150th Anniversary of R & R Market In San Luis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3) sent the following letter for Saturday’s celebration of the 150th Anniversary for the R & R Market, the oldest business in Colorado, located in the oldest town in Colorado—San Luis.

June 30, 2007

Re: 150th Anniversary of R & R Market

Dear members of the Romero and Gallegos families, neighbors and friends:

It is an honor to be invited to participate in today’s celebration of the 150th Anniversary of R & R Market in San Luis. I am truly proud to have been born and raised in the San Luis Valley, and to know the rich culture and history of San Luis first-hand.

It is hard to believe that the R & R Market has been in continuous operation since 1857, when Don Jose Dario Gallegos first began hauling his goods by mule over the Sangre de Cristo range and down to the Culebra river valley and the young town of San Luis. The market has presided over a century and a half of wet and dry years on the land and has watched generations of sons and daughters grow up, raise their own families, and sometimes even leave for war with hopes of their safe return. My family was one of the early settlers of the neighboring community of Los Rincones, on the San Antonio River, a few miles west of San Luis. The story of the R & R market is the story of every family that has struggled and proudly remained committed to the land and communities of the San Luis Valley.

Thank you to those who helped make these festivities possible, including Emerita Romero-Anderson, Lennell Gallegos, Father Pat Valdez, staff of the Colorado Historical Society and Fort Garland, supporters of the San Luis Cultural Preservation Fund, the Costilla County Economic Development Council, Centennial School and the Town of San Luis. Congratulations again to R & R Market, the oldest business in Colorado!

Sincerely,