The "beautification" of Aguilar's Main St. was completed in 2007 and we were rewarded with a "turn of the century" new look for the town. The citizens of Aguilar and those who drive through from the canyons west of town, are enjoying the new benches, trees and the much needed new sidewalks.

One of our goals this Spring is to provide an "information brochure" of historic locations and other sites in the area for tourists and the new landowners in the area. The drive through Aguilar's Main Street and west on Gulnare Road CR43.7 and on to Cordova Pass was designated as part of the Highway of Legends in the Colorado State and Historic Byway program in 2002, but we feel that the beautiful Apishapa Valley drive and the Town of Aguilar has not been given it's fair share of attention. Look for our "information tourist brochure" soon at the Trinidad Welcome Center or Aguilar's City Hall.

Congratulations Ellen Larson on her election as the first woman Mayor of the Town of Aguilar! Ellen has been a Town Trustee for two years now and brings knowledge and an enthusiasm to the town's future. We are looking forward to working with the Town of Aguilar to develop a plan to save our heritage and still gain exposure for our town and the beautiful canyons to the west of Aguilar.

The cultural resource survey project for the Town of Aguilar, funded by the State Historical Society SHF, is close to completion. This survey will identify the architectural and heritage resources that relate to the growth of the town. The ten local properties selected for a cultural survey have been documented and the final report will be available for the public to view at the Aguilar Town Library.

The Aguilar Preservation Advisory Board held a meeting on March 26th and approval was given to add the Aguilar Gymnasium to the List of Historic Properties of the Town of Aguilar. The Town Trustees approved it at their meeting on March 27th. The Aguilar Town Hall and the gymnasium were both built by the WPA workers in the late 1930's and our the first locations to be listed. Click on Stories at our website for other WPA projects in the area.

Museum - heritage center coming!!

The historical society members will be busy working on a small museum/heritage center on Aguilar's Main Street in the coming months. Watch for our "grand opening" before summer! The museum will focus on local history with an emphasis on the Apishapa Valley and the Town of Aguilar. Admission will be free but donations will be accepted. The museum will not have a formal research area but will answer research requests whenever possible. A general history file, and a photographic file will be maintained for public view. A collection of old bottles found in the area, and archeological items (such as metates, manos, hammerstones )found in the area will be displayed. There will also be old newspaper articles with local news, ledgers from businesses from as early as 1908, old magazines, old school memorabilia, and much more. If you have anything you think would be of interest for our museum please contact us at this website.

Our mailing address is:
AVHS
PO Box 459
Aguilar CO 81020

or call 719-941-4678 for more information.

We have already started working on our 2009 historic calendar which will feature "pioneer families" in the area. If you have or know someone who might have a unique photo of a pioneer family of the Apishapa Valley area, we would like to see them. Contact us through our website. We will continue to talk to and encourage our senior citizens to tell their family stories so that these fascinating stories may be documented and recorded.

This calendar is one way to document these families for their contributions to our local history.

Our 2008 historic calendar has been a big success and features twelve historic mining photos taken in the area. There is still a limited quantity left of this calendar for $12.00 including postage. We think that this one is our best yet as it has been very popular. To date our first historical calendar in 2005 contained twelve photos of historic buildings in the area including the First State Bank of Aguilar when it was open, the Baudino Livery Stable, and the Aguilar Hospital and Clinic. Our 2006 calendar featured school buildings and classes in the Apishapa Valley area , including the Aguilar Elementary and High School demolished in 2005. Our 2007 calendar featured "Things to do While Growing up in the Apishapa Valley" with photos such as one of the many "filling stations" which we all remember as the best place to "hang out" to learn the latest news and get a cold soda.

We would like to thank those of you who have supported our organization in the past and look forward to meeting new supporters at our fundraisers for the year. Watch our calendar for upcoming events. This year the highly anticipated Aguilar Days Weekend has been shortened to one day (July 19th) and renamed "Aguilar Fest". Watch for our new location on Main Street near the popular Verderaime's Bakery, one of the oldest family owned businesses on Aguilar's Main Street.

Please contact us at: avhs@aguilarhistory.com
AVHS, PO Box 459, Aguilar, CO 81020
719-941-4678.

Pat Romero, President
Louise Clapp, Secretary
June Valentine, Vice President
Betty Rickel, Treasurer