The fun part of writing this column is the feedback I get from folks out there in “Crescentland”.  I really enjoyed John Woodard’s account of finding the rock with the inscription by A.A Lambe, county surveyor, showing this point to be the Saguache county line, sure enuf, John, my Forest Service map shows this to be the county north boundary line - it meets Chaffee County on the northeast and Gunnison County on the northwest. Some of these days, Sid and I plan to go horseback up there and see if we can find that marker. It would be fun to get some pictures — I wonder what year it was that Mr. Lampe established this marker? (I am guessing it was about 115 years ago).

A. A. Lampe did indeed cut a wide swath in this area many years ago. From the book “The Sunny San Luis Valley”, written by Rev. Wm. Worthington – 1885 and following years:

“Mr. Lampe, landscape gardener, planted many trees in the park where the hanging occurred years before. 

As some of my friends have noticed, my hearing isn’t quite as good as it once was (but then some  of the other systems aren’t either).  Sally says I only hear what I want to - but that isn’t the case!

Recently, enroute to Salida, on a windy day, I heard her say, “The ducks are flying over Moffat.” We were probably about 15 miles from Moffat, so I thought to myself -  “How could this gal possibly know such a thing?”

After a few minutes, I said,  “Would you please repeat what you just said about Moffat?” This time I looked right at her when she repeated, “The dust is flying over Moffat.”

0K, maybe I really should buy some new batteries and start wearing those damn hearing aids again.

Letter from John Woodard —Feb. 23, 1999 

Dear Cecil,

I have been following you in the Saguache Crescent and in the “Remember When,” I find it very interesting. I read the last installment of Feb. 11th, we just got it. I noticed A.A. Lampe mentioned in it as postmaster. A number of years ago I was hunting mountain sheep and was up on top of Mt. Ouray and Chipeta Peak. I saw between the two peaks a large rock that was tipped up on end and carved into it was “A.A. Lampe Saguache County Surveyor” and the words, “Saguache Co. Line”. I also saw his grave in the cemetery in Saguache. I was interested that he was the postmaster also.

I had a dog that was a cocker spaniel. I had him in the Jeep in front of the corner cafe, the doors were off the Jeep. A thunderstorm came up as I was in there, and a lightening bolt struck very near and made a loud boom. Steve (the dog’s name) tore out of the Jeep and went right thru the screen of Bill’s door and landed on my lap.

Nancy Ward ran a cafe in there back in the old days. It was good grub too.

Keep the articles coming - John