LAS ANIMAS FUNDRAISER
to renovate downtown building to house the local museum.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS, PAST AND PRESENT, TO HONOR A LOVED ONE, THEIR SELF, THEIR FAMILY OR ANYONE WHOM THEY ADMIRE, TO BE PART OF PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF LAS ANIMAS AND BENT COUNTY, AND TO HELP THEIR HOMETOWN OF LAS ANIMAS TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF ITS BUSINESS DISTRICT.

The Pioneer Historical Society of Bent County, the Bent County Development Foundation, along with numerous private individuals living here, have been working toward housing our present museum in the "old" Odd Fellows Building at the corner of Sixth Street and Bent Avenue in Las Animas.

You may remember this two story sandstone building as the former location of Samuelson's Jewelry Store, The Candy Shop, both Ron Lingle's and Andy Silva's barber shops. Years ago the post office, the Bent County Bank and many other business establishments were also housed there.

Total cost of renovation of the building and moving the exhibits which are located in the present museum building south and across the railroad from the Courthouse is projected to be in the neighborhood of $1,400,000.00.

As of today, more than one/fourth of this amount has been donated and/or pledged to pay for this undertaking.

One of the money raising projects to accomplish this improvement is selling bricks with the names of the persons, families or businesses to be memorialized engraved on them. These bricks will pave the sidewalk in front of the new museum. What a fine way to remember someone and participate in a worthy cause at the same time. Cost of each brick is $100.00. Purchase of one of these bricks would make a good Christmas present.

You may have more than one name on each brick. The size of the brick and the font used will limit the number of names. If you have any doubt as to whether the names of your loved ones will fit, you might want to write the address below and ask their advice.

TO ORDER A BRICK. Send name you wish to have on the brick, along with a check payable to The Pioneer Historical Society of Bent County, and mail to:

Museum Project
c/o Bent County Development Foundation
332 Amb. Thompson Blvd.
Las Animas, CO 81054

Check out this article from The Pueblo Chieftain regarding the museum project.

Reproduced from the Pueblo Chieftain newspaper, issue dated December 14, 2003

By ANTHONY A. MESTAS
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN (issue dated December 14, 2003)


    LAS ANIMAS-- The transformation of a 105-year-
old building into a museum will enter its second phase with the help of a $200,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
   The construction project, spearheaded by the Pioneer Historical Society and the Bent County De-
velopment Foundation, will restore the Oddfellows lodge building on Main Street [Bent Avenue and 6th Street] for eventual use as the John W. Rawlings Museum.
   Rawlings was a longtime banker at First National Bank of Las Animas and civic leader in the community until his death in 1959. He became president of First National Bank in 1941 and was chairman of the board at the time of his death.
   Kathryn Finau, foundation executive director, said CDOT approved $200,000 from the project from federal funds set aside for improvements along highways, State historical preservation funds may also be used to make the project a reality.
   Phase 2 will cost $289,500 according to Finau.
   The groundwork to establish the new museum began in 1997, when the decision was made to preserve the Oddfellows building.
   Through grants from the State Historical Fund, the county's development foundation purchased the building in 1999 and developed a partnership with the Pioneer Historical Society.
   A master plan for restoration was developed, divid-
ing the renovation into six phases at an overall cost of $1.5 million.
   Finau expects the museum to be completed by 2008.
   Phase I, which began in November 2002, also with
funds from CDOT and the State Historical Fund, in-
cluded the installation of new windows on the second floor of the building as well as two new store-
fronts. That part cost $197,000, which was largely

underwritten by Rawlings' son, Robert H. Rawlings, publisher of The Pueblo Chieftain, who contributed $150,000 in memory of his father.
   Finau said that Phase 2 will complete work on the front of the building. "All the storefronts will be restored and the construction will proceed to the interior of the first floor," she said.
   Finau said that phase also will cover electrical, plumbing and heating work.
   The project also received another $12,000 federal grant for an art gallery on the far south end of the building. Finau said the gallery will showcase the work of local and regional artists.
   Ensuing phases will include restoration of all windows, all interior and masonry work. Floors throughout the building will be replaced.
   Funau said the museum will display Bent County historical memorabilia, including the Santa Fe Trail's role in the area, and interpretive displays of prehistoric artifacts found in Southeastern Colorado.
   Most of the displays that will be featured at the new museum are currently displayed at the Kit Carson Museum on the south side of town. Finau said the new museum's collection will include a bank counter from the early 1900s.
   Anyone interested in helping with the building restor-
ation efforts can contact Finau at (719) 456-0452. Finau said cash donations as well as important artifacts from the region will be appreciated.