Images of America

Description

Castle Rock Writers bring readers a collection of vintage images and sketches of Douglas County from approximately 1861 to 1950—covering the settling of this part of the West to the post-World War II years. Early homesteaders, adventurers, and prospectors journeyed west following the 900 plus miles along the Cherokee Trail, seeking the wealth of gold or needing the curative air of Colorado. On the long and arduous trip, travelers stopped at the Twenty Mile House in Parker or the Pretty Woman Ranch on the First Territorial Road. They needed to clean off the dust and dirt and enjoy a nourishing meal before the final push to Denver and beyond. Some simply stayed. They homesteaded ranches, staked out mines, and built small towns on the rolling plains, mesas, forested hills, or in the mountains of Douglas County’s eventual 843 square miles. In the first half of the 20^th century, the region grew into cohesive communities, where families thrived through ingenuity and hard work. Neighbors supported neighbors.

Each chapter was written by a member of the Castle Rock Writers, credited as follows:

1. “Castle Rock: County Seat Takes Shape,” by Debbie Buboltz and Derald Hoffman
2. “Franktown and Southeastern Valleys: From Seeking Gold to Homesteading,” by James Hansmann, Kathleen McCoy, and Marjorie Meyerle
3. “Highlands Ranch, Daniels Park, and Castle Pines: Wildcat Mountains Tamed,” by Peggy A. Cummings
4. “Larkspur, Perry Park, and Greenland: Douglas County’s Dairyland,” by James Hansmann
5. “Lone Tree and Happy Canyon: From One Small Tree,” by Kathleen McCoy
6. “Louviers: From Rolling Hills to DuPont Company Town,” by Alice Aldridge-Dennis
7. “Parker: The 20-Mile Landmark” by Kathleen McCoy and Elizabeth Wallace
8. “Roxborough Park: Getaway for the Elite,” by Susan Trumble
9. “Sedalia: Town at the Crossroads,” by Laura Smallegan Adema
10. “Western Region and Platte River: Rugged and Beautiful,” by Laura Smallegan Adema.