PERMFILE111168 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I"~ ~ 3 2 localities in Las Animas County. One of these sites, Los Sisneros Plaza (Weston) or 5LA5924, was recorded within a mile of the project area, and it is actually located in Section 35, f about one-half to three-quarters of a mile east of the permit revision area's eastern boundary. As described by Pearce (1988), Weston was originally named Los Sisneros, after local rancher Juan Sisneros. CDOH recorded a plaza-like structure at the east ~~ end of town on Highway 12. This structure is constructed in the plaza style, with an L-Shaped plan, a wide overhanging porch, and made of adobe, and is presumed to date to 1884. Several ~^ outbuildings are located behind the plaza structure, including a cinderblock barn and adobe privy. The site is considered to ~ be individually eligible for nomination to the NRHP. Pearce (1988) also notes that the bridge across the residential area of Weston was built about 1915 and the residential area was built in the 189os by the Rocky Mountain Timber Company to house its employees. The town was renamed about this time period after Bert Weston, postmaster and local blacksmith. Our lord of Esquipala Church (5LA5929), located on the south side of the highway in Weston, dates to the early settlement and is currently used and maintained. The church is regarded as eligible as a contributing element to a multiple resource district or thematic nomination (Pearce 1988). Vigil Plaza (SLA5930) is located just outside the permit revision area's western boundary, in Section 24. According to Pearce (1988), Vigil Plaza was one of the original plazas settled in the early 186os by pioneers Prom New Mexico. The Vigil Plaza L buildings are located on the south side of the road in Vigil and consist of a typical L-shaped adobe structure with associated log and adobe outbuildings. The famous ^House on the Bridge^ (5LA5925), owned by the Vigil family, was built in the 1920s on abridge that was abandoned when the road was realigned. The San '~ Isidro Church, a simple adobe church built in the 1870s, is located just west of the plaza on the north side of the highway. Finally, the site files search results list an adobe barn (SLA1106) in Section 20, within the permit revision area. The site, which dates to the 1870s, was recorded in August 1974. It has been assessed as needing more data to determine its eligibility. Secondary Literature Historical accounts for the region are very useful in determining general patterns of settlement and land use. They are less ' ~ helpful when actual historic localities must be identified. Mehl and Carter (1984) is more helpful in this regard, because it does attempt to identify the locations of historic resources. It describes the many plazas that are found throughout the region, including Vigil Plaza, and emphasizes their importance for the early Hispanic settlement period. It also mentions the various