I took the time to drive up to Creede and take a look around on Tuesday. I spoke to the Sheriff, the Mayor, to several shop keepers, a real estate agent and a docent at the Creede Museum. With the exception of the Mayor, I found people to be either neutral or mildly opposed but reasonable. The mayor became angry at me because I played devil's advocate and suggested that development, though not always a happy event, is likely inevitable.
Frankly, I came away confused. Creede is a lovely place, partly because of its quiet isolation and natural beauty. On the other hand, I love trains. I live in Santa Fe and have watched tourism both build and destroy my city. So I understand the fear among many that Creede will become a mining Disneyland. On the other hand, one must remember that Nicholas Creede discovered silver there in 1889 and the first railroad came to town in 1892, just a few months after the town was incorporated. In effect, the railroad is as much Creede as are the mines and the town's structures. It must also be remembered that Creede once boasted a population of about 10,000 souls most bent on making a living. The 500 or so who live there now do so, not for the hope of riches, but because they love Creede the way it is.
So, you have my confusion. I saw Creede for the first time on Tuesday, August 22, 2000. I was overwhelmed by the beauty, the sense of history and bythe place's quiet lovliness. I also liked most of the people I met. On the other hand, the railroad, as I saide, is as much a part of Creede as anything man-made in the canyo, and I do love railroads. To me it would be perfect to hear the huff of a steam train entering town,the hollow moan of its whistle echoing off the canyon walls. But, would I like to see it screech to a stop and off-load a mass of people to flood through town munching cotton candy?
I intend to visit your web site Mr. Cutter. You seem to have a true passion for railroad as history and everone in this discussion group seems to think highly of Mr. Don Shank. I do want to know, however, if you intend to develop something like the Cumbres and Toltec or just an economically superior diesel people-hauler with no sense of history attached to it?
I think Creede would best be left alone. But if there is to be a railroad, let it look, sound and smell like the railroad that built Creede, not the final one that witnessed the town's decline.
