National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Colorado Society Daughters of the American Revolution
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Membership is open to any woman age 18 and older who can prove a direct family tree connection to a person who aided in the American Revolution. As our chapter's location is in an area which was previously Spanish Territory, we would like to highlight that contributions from Spain and her subjects in the Spanish Territory were made to the American Revolution's cause.
The mission of the NSDAR is to promote patriotism, historic preservation and education.
Alamosa Chapter
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Alamosa, Colorado
The Chapter was organized January 31, 1927 by a group of interested women with Mrs. Herbert Allen Black, State Regent of the Society, as organizer. The Chapter received its charter March 10, 1927. On this charter were inscribed the names of the fourteen charter members: Jane Elizabeth Briggs Montgomery, Dorothy Fisher Cummings, Jessie Harrison Davis, Olive Skeel Foley, Genevieve Vanderhoof Linger, Nada D. Magee, Caroline Ada Stoddard Myers, Florence M. Ross, Ann Hamilton Shull, Vena Robinson Soule. Charter members elected as officers were: Caroline Davis Platt, regent; Mildred Lyman Day, recording secretary and corresponding secretary; Genevieve Morris Bennett, treasurer; Janet Brown Lantis, historian. The name of the Alamosa Chapter is taken from the Spanish meaning "grove of the cotton woods." The streets of this 1878 town were lined with immense cottonwood trees which grew along the ditches on both sides of the streets. Both ditches and trees have long been gone, and the streets are paved.
On January 5, 1806, Zebulon Pike reached his previous camp at the site of Canon City. As the horses were unable to travel and the supplies were meager, Pike decided to build here a blockhouse for deposit. Leaving two men in charge he set out with the remainder to the south seeking the Red River. After encountering great hardships they crossed the Sangre de Cristo Range and beheld "the broad San Luis Valley with the shining thread of the Rio Grande winding across its level floor." Toward this stream they turned and passing near the sit of Alamosa, reached the Conejos River and encamped five miles above the mouth. Here they built a fort which became known as Pike's Stockade. This stockade, occupied by Pike and his men from February 1 to February 26, 1807, was within Spanish territory. The Spanish had 100 troops take Pike and his men into custody and conducted them to Santa Fe, and later Chihuahua, Mexico.
This fort was the first American structure built in the San Luis Valley. Monte Vista and Alamosa Chapters took part in the erection of a monument at the exact site and a flag pole was erected. One of the local projects of Alamosa Chapter is to work for the appropriation of funds to keep the Fort open and protected.
Other local projects of note include:
- Memorial trees in honor of George and Martha Washington were given with appropriate ceremonies to Adams State College.
- Relics have been placed in both Fort Garland Museum and Adams State Museum.
- Contributions have been donated to keep the Pike Stockade open and protected.
- Support of local students has occurred through scholarships and awards.
- Flags have been given to many organizations.
- Several old and rare books have been placed on the college library shelves.
- Our chapter placed the beautiful silk flag and several history books in the Public Library in town.
