by Lyndsie Ferrell from the Del Norte Prospector

Now, Billy LeRoy was not your typical looking criminal. The young highwayman was known for dressing on the up-scale side and one of his most infamous traits that kept lawmen guessing who he was, was his size four shoe.

At many of the locations where LeRoy held up a train or stagecoach, lawmen would find footprints of his size four shoe and were often, convinced that these criminal acts of theft were done by a woman. This fact and many others kept local lawmen confused and wondering who might be responsible for the countless robberies that were taking place.
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After his night of drinking and losing horribly while gambling, Billy LeRoy decided to head out and get some of his money back in the best, sure way he knew how, holding up a stagecoach. LeRoy used the last bit of his money to rent a horse and headed West along the Rio Grande River toward Del Norte. LeRoy found a place on the stagecoach route that was surrounded by sagebrush and having secured his location in the dead of night, placed cowboy hats on top of several bushes and placed wooden rifles below the hats. His stage was set.
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Finally, after hours of waiting, the Barlow Sanderson Stage made its way up the road just before dawn and found a large wooden fence post laying in their path. The stage stopped and LeRoy stepped out from his hiding place and ordered the stage handler to toss him the mail bag as well as the leather envelope that contained a decent amount of money declaring that they were surrounded and should just follow directions. The stage handler complied while LeRoy demanded that the passengers also throw down their money and jewelry. LeRoy, being satisfied with his haul, let the stage continue. No one was hurt during the raid.

The following day, LeRoy left the San Luis Valley again and headed to Pueblo where he was recognized by a postal inspector and thrown in jail. US Commissioner Andrew Brazee charged LeRoy with two counts of stagecoach robbery and set his bail at $7,000. LeRoy, eager to take responsibility for his crimes, gave a full confession of his adventures and criminal activity in Colorado. LeRoy attempted to escape with two other prisoners who were shot during the escape and was put back in jail to await charges for a third robbery in the San Luis Valley.

LeRoy was placed on a train after being sentenced to 10 years in the House of Corrections located in Detroit, Mich. As the train neared its destination, LeRoy stole a piece of wire and used it to escape from his handcuffs. LeRoy jumped from the train when his captor went to the restroom and made his way to Hays City, Kan. Where he hid under the porch of an abandoned house for three days. According to reports, he survived off a single ear of corn during that time.

After LeRoy felt it safe to move again, he headed back home to Indianapolis where he met up with his brother Silas. Billy told his brother about his crimes and hauls in the San Luis Valley and the two decided it was worth it to go back and see how much they could get. It was at this time that Silas adopted the alias Sam Potter and between him and Billy they gathered a band of men that consisted of Tom O’Phallin, Jim Wilson, and Dave Rudenbaugh. Billy was the leader of the band.

Their first attempt to rob a stagecoach after returning to the San Luis Valley went horribly wrong. When the band of men stepped out to stop a western-bound coach led by Jack Wells, they startled the horses and seeing a chance to get away, the driver grabbed the reins, turned the stagecoach into the bushes and escaped under a hail of bullets. Luckily, no one was hurt during the incident.

Their next attempt went just as wrong as the first but this time, when they opened fire on the stagecoach driven by Joe McCormick, the passenger, an engineer for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad grabbed his shotgun and caught one of the other passengers in the leg. LeRoy boarded the stagecoach and made away with five bags of mail and $118. He also took the shotgun from the engineer.

By this time, lawmen throughout the area were hot on their tail and the band of thieves and local vigilantes began to gain interest. Money was pooled together from citizens of the San Luis Valley to help fund the effort to put these men in jail. The band of thieves hunkered down in a location near North Clear Creek by Creede and it was there that a group of citizens took all five men into custody.

All of the men were taken without incident except LeRoy. Seeing that the gig was up, LeRoy pulled his pistol to make his stand when he decided it would be better for him to run. After taking flight, one of the lawmen fired and shot LeRoy in the leg and took him into custody. The band of thieves were transported to Del Norte to await trial and it was there that citizens took matters into their own hands.

Once the prisoners were secured in the jail, over 100 masked men raided the jailhouse and took LeRoy and his brother Sam Potter to a nearby tree where they were hung for their crimes. Billy LeRoy’s last words before the noose was hung about his neck rang out in the night while his brother sobbed beside him, “I have waltzed through the region a long time without paying the fiddler, so now gentleman I am ready to meet the cashier. Go on with your cart.” The posse of vigilantes did just that and whipped the horses in front of the cart that held LeRoy and his brother ending the Colorado Highwaymen’s lives once and for all.

For more information or to find stories such as this visit the Rio Grande County Museum in Del Norte.

#delnorteprospector #billyleroy #sanluisvalley #stagecoachrobberies #wildwest

by Lyndsie Ferrell with the Del Norte Prospector

The San Luis Valley has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s thanks to the many characters that lived rough and tumble lives in the great West. Lawlessness was a way of life for many in those early days and like the song by Jim Croce, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” the San Luis Valley had a bad, bad LeRoy of its own.

According to accounts provided by the Rio Grande County Museum, this story begins with a troubled youth that would grow into a famous, well-known outlaw that was a bad as they came. The LeRoy Brothers also known as the Colorado Highwaymen, dates to the late-1800s when a young lad by the name of William Pond whose alias later became Billy LeRoy. LeRoy was also known as Billy the Kid, Colorado Highwayman, Sam Pond or Sam Potter. 

No matter which name he was using at the time, Billy LeRoy grew up in Indianapolis, Ind. During his childhood, Billy was a neighborhood nuisance. He was the first to raid neighborhood hen roosts and orchards according to a historical account of Billy’s life written by a local historian. 

After developing a taste for a life of crime, Billy quickly moved from bothering his neighborhood to a juvenile outlaw. Many who recounted Billy’s younger years often said they wished he would do time in prison or even become what they referred to as a “juvenile angel,” meaning they wanted him dead. All of this sent Billy down a road that ultimately led him and his brother to an early death. 

Billy came to the San Luis Valley after a strange and wavering path. Once Indianapolis law enforcement had it out to arrest of Billy, he decided it was high time to hit the rails and head West, where he planned to become a famous outlaw. Billy was arrested by law enforcement in Indianapolis but weaseled out of the handcuffs that held him and escaped by jumping out of a two-story window. 

On his way to Colorado, Billy encountered several hardened criminals that not only helped him reach his destination, but also taught him the ins and outs of a life of crime. During his trek heading West, Billy met an unsavory character who named himself California Bill also known as William Miner. Miner lit a spark inside Billy and taught him the fundamentals of theft and later the two stopped the Alpine-Gunnison stage but only got away with $50 in cash. 

The next stage the two robbed was on Slumgullion Pass on Oct. 7, 1880 and this time, they made out with $100 which back then was quite an accomplishment. Back in these days, many of the roads we travel today began as stagecoach routes. Trains had yet to make a huge impact on communities like those in the San Luis Valley. 

Only one week later, Billy and his partner in crime the infamous California Bill first showed their faces in the San Luis Valley robbing the stage between Alamosa and Del Norte. It was during this robbery that Billy made a name for himself and was now a wanted man. The two made out with $4,000 in cash and other priceless trinkets. It was at this time that the two split ways and Billy, knowing the law was hot on his tail headed back East to Chicago after a brief stop in Pueblo. 

It wasn’t long before Billy made his way back to Denver and then eventually back to the San Luis Valley. Billy had a bad habit of gambling that resulted in trouble for the young lad more than once. Billy moseyed his way back to Alamosa and headed straight to a local gambling fraternity. The local population consisted of the western characters we have all come to know and love; many of which would see a sharp young man like Billy and take advantage of them as often as they could. 

During his stay in Alamosa and through a rough night of gambling, Billy was taken for all he was worth, which wasn’t much at the time. Billy ended up spending the night drinking heavily and woke the next morning hungover and broke. This was in early January of 1881, barely a year after Billy had adopted his life of hard crime. What he chose to do next would shape the end for the young Colorado Highwayman. 

Stay tuned for Part 2

#slumgullionpass #sanluisvalley #mysticsanluisvalley #billyleroy #stagecoachrobberies 

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"Experts from across the country converged to restore Engine 168 for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad straddling the Colorado-New Mexico border.

When Engine 168 chugs away from the station here in late June with about 60 passengers ensconced in four refurbished 19th century train cars, it will be the culmination of years of dreams, historic preservation work and an investment of nearly $4 million.  And perhaps less visible but surely onboard will be the hearts and souls of those immersed in this project."

Read full - Colorado Sun article

"Lost Trail Ranch was established in 1877 as a way station and resupply spot along Stony Pass Road from the San Luis Valley to the mining camps of the San Juan Mountains. Located at an elevation of 9,800 feet along the Rio Grande, the way station served travelers until the early 1880s, when traffic declined after the first railroad reached Silverton. The area became a popular summer cattle pasture site before being developed in the early 1920s as a dude ranch. Since then the property has offered guest lodging and outdoor recreation while continuing to be used for summer livestock grazing."  Read the rest of the article @ Colorado Encyclopedia


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#stoneypassroad #delnorte #sanjuanmountains #silverton #riograndecounty #losttrailranch

"From the sixteenth century to the mid-nineteenth, the king of Spain and the Mexican government awarded land grants to individuals and communities throughout the American Southwest. All seven of Colorado’s land grants, comprising more than 8 million acres, were awarded by the Mexican government after 1821. They are all near the state’s southern border, with three lying in the San Luis Valley and five sharing territory with New Mexico. Land grants in Colorado and throughout the southwestern United States have fostered shared identity, cultural heritage, and conflict that extend into present-day debates about race, language, ancestry, and land ownership...." Read the rest of the article @ Colorado Encyclopedia


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​#sanluisvalley #mysticsanluisvalley #

"The Barlow and Sanderson stagecoach in Monte Vista is a mud wagon like those that operated in the 1870s and 1880s along Barlow and Sanderson lines in the San Luis Valley. The only regional example of its type, the stagecoach was acquired by the Monte Vista Commercial Club and donated in 1959 to the Colorado Historical Society, which housed it for decades in the Fort Garland Museum. Because of conditions imposed on the original donation, in 2014 History Colorado (formerly the Colorado Historical Society) returned the stagecoach to Monte Vista, where it is in storage awaiting renovation and display in the Transportation of the West Museum....."  Read the rest of the article @ Colorado Experience


Photo credit: Museum of the San Luis Valley and Southern Colorado

#sanluisvalley #montevista #fortgarland #barlowandanderson #

"Covering nearly 8,000 square miles in southern Colorado, the San Luis Valley is the largest valley in the state and the largest high-altitude alpine desert in North America. Known as “the Valley” by locals and other Coloradans, the San Luis Valley is bordered by the Sangre de CristoMountains to the east, the Sawatch Mountains to the north, the San Juan Mountains to the west, and the Rio Grande Valley of northern New Mexico to the south. The San Luis Valley has a population of about 16,550 and encompasses six counties: Alamosa, Creede, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache...."  Read the rest of the article at ...Colorado Encyclopedia


Photo credit: Yongli Zhou

#sanluisvalley #mysticsanluisvalley #coloradoencyclopedia #montevistawildliferefuge #sandhillcranes

Posting on behalf of the
Rural Women Led Business Fund
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"We would like to invite you to some exciting free programming being hosted by the Rural Women Led Business Fund! Next week we are hosting A Women’s History Month Presentation: Jefas, Leaders, and all-Around Bosses presented by Dr. Mari Centeno. In partnership with Adams State University. Please see the attached flyers in Spanish and English.
 
¡Nos gustaría invitarla a una emocionante programación gratuita organizada por el Fondo Empresarial Dirigido por Mujeres Rurales! La semana que viene presentaremos la Presentación del Mes de la Historia de la Mujer: Jefas, líderes y jefes integrales presentada por la Dra. Mari Centeno. En asociación con Adams State University. Consulte los folletos adjuntos en español e inglés.
  
Event description: Imagine if you had to ask your 17-year old son to co-sign your business loan?  Dr. L. Mari Centeno is a professor of Political Science and Women’s Studies at Adams State University. She specializes in the study of women’s mobilization in Latin America and heads the University’s Women’s and Gender Studies program.  She is a proud Latina mother, teacher, activist, and occasional scholar. You can also hear her on her podcast about women and politics—UNRULY.  During this Women’s History Month event, Mari Centeno will discuss the history and present of women’s leadership and entrepreneurship."
 
Date: Friday, March 19th 2021, 5:00-6:30 pm
 
Where: Zoom Meeting
 
Registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvcuyrqjouEtY6ts-f0ttY39ffvALgeTeM


​Presentado por el Fondo Empresarial Dirigido por Mujeres Rurales
 
Evento: Presentación del Mes de la Historia de la Mujer: Jefas, líderes y jefes integrales
 
"Descripción del evento: ¿Imagínese si tuviera que pedirle a su hijo de 17 años que firmara conjuntamente su préstamo comercial? La Dra. L. Mari Centeno es profesora de Ciencias Políticas y Estudios de la Mujer en Adams State University. Se especializa en el estudio de la movilización de mujeres en América Latina y dirige el programa de Estudios de la Mujer y Género de la Universidad. Es una orgullosa madre latina, maestra, activista y académica ocasional. También puede escucharla en su podcast sobre mujeres y política: UNRULY. Durante este evento del Mes de la Historia de la Mujer, Mari Centeno discutirá la historia y el presente del liderazgo y el espíritu empresarial de las mujeres."
 
Fecha: Viernes 19 de marzo de 2021, 5: 00-6: 30 pm

The Rio Grande County Museum and Cultural Center enriches people’s lives by helping them to understand Rio Grande County’s past, to appreciate the present and to embrace the future. 
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There is hope on the horizon for a better year in 2021 than 2020. The museum will be looking forward to again being able to be open with less restrictions and have some events. The “Holiday at the Museum” 2nd Annual art show was successful and planning for the 3rd Annual art show is taking place. There were fourteen artists in the show, two of whom were students. The art show had more sales this year than last. People were shopping at home and helping to support the local artists and the museum. We are all thankful for that support. On January 26th the museum was featured as the program for the Monte Vista. A great opportunity to let the community know what we are doing. 
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As we look forward, the focus on student and young people is continuing. April 28th the second annual Del Norte School art show will open with work from Kindergarten through High School being shown. The reception may have to be modified to be within Covid guidelines, but the show will go on!! It will run for two weeks so there will be time for parents, families and the community members to drop in and see what our children are doing. 2 

A young man from Del Norte will be working with the museum staff to put up the World War II exhibit. He will bring an aspect to the exhibit which will not only show his art work, but bring a different perceptive as a young person interested in the history of this period of time.

My name is Joseph Hunter Trujillo. I was born on the 27th of October, 2006 in Alamosa, Colorado to Leroy J. Trujillo and Kathryn Trujillo. I was born with a full head of dark hair and brown almond shaped eyes. I was a whopping 8 ½ pounds which shocked the doctor and the nurses especially because they had told my mother they were sure I was going to a be a 6 pound baby. I am a native to Del Norte, Colorado as is my father. My mother was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico before marrying my father and coming to Colorado. My family has a rich history in the San Luis Valley and dedication to the country. Raymond Trujillo is my great -great uncle and his name is on the brass plaque in the Rio Grande County House and in the story of the military deaths in Rio Grande County done by the museum staff. Both of my great grandfathers are buried at the local cemetery with military headstones. My mother’s father with his seven brothers all served in a different branch of the service and were discharged with honors. 

I was born a middle child with an older brother who took after my grandfather and father with the name of Leroy. My sister, Julia, is 3 years younger. She was named after Julia Roberts who my mother loved since she was a child. I started enjoying and creating art at a very young age. I attended the Del Norte Head Start at the age of 3. I wasn’t content being at school so arrangements were made for me to attend half days. I was lucky enough to have a stay at home mother at that age and I was glad to be home with her the rest of the day. I began building with blocks, 3 ​drawing and painting. I found that I was pretty good at it and it gradually turned into a passion of mine. 

I don’t remember the first time I drew a picture about the military or how my fascination with the service started, but I have quite a collection of artifacts at home. I would beg my parents for airplanes, plastic army men and tanks to play with as young as age 5. I told anyone who listen that I was going to join the Army and I dressed up as a service member for Halloween for at least nine years. My drawing has continued and expanded into painting, wood work, stop motion movies and 3D printing. I have volunteered for the VFW to help hand out pin wheels for the 4th of July Parade, visited at Home Lake and still have intentions of joining the service. 
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I am grateful for the opportunity to showcase my work at the Rio Grande County Museum in Del Norte. I have only previously had my art on display during the school art show. In 2017 I won 2nd place in the San Luis Valley Conservation poster contest which consisted of ten schools in the valley competing to win the contest.

​The WWII Tribute at the museum is more meaningful than any other art presentation I have participated in because of my passion for the subject. I hope this inspires other to pursue their pass and live life to the fullest.