The Hott Fund Memorial is reaching out to the community to help preserve four historic buildings located at the fairgrounds in Pagosa Springs.
These buildings represent key pieces of Archuleta County’s history, and we are eager to gather any memories, stories or photographs from those who may have connections to them.
If you have recollections, artifacts, or photographs — especially from when the buildings were in use — we would love to hear from you. Our goal is to collect this information to help replicate and preserve the buildings for future community enjoyment.
To engage with the community and collect valuable input, we are hosting three informal, drop-in meetings.
There is no formal presentation—just an opportunity to chat with us (Kelli Ford and JR Ford) about the project.
The meetings will take place in the 4-H Exhibit Hall, near the Hughes Pavilion at the fairgrounds, on the following Saturdays:
• Feb. 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Feb. 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Feb. 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The following buildings are part of this preservation project:
1. The old Blanco Basin schoolhouse: Built before 1936, this schoolhouse served as Ruby M. Sisson’s classroom from 1936 to 1948. In 1988, it was moved to the Fred Harman Art Museum.
2. The old Smith cabin: Built in 1880 by George and Serena Smith, this cabin is one of the oldest structures in Archuleta County. It was originally located in “Hell’s Hip Pocket” 7 miles west of town along an old wagon road from Pagosa to Durango.
3. The original Harman homestead cabin: Circa 1891, this cabin originated from the Harman family’s original homestead, located about 5 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, now the San Juan River Village.
4. Fort Lewis officer’s cabins: Originally located on main street in Pagosa Springs as part of a military outpost in 1878, one of these four cabins was later moved to the Macht (later Hott) Ranch on Four Mile Road. It seems that several of our local families lived in the cabins in the late 1800s. We would appreciate information regarding any of the cabins.
Please note that our team works on this project one day a week, so we appreciate your patience in receiving responses. If you have any information or would like to contribute, please reach out to us via email at hottfund@gmail.com or by phone at (970) 903-1570.
About the Hott Fund
Memorial
RD Hott, a longtime local and the son of Fern Macht Hott and Dailey Hott, was passionate about preserving the western heritage of Archuleta County. After his passing, the Hott Fund was established to honor his legacy.
The fund supports efforts to preserve the area’s history and culture, while also providing opportunities for youth and the community to engage with and learn about western heritage.
