The Pagosa Peak Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting this Saturday, May 3.
We will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis St., in the fellowship hall.
Our presenter this month will be Peggy Bergon.
During the latter part of the 19th century and into the early part of the 20th century, thousands of sheep were raised in Colorado. The Hispanic sheepherder, away from loved ones for months at a time, expressed his loneliness and boredom on the vast canvas available to him, the soft white bark of the aspen tree. These carvings are known as arborglyphs, which means literally “tree-writing.” Visions of home, hearth and missed loved ones adorn thousands of trees throughout the forest.
Bergon is a Pagosa Springs resident who began photographing and researching this unique piece of Colorado and forest history and now has a collection of more than 4,000 photographs.
The genealogical society meets on the first Saturday of each month. It hosts guest speakers on a wide range of topics relating to genealogy and history, including the rich history of our local area. We are a member of the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies, where we have access to professional speakers from across the state. Our society has also partnered with the Town of Pagosa Springs in its ongoing efforts to research and improve our local cemeteries.
Visitors are encouraged to attend our meetings, so please join us as we hear from Bergon about this fascinating part of our local history.
For more information, please contact Carolyn Paschal at carolynpaschal@gmail.com.
