And the West is History: Bayfield Fourth of July Parade float – ca. 1911

The Bayfield school, seen in the background, became known through the years as the “Old Yellow School.” Construction started in fall 1906, but was not finished until 1907 at a cost of $5,000. It was located off East South Street near downtown. It caught fire twice. The second fire in 1959 led to its demolition and the construction of a new school on the site next to the high school. Around the time this photo was taken, Bayfield’s first doctor, E.W. Newland, was the proprietor of the drugstore advertised. He had an interesting career as Bayfield’s town doctor for over 40 years. He was also very involved in local politics and was key in securing federal funds for the Pine River Dam (later called Vallecito) in the 1930s. He also served as a state representative from La Plata County. He had tragedy in his life as his first three wives all died at relatively younger ages. Living in California in 1947, he was beset with dementia and held for shooting his fourth wife in the neck. He was ruled “insane” and soon died in the jail hospital at the age of 77. For more images of Bayfield and the Pine River Valley, look for Laddie John’s “Images of America” book. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Courtesy of Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College)