Six sheet-metal figures symbolically representing travelers on the Old Spanish Trail were installed on the outskirts of Green River on July 16. This project, designed to raise public awareness of the importance of the Green River crossing in the history of the OST and of transcontinental travel in general, was sponsored by the Emery County Historic Preservation Commission with the support of Green River City and the San Rafael chapter of the Old Spanish Trail Association.
The silhouettes were created by Eldon Holmes, a well known artist from Cleveland. The project itself was initiated by Bernice Payne, who has worked for some years to more clearly mark the route of the OST through this area. Mrs. Payne secured a grant from the Old Spanish Trail Association to partially fund the artwork. These silhouettes were originally installed near the Buckhorn Well Visitor Center. Unfortunately, however, they were seriously damaged by vandals a short time after they were put in place. After Mr. Holmes repaired the figures, it was decided that it would be better to put them in a less remote location with a higher traffic flow and more readily available law enforcement. They now stand in a highly visible setting on top of a ridge near the east Green River exit from I-70. Eldon Holmes is currently working on a new set of silhouettes, more heavily reinforced, for the Buckhorn Well site.
A large group turned out to assist with the installation. Among those present, in addition to Mr. Holmes and Ms. Payne, were Vicki Holmes, Kody Holmes, Dylan Williams, and Tyler Williams, from Cleveland; Green River City Councilwoman Kathy Ryan and four representatives from the Green River Epicenter, Orion Stand-Gravois, Armando Rios, Steph Crabtree, and Bryan Brooks; plus a group of students and leaders from the Colorado Outward Bound School who were in Green River for a river excursion.
Old Spanish Trail silhouettes installed at Green River
"Silhouettes of the caravan headed towards Green River Crossing."