In the late 1800s, people from around the world flocked to southern Colorado, lured by the prospect of jobs in the coal mines. Many of them settled in Walsenburg, about 50 miles south of Pueblo. Along with gouging hundreds of miles of mining tunnels, they built shops, saloons, schools and brothels. The new book “Walsenburg: A Crossroads Town” looks at the city’s history and some of its characters, from a corrupt sheriff to labor activist Mother Jones. The book’s author, Dorothy Rose Ree, died before it was published. Ryan Warner speaks with Huerfano County Historical Society president Carolyn Newman, who finished and edited the book.
[Photos: Courtesy of Huerfano County Historical Society]
