Walker Ranch "Now & Then" lecture packs them in

The Niwot Historical Society's "Now & Then" lectures have proved to be popular, and the latest installment, with a focus on Walker Ranch, located off Flagstaff Road 19 miles outside of Niwot, was no exception.

The April 30 lecture featured Laurie Bedford, Ph.D. a long-term volunteer at the ranch who was recently named Boulder County's Volunteer of the Year, and co-volunteer and ranch blacksmith, Tim Plumb.

"In telling the story of James and Phoebe Walker, Bedford and Plumb shared the history, hardships, and challenges of our pioneers," Koehler said.

Bedford explained, "It's really about sharing the stories of the area's history. Learning history helps us understand who we are, how we got here. Sharing that history with people is something that I find enjoyable."

The ranch was founded by James Walker, who was born in Virginia and later moved to Missouri. Although he was a Southerner who was not in favor of succession, Walker enlisted in the Confederate Army. He served until he became ill and his home was vandalized and looted. He traveled west by train, with just $12 and weighing 98 pounds.

Once in Colorado, he was rumored to have been nursed to health by Native Americans and, in 1874, bought the first of several portions that currently make up the Walker Ranch homestead. This portion includes a building that had been used as a trading post.

James Walker's wife, Phoebe, was born in Ohio and came to Colorado by train in 1872, serving as a schoolteacher in the Boulder County community of Crisman. She met James, they married, and had one son. Unfortunately, she was frequently sick and died in 1912 when she became ill and couldn't access help due to a fierce blizzard.

During their lifetimes, James and Phoebe raised Galloway cattle and sold eggs, meat, and other staples in Boulder. The property featured a sawmill powered by a steam engine, with most of the lumber going to Central City and Blackhawk to serve as wooden supports in the mines. A portion of the old steam engine can still be found at the ranch.

Bedford and Plumb described what life was like on the ranch. For example, in the early years, it was at least a day's journey to travel from Walker Ranch to Boulder to sell goods.

They described the impact of early 20th century amenities on the ranch. Walker had installed electric lights in each room, which were powered by a gasoline generator that was, in turn, powered by 24 lead-acid batteries that needed to be charged weekly.

The first car on the ranch was a Dodge, which Walker desired because it had a vacuum pump that fed fuel to the engine, which was important for driving up the incline to the ranch.

Walker also had a phone at a time when there were only 24 phone lines throughout the entire City of Boulder.

The speakers described some of the buildings that visitors can still see on the site including a pole barn, which is where sawmill demonstrations occur, which was likely used to store wagons and machinery in the past. In addition, there is also a granary that stored grain and milled flour, a scale house, a spring house, a chicken/turkey coop, and a garden.

The speakers highlighted other remaining structures including the original building, suspected to be an 1860s-era trading post, which then became a summer home to the family until the main house, called The White House, was built. The new home allowed the family to live on the ranch year-round. It burned down in 1992 as the result of an electrical fire, but was rebuilt according to the original specifications.

Finally, the original blacksmith shop is still standing with its original forge. The family had built a lean-to on the back that may have been used for shoeing and fixing wagon wheels. While the building is in disrepair, a replica is currently being used for educational demonstrations.

"It's great sharing that information with people, particularly sharing the engineering developments that were just coming to be used at that time," said Plumb. "And if you request something from any of us during a demonstration, we welcome that. Blacksmiths were often in the position of having to fill requests, so when audiences ask us for something, it feels like it's just what they would have experienced."

Bedford and Plumb described upcoming opportunities for residents to see the ranch firsthand. Scheduled visiting days are June 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., July 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and an October vintage baseball game that features old-time baseball reenactors. In addition, the pair encouraged school groups to reach out and schedule tours.

Visiting the Ranch gives guests a better understanding of what the area's earliest residents were like. Koehler said, "Our Native Americans and pioneers were tough and hardy folks. We have challenges today, too, but reflecting on and learning of the past provides a broader, valuable appreciation of our history."