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| Landmark #212 | San Juan County | Visited: October 8, 2017 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque outside the San Juan County government building! |
| What makes it historical? | THE PLAQUE SAYS: March 12, 1887, Frederick I. Jones, Parley R. Butt, Charles E. Walton, and George A. Adams came here to start the L.D.S. Blue Mountain Mission. After their families arrived, they camped at Verdure the first summer. In 1888, the families of M. Peterson, W.E. Hyde, William Adams, and J. E. Rogerson came. This square was the activity center with a sports area, bowery, log Relief Society room, and a co-op store. A log house built in 1888 stood 125 feet west and was used for church, school, and recreation.
OTHER TIDBITS: Settling this area wasn’t easy, since most of the surrounding area was already being used by the Kansas and New Mexico Cattle and Land Company, who weren’t too keen on having newcomers settle in the area! That’s why the first settlement party camped in Verdure for the first summer. Then, when their lawyers found out that the company had no real legal claim to the water sources, the settlers started in on the new town of—North Montezuma, then Hammond, then—Monticello, named after Thomas Jefferson’s estate! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| How do I find it? | Listed Directions: Main Street in front of County Courthouse Annotations: From Beaver: ~289mi (466km) — 4.9hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |