The Forgotten

Post by Angela Raines-author (c)

How many times have we driven by a cemetery and wondered about the people whose lives are now part of the past? Do you ever wonder who they were? What were their dreams, hopes? What were their lives like?

I've spoken many times about my fascination with the history contained in these final resting places. I've worried about the vandals who wipe out traces of people who no longer have anyone to care about who they were. Many a time I've wandered amongst the stones reading what family and friends thought was important by having it carved on the monument. Join me as I tell you a few stories of those 'forgotten' people.

A number of years ago, I captured on film one of the remaining wooden headstones in the Silver Cliff, Colorado cemetery. The name had started to fade, but the headstone started my search of the history in the Wet Mountain Valley of Colorado.In the 1870s Silver Cliff was a booming town, with expectations the DR&G would put a station there. Unfortunately for them, in 1881 the looked for station was placed a mile west and the town of Westcliffe came into being. Many people moved their houses and businesses to the new town and Silver Cliff went from a thriving community to 'ghost town' almost overnight.

Silver Cliff Cemetery -home of the Ghost Lights

The town of Rosita, near these two communities, was the setting for Helen (Hunt) Jackson's children's book "Nellie's Silver Mine". This story was one of the first, if not the first children's book to have setting as a character.

Chapel in Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs where Helen (Hunt) Jackson is buried

Closer to home are the headstones in El Paso County. I walk the cemetery roads, reading headstones, the stories, then whenever possible, attempt to locate resources to for the rest of the story. In the case of the Lamont's I found more than I expected. Duncan Lamont was born in Scotland in 1865. He came to the United States, locating in Colorado City (now Old Colorado City) where he ministered at the Baptist church. He and his wife Katherine, who was from the Midwest, did their best to save the souls in that rowdy town. Katherine was involved in the WCTU and had offices on the south side of Colorado Avenue. That side of the street consisted of saloons and tunnels running to the crib houses on the street behind. When a fire broke out in February 1907 the good Reverend ran through the streets shouting "Praise the Lord". Unfortunately the fireman did not appreciate his fervor or being in their way. They turned their hoses on him, literally freezing him. His parishioners took him back to the church and thawed him out. He later was appointed postmaster in Victor Colorado and became a state senator in Colorado.

Headstone of Duncan Lamont-Fairview Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO

These are just a few of the pieces of history I acquired from walking the final resting places of people that most would consider forgotten. Perhaps I can bring some of their stories to life in my novels, blog posts and even non-fiction writing. If it weren't for them, we would not be who we are.

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris also writes haiku posted five days a week at – http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com and has now passed one thousand haiku and photos posted on this blog. Check out her other work or like her Amazon author page:  http://amzn.to/1I0YoeL

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