In reviewing the Friends upcoming plans the Chama interpretative center is one of the Friends priorities. Now with the recent acquisition of the Dorman photo collection I am wondering if this collection (plus other Friends library functions) shouldn’t be housed in a combination interpretive center/ Friends library in Chama. This would create a year round draw as the library grows for people all over the country to use the facility.
Now I understand that several sites in Chama have been suggested and as most things involving Chama, the Commision and the Friends politics will come into play. Now looking back at photos of the Chama yard I am wondering why a recreation of the warehouse that used to sit between the depot and the still standing "wool" warehouse wouldn’t be the ideal location. I am also wondering when this structure was removed? Was it torn down after the states bought the RR to make more parking spaces? It shows in a Ron Morse photo dated 5/24/66 in Dorman’s "Chama, Cumbres and a Little Chili" book on page 22 (and map on page 11). It would seem like the perfect spot as the Friends guided tours of the yard could originate from here, it restores a historic structure, and while it may not be the most visually appealing from the exterior (corrugated iron siding and roof) it would lend itself to simple economical construction, and then the Friends could put the money saved on the exterior into the interior design for a year round climate controlled, interpretive museum/ library that will be a destination for researchers and the public alike.
Rod Jensen
