A Colorado stop to commemorate our Labor History 5/2014

The Colorado trip had shaped up to have significant stops for both Peter and I. Like I said in other posts there were definite places we both had ear-marked, and then general areas to view (especially Southern Colorado). This stop, crept into the itinerary based on a casual mention. Peter shared a link, and asked, "have you ever heard of this?" My history buff site had also done a piece on this in April at the 100th yr. anniversary. Yes we must stop. So on we go down Rt. 25 into Southern Colorado. The landscape changed and here is what we saw:

We also kept seeing this beautiful bird, a Southwestern version of our red-winged blackbird we thought. We were not able to capture a picture with our cameras, but after looking up our description this is what we found:

The Lark Bunting is the Colorado State Bird!

There really was so very little to mark what we approached, we were surprised. Below left corner was all there was, then a right turn onto a dirt road.

The Colorado Coal Field War site, as this event was also called has been an archaeology site in the past. 

Be forewarned! I am loading all my pictures here. They need to be here. Big and Load. Angry and Sad. For that is how our violent history goes. It's only as history that some of us try to sweep the ugliness under conceptual rugs. Little to no textbook entries, means people don't learn, equals our ugly history doesn't exist. But when Peter mentioned this, I had already been into researching Ms. Molly Brown's house which then led to her involvement with the Labor Movement and that was tied to this place. This awful place. This terrible history. So here it is:

They left a cellar hole accessible, but neither Peter nor I could make ourselves go down

Obviously others had been down, for this is what we saw. Unimaginable is huddling with your babies in absolute terror as you slowly suffocate, then die.

We wondered if these workers were unionized labor dedicating themselves to the upkeep. Somebody is upkeeping, and for that we were thankful.

I love Mother Jones and all that she did, she's an idol of mine. Here's where Ms. Molly comes into play as well, but really in a minor way.

 So we took this right turn and traveled but a short distance to encounter the remaining pictures. We wondered if this was the beginning or end of the company town that was to be made. Why was this all left here as well. No markers, no information, but to use it looked like Rockefeller's/CFI's bldgs.

Was this the camp of Berwind? Or was it Ludlow Village? And why is there so very little information?

 http://www.du.edu/ludlow/berwind.html

It was as quiet as could be out here in this desolate and hauntingly beautiful place.

Here is some more interesting history:

http://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?lang=it&id=6492

http://youtu.be/XDd64suDz1A

Yes we did take a commemorative brick.

Subtle but there- KEEP OUT!

So here is another person's blog visit from 2006 which sort of solves our mystery building shots:
http://rural-ruin.livejournal.com/709049.html



There was a commemorative broadcast on NPR about the 100 yr. anniversary of this little battle between labor and capital. http://www.cpr.org/news/story/remembering-ludlow-massacre-100-years-later

And if you want to learn a little bit more, visit companion site and one of my personal favorites- PBS
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/rockefellers-ludlow/

This side jaunt of less than an hour will forever remain in my memory, if not my soul.