By the 1930’s, it is safe to say that Alamosa had established itself well and was thriving as a growing community. Alamosa was the hub for goods and services in the area and saw a boastful payout from being such. The railroad was booming, more buildings were popping up, and the increase in population was steady. These are the critical years for the Great Sand Dunes preservation and the people who were responsible for it ultimately becoming a National Park will be covered thoroughly throughout part two of the series! Read along as we continue to explore the history of Alamosa and revisit a time that contributed to earning the name of ‘Best Small Town Cultural Scene’ in America!

Downtown Development 1930-1970

1930-1970 gave life and light to Downtown Alamosa as it began to develop further and was starting to look more like the Alamosa we know today! Many of the historical buildings listed on the Downtown Walking tour were built in this span of time and are now home to some of your favorite locations!

Bain’s Department Store was built in 1935. The building is similar to that of many buildings constructed during the Great Depression featuring heavy use of recycled materials to cut down on costs. Today, The Rainbow’s End Thrift store is located in the building at 510 Main Street.
BPOE Elks Lodge was constructed in 1956. Back when it was built, slot machines were not as regulated as present day and they were able to use funds collected from slot machines to be able to fund the purchase of the second lodge facility. This is still owned by the Elks’ and serves for many of the same purposes, minus the slot machines of course.
WPA-ERA Pump House was built in 1936, originally made of brick. This location served many purposes but started as the city jail. In the 1950s it also was used as the police squad room, and jailers quarters until 1994. It then became the San Luis Valley History Museum and it still is at present day located on Hunt and Fourth st.
The Alamosa Post Office Building was constructed in 1935 at 703 Fourth St. One can see many architectural styles combined in this structure including Mission, Art Deco, and Classical Revival elements that are strongly represented among the historical buildings in Alamosa. Much of the building has been kept original over the years including terracotta tiles, unique woodworkings, and one cannot overlook the Pony Express Rider above the door. This location is now home to Blue Peaks Developmental Services.
Alamosa County Courthouse was constructed in 1936 and only served as such for a short two years. This building boasts brilliant Mission Revival style and was the largest WPA project built in the county in the 1930s. More than 450,000 bricks made of local sand and clay were used to create the masterpiece. The location is currently unoccupied.
Lockhart’s Furniture was built in 1938 and brought streamlined Art Deco styles to Downtown Alamosa. The beautiful green, pink, and white tiles featured on the building are an excellent example of implementation of the times modern style. The building has since been made into two stores at 711 and 713 Main Street housing Treasure Alley and All Family Hair Care.
The last of the well known buildings constructed in this time frame was Husung Hardware. Built in 1936, the owners did not know that they were constructing what is now known as one of the best small town expressions of Art Deco style in the state. This well preserved location is now home to Spare Keg Brewerks.

The Great Sand Dunes 1930-1970

While Downtown was being developed and bringing in more and more people, notice was taken in the need to preserve the treasure sitting in Alamosa’s backyard: The Great Sand Dunes. Elizabeth Spencer stamped her name in history with her efforts and contributions to the preservation of the dunes and ultimately the achievement of having it be named a National Monument. This was no solo effort however. Her and the team alongside her achieved high praise for their achievements.

Elizabeth Spencer was an active member of Chapter V of the P.E.O in Monte Vista. During attendance of a regular chapter meeting in June of 1930, she gave her remarks pertaining to her plans for the chapter assuming responsibility for the SLV Sand Dunes to be declared a National Monument. With the group in agreement, chapter president Mrs. Ward Darley appointed Elizabeth to be the char of the committee with Mrs. Jean Corlett and Mrs. Myrtle C. Woods at her side. The chapter quickly saw the large scope of what they were undertaking and recruited members from the Del Norte and Alamosa chapters to serve as well.

With a strong team assembled, groundwork was laid. They urged notable citizens to write to the Colorado Congress. Many photos of the dunes were sent to Washington along with other materials including newspaper articles, a petition in support of the monument designation, and great support from the citizens as well as Colorado politicians. First District Congressman William R Eaton was a pillar in the process as he wrote the bill that was delivered to Washington. Third District Congressman Guy U. Hardy worked on the issue and kept the P.E.O committee in the loop as progressions were made and held a sincere interest in the work he was doing.

Six months after the initiation of the proposal to the notice of fund allocation of funds for the inspection of the area. February 14-15 Superintendent Roger Toll of Yellowstone National Park toured the area. He then presented his report which was not entirely favorable to the chapter's proposal. This was a small setback in the process however and the chapters proved their ferocity. On March 17, 1932 President Herbert Hoover signed the proclamation granting the Great Sand Dunes its status of being a National Monument. This made it the 36th National Monument in the United States at the time and the second in the San Luis Valley.

This was a huge project to take on by the sisterhood, but they rallied until they achieved their goals. The process was highly competitive, and Mrs. Ward. Darley stated, “In view of the fact that there were ninety like projects to be considered by the National Park Officials and the President of the United States, the P.E.O. Sisterhood of the Valley is proud and happy to have accomplished this lasting benefit to the SLV, Colorado and the entire nation.”

Due in part to the fact that the establishment of the National Monument took place so close to the Depression, there were little to no funds to be allocated to the development of the Great Sand Dunes. In 1938 however, plans for roads to be constructed were announced. Facilities like fire pits, picnic areas, and sanitation stations would also be developed. Construction in the area began in late December, 1938. In 1939, plans for a superintendent's quarters and a headquarters entrance were announced and work would begin in September of 1940.

Beginning in the 1960s, visitation began to soar with the completion of the roadway into the monument. With the help of the ‘Mission 66’ program, facilities were expanded with the construction of the visitors center starting in 1961. By 1964, the roadways were expanded allowing the park to open the Pinyon Flats camping area. In 1966, the amphitheater was added and opened to the public as well. They gave special presentations and programs at the theater and still do today!

From a lively and bustling Downtown to the expansion and protection of the Great Sand Dunes, 1930-1970 began to shape Alamosa into the town that we know and love today. Resourceful architects built long lasting, beautiful structures in a time when there was little money to go around and many people were still trying to recover from the Depression. Nonetheless, the people of Alamosa pushed on and continued to put their mark on history with their unique structures and big ideas for the area. The culture and attitudes shifted in this time frame. Keep in mind that the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War Two all happened in this same stretch of time. The world was changing, recovering, and attempting to return to a healthy economy, and Alamosa was no different.

The efforts shown by the citizens of Alamosa in the thirties and into the fifties was remarkable and their resilience helped to shape the ever changing culture and history of Alamosa. The dedication shown by the women of the P.E.O Sisterhood were not unnoticed and they did not go unrecognized. Without the steadfast intervention of the group, the fate of the National Park would have looked much different being used as a military test sight and its resources being used for building and other construction. Rather, the park stands proudly as a National Park open year-round for the world's enjoyment.

These pivotal years shaped the next phase in Alamosa history, setting the scene for more growth and further expansion of Alamosa and The Great Sand Dunes. Stay tuned for part three of this exciting series as we take you back to the seventies and into the year 2000! Thanks for reading along, we hope you dive deeper and learn more about Alamosa and all of the incredible individuals responsible for shaping it!

Resources:

Visit Alamosa, Historical Downtown Walking tour

The San Luis Valley Historian Volume XXII Number 3, 1990

The San Luis Valley Museum

Photos Courtsey of Neilson Library and The National Parks Service