Trinidad & Las Animas County

Margaret talks about growing up in Valdez, a small community near the Frederick Mine, and about her grandfather, father, and husband, who were all miners. 7.6 mins.  

Frank, who grew up outside of Tercio on the western edge of the Purgatory River Valley, discusses his life in a mining community. 4.2 mins.  

Jerry talks about the camaraderie found in a coal mining crew and how important it was in the life of a miner. 6.5 mins.  

Beatriz shares her story as the daughter of a coal miner. Growing up in the Purgatory River Valley west of Trinidad, she relates what day-to-day life was like in the small mining communities there, and how her father worked in the coal mines and as a cowpuncher 7.3min.  

Sue tells the story of what life was like as one of the few women miners working underground alongside the men. 10.2 mins.

Robert, who was a miner at the Allen Mine west of Trinidad, discusses what life was like growing up in a mining town in the mid-20th century. 7.5 mins.

Robert discusses life in the mining town of Sopris, which now rests below the waters of Trinidad Reservoir, and the roles that the mining company played in the day-to-day lives of the people who lived there. 6.1 mins.