The San Juan County Board of Commissioners agreed last week to apply for a $25,000 grant from the State Historical Fund for a site assessment for the historic Animas Forks ghost town.
It’s the first step in getting even more money to help stabilize some of the decaying structures there.
The San Juan County Historical Society is hoping the Town of Silverton will be able to secure an additional $25,000 Preserve America grant for the assessment and to develop a preservation plan
Most of the ghost town is owned by San Juan County.
Historical Society President Bev Rich said substantial stabilization work was done in 1999 and 2000 on seven structures.
“But that area gets so much use, already what we’ve done is getting beat up,” Rich said.
Archeologist Julie Singer told the county commissioners last week that the preservation plan would include everything from the old jail to the Duncan house.
And Rich said there would be no cost to the county.
County commissioners said they were all for the plan.
“The intent of San Juan County is to preserve to the best of our ability Animas Forks,” said County Board Chairman Ernie Kuhlman.