conejos for a special celebration honoring 250 years of America and 150 years of Colorado.

The afternoon will feature The Arellano Brothers, blending bilingual storytelling with alternative country, folk, blues and traditional northern New Mexican norteño music, along with Tíos Míos, performed by Kateri Lopez and Rosie Hutchinson.

Local cuisine will be provided by The Dutch Mill.

Sunday, Sept. 20
Noon–2 p.m.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Hall, Conejos

No charge — everyone is welcome.
Sponsored by Antonito Together.

More Around the Valley This Week

There’s even more happening around the San Luis Valley this week. Here are a few additional events to put on your calendar.

Colorado Grand Car Show Coffee Hour — Saguache

Tuesday, Sept. 15 • 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Otto Mears Park

Around 150 vintage sports cars are expected to visit Saguache as the Colorado Grand makes its way through the area. The public is invited to stop by and see an impressive collection of automobiles.

AmeriCorps Seniors National Celebration — Alamosa

Tuesday, Sept. 15 • 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Alamosa Senior Citizens Center, 92 Colorado Ave.

A special gathering will recognize senior volunteers and celebrate the contributions they make to communities throughout the area.

CMAC Community Jam — Creede

Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 6–8 p.m.
Creede Musical Arts Collective

Musicians of all experience levels are invited to bring an instrument and join the Community Jam. You don’t have to play to participate — listeners are welcome to come enjoy the music too.

Big Screen on the Green — Alamosa

Thursday, Sept. 17 • 7 p.m.
Richardson Lawn, Adams State University

Adams State University’s Homecoming activities include an outdoor showing of The Lion King on Richardson Lawn.

Hispanic Culture Celebration — Great Sand Dunes

Friday, Sept. 18 • 1–3:30 p.m.
Piñon Flats Amphitheater

Great Sand Dunes National Park will celebrate Hispanic culture with performances by Mariachi San Luis, Los Vecinos Bailadores and Los Semillas de la Tierra. The program is free; regular park entrance fees apply.

Alamosa Farmers Market

Saturday, Sept. 19

Spend part of Saturday shopping for locally grown produce and other goods while supporting area growers, producers and vendors.

Spadefoot Story Slam: “Age” — Alamosa

Saturday, Sept. 19

The Spadefoot Story Slam returns with local storytellers taking on this month’s theme, “Age.”

Small Business Spotlight:

The Wing Lab — Where Science Meets Sauce

Sometimes a food truck doesn't need a complicated menu or a fancy dining room to get your attention. It just needs to do one thing really well.

For The Wing Lab, that thing is wings.

I've had the opportunity to try The Wing Lab's wings myself, so this is one local food business I was already familiar with before putting together this week's Business Spotlight.

More Than Just Hot Wings

The Wing Lab describes its specialty as chef-influenced gourmet hot wings, taking the familiar chicken wing and experimenting with flavors inspired by different cuisines.

That's where the name fits.

Their slogan is “Where Science Meets Sauce,” and rather than treating wings as an afterthought, the goal is to make the sauces and flavor combinations the centerpiece of the meal.

Among the flavors highlighted by The Wing Lab are Sweet Thai Chili and Hatch green chile, bringing together familiar wing flavors with influences that go well beyond the standard hot-wing menu.

For those of us in the San Luis Valley, Hatch green chile certainly feels right at home.

Find the Truck

Part of the fun of a food truck is that it isn't necessarily in the same place every day.

The Wing Lab encourages customers to follow along to find out where they'll be serving next, making them the kind of business you may spot at different locations and events around the area.

They also offer catering for private and group events, with customized menus available depending on the occasion.

A Small Business Worth Watching For

Food trucks have become an interesting part of the Valley's food scene. They give small businesses a way to bring something different to communities and events without needing a traditional restaurant location.

The next time you see The Wing Lab, you might want to stop and see what they're cooking.

Learn more: The Wing Lab

 Don't Forget the Garden Hose

As fall approaches and overnight temperatures begin dropping, disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets when you're finished using them.

A hose left attached can trap water inside the faucet and plumbing, increasing the chance of freeze damage when temperatures dip below freezing.

It's also a good time to drain hoses before storing them for winter and check outdoor faucets for leaks.

🐾 Adoptable Pet of the Week: Gnocchi

Meet Gnocchi, one of the newest little faces waiting for a home at the Conour Animal Shelter in Monte Vista.

Gnocchi is listed as a German Shepherd mix, and judging by that little black-and-white face, this pup shouldn't have much trouble attracting attention.

Like any young puppy, Gnocchi will need a family ready to provide plenty of patience, training, playtime and love while growing into a great companion.

Adopting a puppy is a commitment, but it also gives you the chance to be there for all those important firsts and help shape a young dog's life from the beginning.

Could Gnocchi be the newest member of your family?

SLV Harvest Scalloped Potatoes

With potato harvest underway across the San Luis Valley, this week's Around the Table puts one of our best-known local crops right where it belongs — on the dinner table.

Potatoes have been part of the Valley's agricultural story for generations, and harvest season is a good reminder that sometimes the simplest ingredients make some of the best meals.

This week's recipe is an old-fashioned comfort-food favorite with a little extra richness: SLV Harvest Scalloped Potatoes.

Thinly sliced potatoes and onions are layered in a creamy homemade sauce and topped with cheddar and Parmesan cheese before being baked until tender, bubbling and golden brown.

It's substantial enough to accompany a Sunday dinner but simple enough for an ordinary weeknight. Serve it alongside pork chops, ham, chicken or steak — or add some diced ham to the casserole and turn it into the meal itself.

SLV Harvest Scalloped Potatoes

Serves 6–8

Ingredients

• 3 pounds Yukon Gold or russet potatoes
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon paprika, optional
• Chopped fresh parsley or chives for garnish, optional

Directions

1. Prepare the potatoes.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly butter or grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Peel the potatoes if desired and slice them about ⅛-inch thick. A mandoline makes this easy, but a sharp knife works just fine.

2. Make the cream sauce.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes.

Gradually whisk in the milk and cream. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce begins to thicken, about 4–5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, along with the salt, pepper and thyme.

3. Build the casserole.
Arrange half of the sliced potatoes in the baking dish, slightly overlapping them. Scatter half of the sliced onion over the potatoes and spoon over about half of the sauce.

Repeat with the remaining potatoes, onion and sauce.

4. Add the cheese.
Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar and the Parmesan over the top. Add a light dusting of paprika if you'd like a little more color.

5. Bake.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 25–35 minutes, or until the potatoes are completely tender when pierced with a knife and the top is bubbling and golden.

6. Let it rest.
Allow the scalloped potatoes to rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This gives the sauce time to settle and thicken.

A Few Ways to Make It Your Own

For a heartier version, add diced ham or cooked bacon between the potato layers. Green chile would also make a distinctly Southwestern variation, while Gruyère, Monterey Jack or pepper jack can replace some of the cheddar.

And while Yukon Golds give the dish a naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture, russets work beautifully too. Use whichever good potatoes you have available.

High-Altitude Kitchen Note

From the Valley to the Table

There's nothing particularly complicated about scalloped potatoes, and perhaps that's part of their appeal. Potatoes, onion, milk, cream and cheese become something warm and comforting after a little time in the oven.

And during harvest season in the San Luis Valley, there's an additional reason to put potatoes on the menu.

They're not just something we buy at the grocery store. They're part of the agricultural landscape around us — grown in the fields we pass every day and harvested by people who help keep one of the Valley's longest agricultural traditions going.

🧠 Trivia Answer

 San Antonio Junction

The community that became Antonito began as San Antonio Junction with the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in 1880. The railroad would go on to play a major role in Antonito's development and remains an important part of the community's identity today.