The original cemetery in Pagosa Springs served Fort Lewis from October 15, 1878, until January of 1881 when Fort Lewis (Camp Lewis) was moved to Rio de la Plata, Colorado near Durango. The last burial occurred around 1902.

Using funds from the History of Colorado, State Historical Fund Grant and the town of Pagosa Springs, members of the Archuleta County Genealogical Society, the Sarah Platt Decker Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and others, explored the history of the town’s first platted cemetery on March 16-18. The project was headed by Dr. Ruth Lambert to investigate, research and document the Pagosa Springs Cemetery.

Dr. Ruth Lambert is the Cultural Program Director for the SJMA, a non-profit that works with volunteers to conduct stewardship programs and projects on public and other lands. As an anthropologist, her interests are in archeology, history, and the diversity of culture here in the Southwest. Among Ruth’s many passions is the history and the documentation of the small rural cemeteries. This was her 21st cemetery project here in Pagosa Springs.

Throughout her career she has recruited and trained many volunteers, creating many “novice preservationists.” Dr. Lambert believes it is very critical to capture the story and information of our history before that history disappears or becomes illegible.

The first day of the project was spent mowing weeds and raking. On Tuesday volunteers used a variety of non-invasive instruments, scanning the cemetery to accurately survey the ground. Shayleen Ottman, a ground-penetrating radar specialist, worked to record data to assist in locating potential grave sites, and Mona Charles operated an electro-magnetometer which picks up metal anomalies. At the same time, volunteers worked at meticulously documenting the gravestones and identified grave sites with the goal of reaching a better understanding of the historical significance of this old cemetery.