Montrose Homeowners Depend on SERVPRO for Fire Damage Restoration

12/10/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Montrose / Telluride is here for all of your properties needs from disasters.

When Fire Strikes Montrose Homes We Provide Mitigation Fast

Today there are over 19,000 residents in the beautiful city of Montrose. It is a small city but an essential location in Colorado. Montrose serves as a transportation and economic hub for visitors and sightseers.

The Rock Art of the Shavano Valley

The earliest residents lived in the area between 1000 BC and AD 1881. They left behind rock art panels that depicted their way of life. The Shavano Rock Art Site is a magnificent look into the past. The valley itself is a gorge in western Colorado in the Uncompahgre Plateau. It is about 5 ½ miles outside of Montrose and roughly 7 miles long. As you travel the valley, you eventually come to a trail that takes you up to the rim. This is where rock art can be found.

Rock Art Through the Ages

The native inhabitants of the valley were at work for centuries carving works of art into the hillside. The oldest rock art is believed to be at least 1,000 years old. This is determined by the weapon, the atlatl, used in hunting long before the bow and arrow. The most recent petroglyphs are thought to be from approximately 300 years ago.

Telling a Story

These petroglyphs provide a fascinating look into the lives of the inhabitants. Many need no interpretation. Bears, people working or carrying bundles, and other everyday life events. Some of the drawings depict maps of the Uncompahgre Valley with trails marked. Then there are some that the meaning is lost as no one is left to tell their story. But thankfully, the 37 rock art panels are still there for everyone to enjoy. 

The Uncompahgre Ute (Tabeguache)

Located in Colorado and Utah, the Uncompahgre Ute were a Native American band from the Ute tribe. They were initially known as the Tabeguache. Ten nomadic bands made up the Ute tribe. The “People of the Sun,” or Tabeguache band, was the largest of the ten. They moved with the seasons and mainly resided in the river valleys between the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers. 

Following the Animals

As the Tabeguache moved around, they would follow the trail of elk, deer, and buffalo. When they set up a new camp, which was approximately every month, they would construct a medicine wheel in the center of the camp. This was their link to Mother Earth and kept them grounded. 

Pikes Peak & Sacred Ground

The Tabeguache called Pikes Peak Tavakiev, which means “sun mountain.” They considered that mountain area their home and would spend their summers in the region. Other Indian tribes who traveled through the region considered it the domain of the Utes. It was also a place of sacred ceremonial events by the Tabeguache, which made it sacred ground for them. Their Sundance rituals were held there, and culturally scarred Ponderosa Pines were used in their rituals. These pines, some of which are 800 years old, were used for:

•   Prayer
•   Burial
•   Peeled-bark medicine
•   Arborglyphs
•   Message trees

Breath of the Great Spirit Manitou

When the cooler weather of fall hit, the band would travel through the Ute Pass to the Manitou springs. Home to ten mineral springs believed to be on sacred ground; the Indians would use the bubbly water to restore their health and spirits. They would drink it and soak in it, considering it a gift from the Great Spirit, who they believed caused the effervescence. Other Ute bands and tribes would join them there for the winter, where they dwelled in peace. 

Garden of the Gods

Not far from the springs is the Garden of the Gods. It is a major tourist attraction and yielded a large number of artifacts, such as grinding stones. It is believed the various tribes gathered there and shared communal tasks such as tanning hides.  These mountain valleys protected them during the winter and provided an abundance of game.

Ouray – A Ute Leader

Ouray was the chief of the Tabeguache in the 1800s. He was so well known for his strong leadership that the U.S. government recognized him publicly as their chief. In his concern for his people, the Utes, he went to Washington. D.C. to negotiate on their behalf. He was a brilliant man who could speak several languages and made negotiating much easier. Sadly, during the process, his small son was abducted by the Sioux. He was known as the man of peace because he tried to work with the settlers and the U.S. government. In his lifetime, he met several presidents – Lincoln, Grant, and Hayes.

Life on the Reservation

Ouray attempted to bring about a treaty for the Uncompahgre Utes that would allow those that wanted to stay in Colorado to do so. It was not to be. The Meeker massacre had taken place, and people were worried. The year after his trip to Washington, D.C., the government forced them, and the White River Ute, to reservations in the west in Utah.

SERVPRO Proudly Serving the Montrose Area

There is nothing worse than a fire in the home. Even a small one can cause panic as you do not know what it will turn into. What seems like only a few flames can spread smoke residue throughout the entire home, especially if your HVAC system is operating. SERVPRO can ensure your home is professionally cleaned and restored when fire strikes.

Odor Removal

Removing the foul odors left after a fire is one of the main concerns of our technicians. Soot attaches itself to the surface areas in your home and causes the smells to linger. We use the following techniques to take of the problem:

•   Abrasive cleaning – this includes soda blasting, scraping, and wire brushing
•   Peroxide active cleaning – used on delicate surfaces
•   Dry-cleaning sponges – used on non-greasy sponges
•   TSP – trisodium phosphate is used for greasy residues
•   Deodorize – air scrubbers, ozone materials, and HEPA filters are used
•   HVAC cleaning – this is a must to prevent the spread

Thermal foggers, time-released agents, and desiccants are also used in the process. If you need fire damage restoration, contact SERVPRO of Montrose / Telluride at (970) 240-6970.