Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Early during the C work session, the sign maintenance crew was working along the ROW and stopped at Cumbres to have lunch on the porch of the section house. We saw the Cumbres crew working on the roof of the car inspector's house. Well, it turns out they were removing the roof, not repairing it, as well as the rest of the second story to start what we later were told will be virtually an entire rebuild. And in fact in a matter of days, the second story was gone. The first floor would have been taken down also, but there was a delay resulting from an equipment problem that interfered with the plan to keep the remove the first floor's walls but keep them fairly intact so they could be reused when the building is reconstructed atop a new foundation. One interesting part of that project is, as I heard it, the new second story will include quarters for a seasonal caretaker whose on-site presence would allow the interiors of the historic buildings at Cumbres to be open for public viewing.

Some WiP pictures and videos for the Car Inspectors House project

Thanks for the update, Paul. That's a TON of work!

I'm really looking forward to the caretaker taking up residence there. How does one apply for that gig?

Some more progress pictures from Chama
Note: the day was cut short because of rain shortly after lunch

full day of roof removal.

More decking removal, move scaffolding to remove gable siding, and first segments come down.

Final removal of roof

Start of Session D
Removal of 2nd floor and internal load bearing wall

Taking up floor

Taking up floor joists

June 27 panorama of the inside of the house after it had been cleared of nearly all scrap, excess nails, etc.
Plan was to take down the 4 walls in one piece each but the backhoe which was planned to be used did not cooperate.
After walls were down and stacked, plan was to excavate for a new concrete foundation (timbers in the dirt are/were the prior foundation).

Pete,
Thanks for the looks inside.
Paul

Your welcome
I think the walls show what was done in prior sessions and the "foundation" shows why the house needed to come down and get a concrete foundation.

Of all the years I have stumbled around the inside of that building because it was blacker than the inside of a cow inside, this is the first time you can see the true floorplan of the building. Bob says they have to put in a foundation 4 feet down to get below the frost line up on Cumbres, so I would imagine it is going to take A LOT of concrete to accomplish that feat. If anyone will see the job through it will be Bob Conry. :-)

I look forward to checking out the progress over Labor Day.

Greetings from the session F laborer! A few photos of the footing/foundation dig for the car inspector's house.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JawvcWJnF2y9XUkf8
Hopefully the Google photos link works...

Thanks for the pictures Dave. Any word on when the forms and pour will take place?

Does anyone have a list of structures that are being restored?

Hi Richard, have you been up on Cumbres Pass where Ken's store used to stand? I wonder if it is on R/R right of way, I kinda doubt it as it is quite a distance from the tracks and that would put it on Carson National Forest land.

I only saw Ken after he was operating the gas station in Chama. But I’m beating the family bushes to see if anyone has photos. I know both Ken’s uncles were occasionally working at Cumbres/Chama. And possibly his grandad too. And I know my uncle and granddad stopped in Cumbres when taking the train from Alamosa to Durango. I’m anxious to see how it all looks over Labor Day.

Bob Conry had a map of the Cumbres area and evidently a number of the "village" buildings were on RR property. You might check with him.

Dave Ferro and his wife Laura spent quite a few summers marking out historic locations up on Cumbres Pass. I will call Dave and see what he has on the Lively store and gas station.

First try at an attachment. This is a postcard from Norvin Lively to his bride to be in La Veta. He was apparently at Cumbres working for brother Charles who was on his time off. Not hard to tell they are brothers.

The other photos are Norvin and his wife Julia and his son Julius. And one postcard of the rotary.

Thank you, Richard. This is fascinating insight.

My son is 5 and that note about Norvin dying at age 6 hit me in the gut. Do you know how he died?

I think the note was a bit confusing but the clarification is not a happy ending either. Norvin died when he was 30 or 31 and his son, Julius, was 6 (1924). I ran across a reference to typhoid fever. Norvin, his wife Julia, and Julius are all buried in La Veta. I’m in contact with Norvin’s granddaughter and I’m trying to get more postcards from her. Apparently, Norvin was the writer and Charles the photographer.

Had a nice talk with Bob Conry at Cumbres. Amazing what they are doing. I was a little surprised how few photos they have to guide them. I know the Dormont Collection has a number of CR Lively photos which I’m going to point him to. I don’t know if that is the extent of the Lively photos which I believe were donated by Ken. I would have expected more family photos. If anyone has a pointer to more information about photos, drop a line.

Richard, have you tried the Friends world headquarters in Albuquerque? They might have some photos of your relatives. When you call ask Gwen when Wes Farner will be in as he handles most of the photos in the collection.

Thanks, John. Good idea. I did see that it might be possible to visit the library if you contact them in advance. Might be a good project for the fall/winter.

Richard: Is Bob still working up on Cumbres presently?

He sent out an update about a week ago and looked like he was hard at it. But can’t really say definitively.

Thank You Sir!