The fun part of this weekly column is the feedback I get from “Crescent” readers! I am getting 
a bang out of George E. Burch stories - hope we hear more from lots of you other “kids”.

Everett Lee Ward. who grew up here and Newell Van Pelt (present owner of the old Creamery Bldg.) have inquired about more history pertaining to the creamery down through the years.  Any info you folks may have to pass along will be appreciated.

Several weeks ago, I had a phone call from Louisa Jordan and her son Ed, who live in Loveland. Louisa was a girl living here when Dr. Callihan’s office was located across the Main Street from the Saguache Hotel. She remembers when the Doctor was shot and killed in 1917. (I have a news paper article concerning this incident which I will run some of these days.

Recently, I went looking for and was thrilled to find several pieces of Martin Kjorom’s “picture rocks” which he wrote about in a “Crescent” article in 1934. Lerten Kent has interesting things to say about this gentleman -Thanks Lerten for your great letter! - (which will be in the Crescent).

In a letter to Ruth Jones Herndon in Denver, I asked for any history that she might have of her father’s family. She sent some great clippings and pictures of her Grandfather’s (P. M. Jones) Merc way back in the early days of Saguache. P. M. Jones and his brother Capt. Robert H. Jones, were both members of “Downer’s Guard” Robert H. Jones is listed as the first Mayor of Saguache. I hope to do a story on this pioneer, family soon.

Alamosa historian, Fran Huffman has done much research on the life of. Major James. P. Downer, who in 1878 created a defense force of 57 volunteers, known as “Downer’s Guard”. The Guard. was formed to provide protection from renegade Indian raids at about the time of the White River “Meeker Massacre”.

Thanks to Huffman’s search of military records, Veteran’s Service Officer, Sam Halburian was able to procure a Government headstone of Major Downer’s grave in Hillside Cemetery. Early day cemetery records do not show the location of the grave of Downer who was buried in 1893.

On the traditional Memorial Day, May 30, 1996 Garcia Post 110 American Legion will have a dedication ceremony, thereby placing this tombstone at one of the many unmarked graves in the old section of the cemetery.

This gesture will show respect to Maj. Downer’s memory as we designate this gravesite as his final resting place.

So after, 103 years, this brave soldier’s memory will have a marker, showing his service in the Civil War, Mexican War and Indian Wars.

Several local families are descendents of men who served in “Downer’s Guard’, so many years ago. These families are especially invited to attend this dedication ceremony. More information will be published soon.