Barela, Trinchera, Trinchera Plaza, Watervale

**RR-Guy** · 06-01-2009, 08:51 PM

Abeyta, Barela, Branson, Indianapolis, Nola, Trinchera, Trinchera Plaza, and Watervale

This topic was created to provide links to Trinidad flood images. It is linked to, by the "History of Las Animas County" topic.

If you have additional history, Website links, or images to add you are invited to reply. Otherwise please DO NOT reply. Just enjoy the photos. Thank you.

*****************************************

(Below) I=Indianapolis, N=Nola, TP=Trinchera Plaza, W=Watervale

One will find that there is very little written about this eastern area of Las Animas County. It was because of this reason that those townsites would be discussed as a group. Readers will note that most of the towns that existed the longest were, of course, those built adjacent to the railroad. Indianapolis, and Trinchera Plaza are prime examples of townsites that did not last very long due to their not being located on the railroad.

This eastern rural area of Las Animas County is, for the most part isolated, and mostly un-populated.

Those townsites addressed in Las Animas County Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, by F. Dean Sneed are, Barela, Indianapolis, Trinchera, and Watervale.- RR-Guy

Information on Abeyta

Information on Barela

Barela is/was located approximately 20 miles southeast of Trinidad, Colorado.

All remaining structures at Barela are currently privately owned.

Information on Branson

Branson is located approximately 35 miles southeast of Trinidad, Colorado, by unpaved county road, in the Great Plains. It is a ranching community today. Farming in the area was severely impacted by the dust bowl. Branson is much smaller than it once was in more optimistic days and features some picturesque abandoned buildings.

Link for Branson

The below link shows Branson's Pleasant Valley School which was built by the WPA.
http://coloradohistory-oahp.org/prog...503/cty/la.htm

The town was first known as Wilson, or Wilson Switch; then as Coloflats, Colorado.

Information on Indianapolis

Indianapolis PO 1887-1889, Las Animas Co.
There is no trace of Indianapolis today.

Information on Nola (a.k.a. Adair, & Laub)

Adair, 1916, (also see Nola or Laub), former railroad station on
Union Pacific Denver & Gulf Railroad (U.P.D. & G. RR),
altitude 5,750 feet, in the SW 1/4 sec. 15, T. 34 S., R. 60 W.
Adair - RR Stop 1895-1899 map, Las Animas Co.

Laub, 1916, P.O., SW 1/4 sec. 15, T. 34 S., T. 60 W. (C. & S. R.R. station)
Laub - PO 1916-1923, Las Animas Co.

Nola, SW 1/4 sec. 15, T. 34 S., R. 60 W. (C. & S. R.R. station)

Information on Trinchera (Trinchere)

Trinchera, 1889, P.O., NE 1/4 sec. 31, T. 34 S., R. 59 W. The Spanish word Trinchera refers to trenches or
ditches where settlers could protect themselves from Indians

Information on Trinchera Plaza

San Jose, 1873, P.O., now Trinchera Plaza, 2 miles southwest of Trinchera near Rito Azul Creek in SE 1/4
sec. 2, T. 35 S., R. 60 W. (later called Grinnell P.O., 1878, and Brazil P.O., 1895)

Grinnell and in 1895 as Brazil P.O., SW 1/4 sec. 6, T. 35 S., R. 59 W.

Trinchera Plaza, now in SE 1/4 sec. 2, T. 35 S., R. 60 W., formerly San Jose P.O., 1873, Grinnell P.O.,
1878, Brazil P.O., 1895, on Rito Azul Creek, 2 miles southwest of Trinchera

Information on Watervale

Watervale - PO 1888-1921, Las Animas Co.

Watervale was not much more than a watering stop for locomotives on their way east.

There is no trace of Watervale today.

*********************************************

Railroad History for Barela, Abeyta, Nola, Trinchera, Watervale, and Branson

1888 - Denver Texas & Fort Worth Railroad constructed the rail line between Trinidad, and Branson, and on to New Mexico, Texas and points East.

1890 - Union Pacific Denver & Gulf Railroad purchased Denver Texas & Fort Worth Railroad trackage from Trinidad to Branson.

1899 - The tracks between Trinidad and Branson were purchased by the Colorado and Southern Railroad.

In 1908 the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad bought control of the Colorado and Southern Railroad, and it would later merge into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.

Colorado & Southern Passenger/Freight Depot - Trinchera 1977 Norm Medcalf Photo -

*********************************************

References:
(1.) Las Animas County Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, by F. Dean Sneed, 101 pages.
(2.) The Colorado Road, by F. Hol Wagner Jr., 1970
(3.) Colorado Railroads; Chronological Development, by Tivis "Tiv" Wilkins, 1974.
(4.) Internet resources.

**RR-Guy** · 06-01-2009, 09:04 PM

The below was originally posted in the HISTORY OF LAS ANIMAS COUNTY topic on 10/28/2008.

quote:Originally posted by cabuns1

Have you come across any photos of the town of Trinchera or Trinchera Plaza, was originally called Brazil, 35 miles East of Trinidad? I have been researching that town and its people for several years and have aquired a lot of info. but no pictures. Not even pictures of the people or school pictures of students. My husbands family is orig. from there, up from Folsom, so we've been doing a lot of research. We've obtained a few family photos and even took a trip out there in 2004, to take pictures for our album, but would really like to see something of the old days. We understand the town had a population of 450 to 500 in the late 1800's until 1905. They had the railroad depot, a bar, some general stores, restaurant and hotel. I can't believe someone didn't take some pictures.

Thank you, Char of Pueblo

Hi Char,

I only have the above photo of the train depot.

You are correct there aren't very many photos avaiable.

The Denver Library's online photos website does not provide any photos either.

There are two photos in F. Dean Sneed's book, Las Animas County Ghost Towns and Mining Camps
One photo is of the backside of the depot, and the other is of an old store front.

The Carnegie Library in Trinidad might have some photos.

Your best bet might be the Trinchera Museum. You might give them a call, and ask what they have in the way of photos.

Trinchera Museum
Trinchera, CO
719-846-2598
Open by appointment.

I hope this helps. :)