03/03/2022
March 3, 1963: Walter Cronkite reported to the nation the horrific news of a tragedy in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It was a grim story that would go on for months. The Rev. Marvin Hudson, only 39 years old, along with two of his five children were buried under 20 feet of snow in an avalanche path along State Highway 550, known as the Riverside Slide.
Rev. Hudson had a small farm on the north side of Ouray and was also the pastor of the Silverton Congregational Church and a sixth grade teacher in Silverton. His two daughters, Amelia 17, a student at the Silverton school, and Pauline 11, accompanied their father on his trip over Red Mt. pass, to provide Sunday services to his congregation of 29.
When Rev. Hudson reached the area known as the Riverside, there was a small sluff on the road and his Studebaker spun out. Leo Janes, a plow driver from Ouray, was headed up the pass and saw Hudson get out of his car and get his chains. Just then, the first fine mist of snow started, then the ferocious wind, and finally tons of snow. The wind actually pushed Janes plow back and into another plow that was following. When the air cleared there was no sign of the Hudson’s, only a mountain of snow.
Law enforcement, volunteers from Silverton and Ouray, and the Hudson family began the search with picks and shovels. In those days’ no one thought of the potential of another avalanche. Eventually, bulldozers were brought in, but still no sign of the Studebaker. The pass remained closed 10 days while crews worked day and night to remove the debris and snow on the road.
Water Cronkite continued updates of the futile search. Finally, on March 10, Rev. Hudson’s body was found 280 ft. North from where he was last seen. On March 16th the Studebaker was located 600 from where it had been stuck. The car was nothing but a crumpled mass, with no top or doors, but a gallon of cream that was to be shared with his parishioners, sat unharmed. Amelia was found lying next to the car.
After six weeks of looking, the formal search was called off, but family members and volunteers continued. A memorial service was held in Silverton on April 16, 1963. Marvin and Amelia were buried at the cemetery North of Ouray and a plot set aside for Pauline. On May 30, Pauline’s grandfather and two other relative, while making their daily search, spotted a patch of blue in the now melting creek bed. Pauline had finally been found.
A memorial for the Hudson family was erected just south of the Riverside, by the citizens of Silverton and Ouray. Since that tragic day in 1963, three snowplow drivers have also been killed at the Riverside. A memorial in their honor was erected adjacent to the Hudson memorial.
(photo by Ray Dileo)
