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| The original ranch house, known as the Main House, at Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. Photo courtesy Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. |
Highway 50
The Treasure: The
Hutchinson Homestead Ranch will preserve a representative high-altitude ranching
operation depicting Colorado
frontier life of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Accessibility: The
site is available to tour by appointment only (call 719-539-9656 or e-mail grether at amigo.net) while restoration work at the
site continues. Along with the historic preservation activity, a visitor center
is under construction.
Background: (Katy
Grether, Hutchinson Homestead Project Leader, has supplied such a fine summary
of the site that I’ve decided to reproduce it here verbatim. Thank you, Katy!)
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| Outbuildings at the Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. Photo courtesy Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. |
The Hutchinson Homestead typifies the history of ranching in
the high valleys of Colorado .
It tells the whole story—from the 1860’s to the present—on one ranch, in a very
accessible location on U.S. Highway 50 within the five miles that separate
Poncha Springs from Salida. Luckily for us living 140 years later, the
Hutchinson family built a homestead to last, and one with a sense of
architectural charm that made it a welcoming place for the nomadic Utes,
pioneers, and cowhands, and earned it a place on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1972.
Perhaps the earliest frame house built of milled lumber in
the Upper Arkansas River Valley
The Hutchinson Homestead is still a place that draws the
interest and curiosity of the passerby. Locals and heritage tourists will have
the chance to step back into ranching history at this premier attraction on the
Collegiate Peaks Scenic and Historic Byway. The transformation of the Homestead into a ranching
museum and learning center is acknowledged by many in our community to be the
perfect culmination of a century of being at the heart and hub of a great
Arkansas Valley Centennial Ranch. Fourth generation rancher, Dr. Wendell
Hutchinson, now 86 years old, has donated 2.25 acres containing the Homestead
and all of the historic outbuildings to the neighboring Town of Poncha Springs
so the site can be enjoyed by the public for generations to come.
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| View from a corral. Photo courtesy Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. |
Preservation History:
Before restoration began in 2005, the 1870’s Homestead and outbuildings, none of which
had foundations, were in such a state of weakness that they were nominated to
the Colorado List of Endangered Places in 2003. Now, after two phases of
restoration funded primarily by state preservation funds, the Main Homestead
House has a new foundation and is completely restored on the exterior. All ten
outbuildings are stabilized and completely rehabilitated.
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| Ongoing restoration work at the Main House. Photo courtesy Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. |
The third and final phase of preservation work is in
progress, thanks to generous grants from the Colorado History State Historical
Fund and the Save America’s Treasures
program. The site is coming to life and, as people enter the ranch yard, they
will experience what frontier life was like a century ago. The interior of the Homestead is being
restored with period wallpaper and linoleum. Lilacs, apple and willow trees
that have been on the ranch since the late 1800’s are being pruned and grafts
taken, a myriad of fences and corrals are being rehabilitated, and visitor
pathways are being installed to create a meaningful experience for heritage
tourists.
Other Recommended
Sites: The highways of Chaffee
County have been designated as the Collegiate
Peaks Scenic and Historic Byway (a Colorado
byway). The website Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway provides a helpful guide to
the historic, natural, and scenic sites of the county. The county is known for
the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in the United States , many ghost towns and historic
structures, the scenic Arkansas River, numerous commercially developed hot springs , and vibrant
artistic communities.
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| Corral and outbuildings at Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. Photo courtesy Hutchinson Homestead Ranch. |
Tour America's History Itinerary
Monday’s destination: Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
Friday’s destination: Clyfford Still Museum
Friday’s destination: Clyfford Still Museum
© 2012 Lee Price
It's good news that Hutchinson Homestead Ranch is getting restored. I mean, this place be beneficial for the community, like special events and gatherings. It doesn't matter how much it will cost, it's a great achievement to preserve a piece of history in your community.
ReplyDeleteDarren Lanphere