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The Strange Story of Stevenson, Baca County, Colorado & Reverend William Evans
by: Steven Doner and Kent Brooks My introduction to Stevenson happened in 2010 when I was first shown the Lost 1894 Colorado Relief Map by James McConnell School Supplies of Denver, Colorado. Immediately, I began combing the bottom right corner for familiar names, but more so for unfamiliar items that might fuel my curiosity. Exploring…
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Did the Forgotten Old West Town of Boston Colorado Influence the entire Genre of Western Movies?
“Low characters naturally gravitated in this direction where they would be in less danger of the law. Peaceable men were sometimes forced to become murderers through association with the lawless element who were thrown in their midst. Questions were not asked of their past.” -J.R. Austin, 1936, An Early History of Baca County In the…
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The Burning of the Boston Colorado Hotel: An 1890 Flashback to the County Seat Wars of the American West
The hotel company was incorporated last week, the stock is all subscribed, and the big hotel will now be pushed to completion. — Boston Colorado, Western World, April 1887 The County Seat Wars of the American West, which were most famous in Kansas, represent a tumultuous period in the late 19th century characterized by intense…
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Was Old Boston Really As Wild As They Come?
By The Writer Originally published in the Plainsman Herald, Springfield, Colorado, June 19, 2024 “An elderly gentleman on his way to Colorado was asked what there was attractive there, and answered ‘Nothing sir, but a dry burying ground and shorter route to Heaven” –The Ashland Weekly Journal, 1887 No one has really questioned my book’s…
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Rexford Guy Tugwell: Architect of the New Deal and 1936 visitor to Baca County
By Kent Brooks July 12, 2024 In the annals of American economic history, few figures stand as prominently as Dr. Rexford Guy Tugwell. Known as one of the principal architects of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, Tugwell’s vision and reforms left an indelible mark on the nation during one of its most challenging periods.…
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Ezra Nowels,Baca County’s First Judge
Attorney Ezra C. Nowels left Rensselaer, Indiana in 1888 and came to Minneapolis, Colorado. The March 14, 1888 Indiana State Sentinel reports, “Ezra C. Nowels will start to Colorado next week. He will locate in Minneapolis, Las Animas County, where he will engage in the practice of law and the real estate business. Mr. Nowels…
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Decade of Dirt: A Book Project Primer
The Great Depression, and the much worse Dust Bowl that accompanied it, was the most impactful and profound time period, indeed the watershed moment, for southeastern Colorado. It was like year zero on our calendars, BDB – Before the Dust Bowl, and ADB – After the Dust Bowl. Our good friend and history partner Steve…
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The Spring Tragedy of 1895 at Konantz
(Once again I got a little carried away and this article is longer than it should be. Please read what intrigues you and ignore the rest.) By Steve Doner When my twin sister and I were growing up, one of our daily chores involved gathering the milk cows when we got off the school bus…
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The Search for the Elusive Broomcorn Seeder
By Steve “Sodbuster” Doner Several months ago Kent Brooks and I were discussing that it was a shame that Baca County did not have any of the equipment from that bygone era in a place where people could learn of the tools of that industry. Most of the pictures we have of broomcorn seeders…
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A 1933 Dust Bowl Thanksgiving
Football Game Between Springfield and Lamar Includes Former Professionals The 1920s earned the moniker “The Golden Age of Sports” due to the dawn of high-level competitive athletics and the rise of exceptional athletes across various disciplines. With increased leisure time and improved transportation, individuals exhibited unwavering devotion to local sports, fostering an unprecedented sense of…
