An 1880s view of Chama

Photo courtesy John M. Motter
Stage coach travelers could sleep and eat at Ma Cade’s San Juan Hotel during the 1880s. Other hotels and eating establishments were available as well. I’m not sure if modern travelers would consider them comfortable, and the existence nearby of several bars and their usual rowdiness probably didn’t make for restful sleep.[/caption]

We have been repeating an 1880 first-person description of a wagon ride from Animas City through Pagosa Springs and on to Chama. With today’s column, we conclude the description with an eye-witness 1880 view of Chama.

“We reached Chama at 6 p.m. and here the great crowd of railroad people monopolizes the accommodation which there is for man and stock and it is difficult to get an accommodation. The writer accidentally fell in with Mr. Mason, an old timer in the San Juan country and through the kindness characteristic of those who were early at the door of the now celebrated San Juan, he furnished us a good bed, and at his brother-in-laws, Mr. W. Cowleys, we obtained supper and breakfast.

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