Dr. Robert Blair was a founder of Mountain Studies Institute, the  nonprofit research and education center incorporated in 2002 in Silverton that now has offices in both Silverton and Durango.  Rob was known for his limitless energy, infectious enthusiasm for new ideas, and drive to make dreams into reality. This award honors Blair’s unsurmountable vision and dedication to establishing a “classroom without walls” that has become Mountain Studies Institute.  

Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) has honored Beverly Rich with the 2021 Robert Blair Mountain Visionary Award in recognition of her inspirational leadership in historic preservation, active interest in conservation as well as her dedication to the town of Silverton and San Juan County. As our board president, Rob Milosky puts it, “Beverly is deserving of the Award for many reasons, most worthy of mentioning is her indelible mark on Silverton, San Juan County, and the Alpine Loop where she has been an ardent defender of historic resources and a creative champion for progress all at the same time. When you look at the Mayflower Mill, Animas Forks, Sound Democrat Mill, jail house, Silverton Town Hall, or the Old 100 Boarding House, you have Beverly to thank. Additionally, she has also served on MSI’s board as a founding board member in 2002 and again served recently ending in 2020.”

To many, Bev is an “icon.” In a recent conversation with Bev, we had the opportunity to talk about MSI, conservation and the history of the San Juans.

What does being a “Mountain Hero” mean to you?

I have devoted my life to the town of Silverton and San Juan County. I recognize that we are at the top of the food chain. Whatever comes on us, trickles down below. It is such important work that we do. And to be recognized as a Mountain Hero is so gratifying…it is so wonderful.

What makes the San Juans special to you?

For one thing, within a circle to 30-35 miles we have most of the headwaters to most of the water in the West…That is really unique as a mountain system. Literally, everything flows downstream from here. Our mountain health is critical to the rest of the county. I was talking to people about Lake Mead and how it was so low, not using it to produce electricity. What happens up here, directly effects the lives downstream from us. That is why we have to keep [working to be sustainable].

Another thing that is interesting about the work at MSI and the San Juans is the mine clean up and questions around reclamation. How do you do it sensitively, so you don’t bull doze history? How do you balance improvements to water quality with people visiting heritage sites and bring their money to spend while they are here. MSI is poised to help with that problem. What do you do with mine wastes and water? How do you clean it up sensitively and not destroy the history?

Tell us why you are so passionate about mining and preserving San Juan County’s heritage.

If you wear a watch or carry a phone, that was mined. Mining isn’t a bad thing – it opened up the West. The San Juan County Historical Society owns the Mayflower Mill, working from, practice chemical separation of metals. Back in the early years the first miners would take the tailings, the “waste” and would dump it in the river and let it wash downstream to Durango. Finally, the farmers said “quit polluting our farm land.” Miners then pioneered a tailings pond, to settle out the toxic wastes and improve the water. The tailings pond at Mayflower Mill is now a national historic landmark. We were the very first place to do this.

Lots of technology was developed here in San Juan County and the San Juans. The mechanization of mining and transportation – we were the Silicon Valley of our time. Putting the railroad up from Durango to Silverton -they built the railroad in a year. Red Mountain Pass is a marvel of engineering. It is just amazing the strides we made in those days to go after the all mighty dollar.

What does conservation mean to you?

We are nation of people who throw away things. Things are so cheap, that you can’t even give clothing away to thrift stores because it is so cheap. The more we practice conservation, the better it is around the world. Particularly things like water. The Historical Society has a hydro plant up at the Mayflower Mill on one of our historic water flumes.

I’ve become a hydro nerd. You used to have to fill out a 152-page license to run a hydro plant. We helped to change the law on a national level— we were the poster child to getting a lot changed for small hydros as prior to our efforts we had to fill out the same things applying such as big projects, like Boulder Dam. We are a poster child on how a small community can make change for bigger issues statewide. We got exempted as a small hydro and having to jump through all those hoops. Why aren’t all water plants that pipe water producing electricity? All you need is running water, and water running down a hill. It is carbon-neutral energy. Every town in the mountains should have a hydro plant.

How can we honor and preserve Silverton’s historical meaning?

Silverton is a funny place – people are very independent and don’t like being told what to do. One of the reasons people live here. I think first of all that we have to recognize we are a tourist town. A lot of it is outdoor recreation – OHVs and jeep touring. People spend their money to come look at our architecture. People come from all over the world to drive a jeep on the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway and wonder how in the heck did the town of Animas Forks get here? Look and say, “How did they do that?” People bring their pocketbooks with them to see things like that. It is important to preserve all of that we can. There is only so much money and volunteer hours. We hope that we teach our children to leave l there because it’s part of our shared history and heritage. We are doing a pretty good job of that. That goes along with the environmental aspect, too.

Tell us about your history with MSI. Who was at the table at the start of MSI?

In Silverton in 1991 the mines shut down. At that time, we lost half of our population and lost 2/3 of our school population. We did not know what we were going to do or what we were going to become. We didn’t know if we ‘d become a ghost town. So, we started looking for things to boost our economy. We were looking at gambling! We noticed that there were a lot of field schools in the summertime, especially geology field schools and environmental field schools. We thought maybe somehow, we could facilitate those colleges and house them – make a business out of that. We went to the old county hospital, and we were thinking of turning that into a facility.

Several of us got together and thought about what we could sell. First of all, we have our spectacular beauty and our history. We thought we should concentrate on those two things. We started out being a group that facilitated groups that come from colleges to study different things – air quality, water quality, and geology. That planted the germ of the MSI. We incorporated as a nonprofit. It became apparent that colleges didn’t have the money to do these field camps. That being our major emphasis, and we decided we needed to do other things. Then what became our own thing was partnering with scientists and bringing on our own advisors - everything from the EPA, CO Health, to advisors from all over the country. We would meet a couple of times a year and sometimes we would publish a paper or two. As time wore on, we hired some really good people, current staff included, and were able to turn from a facilitator to a place that actually does the science.

How would you encourage people to be their own Mountain Hero?

First of all, you don’t do it for recognition. You do it for the common good. I’ve won awards which has been gratifying and wonderful. That is not why I do things. I do it so hopefully I can make this a better place after I’ve left it. You don’t go it for recognition. You do it because it is good for everyone around you. You do it make the place where you live better.