ALAMOSA — About 40 people gathered on the morning of Aug. 4 at Historic Zapata Park in Alamosa for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the three new interpretive signs that have been installed.
The signs tell the history of the Maestas Case of 1912-1914 which ended Mexican-American school segregation in the region.
Katie Dokson with the Maestas Case Commemoration Committee, said, "This is really exciting to have this as a location that our community can come to and learn about and celebrate the history of our area."
In that case at the time, District Judge Charles Holbrook ruled in favor, stating, "In the opinion of the court...the only way to destroy this feeling of discontent and bitterness which has recently grown up, is to allow all children so prepared to attend the school nearest them."
The old school that was at the center of the case is long gone, replaced with recreational facilities, and now, new interpretive signs commemorating the history of a landmark case. On hand for the ribbon cutting was Alamosa resident Betty Ulibarri who said her mother, Alice Sandoval attended the school.
Ulibarri told the Valley Courier the ribbon cutting and the signs, are, "Very nice, very nice."
The signs are a collaborative effort of the City of Alamosa, the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, and the Maestas Commemoration Committee.
Members of the Maestas Case Commemoration Committee include Colorado 12th District Court Judge Martín Gonzales, Dr. Gonzalo Guzmán, Dr. Rubén Donato, Dr. Jarrod Hanson, Dr. Ronald W. Maestas, Dr. Antonio Esquibel, Judge Jason Kelly, Atty. Ronnie Mondragon Jr., Tony Sandoval, and Dokson
To learn more about the committee, visit www.Maestascase.com.
