Brief by Central Staff
Anza Day – November 2000 – Colorado Central Magazine
We should have done this earlier, but better late than never — we want to thank those who helped make possible this year’s Anza Day, on Aug. 26 in Poncha Springs with speaker Celinda Reynolds Kaelin of Florrisant.
So, our gratitude goes to Mayor Mark Thonhoff and the Town of Poncha Springs, Kirby Perschbacher & Associates, High Country Bank, Catspaw Software, Poncha Lumber, and ICE Computing, all of whom contributed to help cover expenses.
Also, the Salida Chamber of Commerce lent a lectern, Papa J offered the loan of a PA, Ernie Hatfield lent one, and several dozen people brought food for a pleasant potluck in the park before the talk in the town hall.
Anza Day honors the Aug. 27, 1779, visit of Juan Bautista de Anza, the governor of the Spanish province of New Mexico in command of an army of 800 men. En route from Santa Fé to do battle with the Comanche on the plains, they camped at Poncha Springs and provided the first written account of this part of the world.