<\/p>\n
When Mesa Verde National Park decided to build a new Visitor and Research Center, it put in motion a series of events that resulted in a unique reunion of two long lost friends.<\/p>\n
Trina Lindig, of Mancos, and Frieda Wray, of Long Beach, CA. grew up together at the park in the 1950s and 60s helping their archaeologist parents unearth ancient artifacts.<\/p>\n
The two were best friends, going to class in a one-room school house, participating- to the extent children can \u2013 in archaeological digs, and exploring the backcountry.<\/p>\n
Meals were eaten under canvas tents, and one can easily imagine the adults in full safari-style attire sorting artifacts and carefully putting them in storage.<\/p>\n
It was a time when Mesa Verde\u2019s unique human history was being introduced to the American public. National Geographic featured a cover story on the park in 1964 titled \u201cWetherill Mesa Yields Secrets of Cliff Dwellers.\u201d<\/p>\n
In one photo, Lindig\u2019s mother, archaeologist apprentice Sue Waite, is seen gluing sherds together reconstructing a large cooking pot.<\/p>\n
Frieda\u2019s father, chief archaeologist Dr. Douglas Osborne, is shown among a huge collection of decorated bowls, jars, dippers and mugs laid out on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was always impressed how my mother could put those pots back together so well,\u201d Lindig recalled.<\/p>\n
When their families moved on the two friends fell out of touch. After a career as a park ranger, Lindig settled in Mancos.<\/p>\n
Then in 2013, the park opened a new visitor and research center off U.S. 160. Lindig was asked to help catalogue and move the same artifacts she handled as a child, prompting the Cortez Journal to do a feature story.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what led to Frieda and I finding each other,\u201d Lindig said. \u201cA friend told Frieda she saw her name in a newspaper article about Mesa Verde and then there was a roller coaster of phone calls and emails.\u201d<\/p>\n
On July 5, they reunited at Mesa Verde National Park for the first time in 50 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have not been back since I was a child,\u201d Wray said, amidst much hugging and laughing. \u201cThe park has changed quite a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour still taller than me,\u201d Lindig said.<\/p>\n
The two spent the day reminiscing, exploring their old haunts, homes, and schools, some of which are still standing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack then our parents let us explore the canyons on our own. I still remember when we smoked our first yucca cigarettes,\u201d Wray says. \u201cMy dad gave popular talks at Wetherill Mesa about his research. All the park employees were like an extended family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The roads were all dirt, and in rough condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get the Studebaker up the hills, the archeologists and us kids would have to jump out and push,\u201d Wray recalls. \u201cIt is fun to take a trip down memory lane. It was an outdoor lifestyle back then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose were some magical summer days,\u201d added Lindig. \u201cWe are reliving them today in a sense. \u201cIt was a neat childhood and made us who we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
In all, 3 million artifacts were moved from storage at Chapin Mesa to the modern storage facilities at the new visitors center. Many were handled by Wray and Lindig during their childhoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be one of the first to touch these historical treasures was very special,\u201d Lindig said. \u201cIt was a real honor to return all these years later and help put them in a permanent home.\u201d<\/p>\n