Call NumberCPHOTO141-2024-1689CreatorJessen, KennethDateMay 18, 2006SummaryFront exterior view of an abandoned wooden storefront.Physical Description1 digital file : colorBorn-Digital or AnalogBorn-digitalSubjectAbandoned buildings--Colorado--WillardCommercial buildings--Colorado--WillardGeographic AreaWillard (Colo.)Logan County (Colo.)Finding Aidhttps://archives.denverlibrary.org/repositories/3/resources/2088Type of MaterialDigital photographsOriginal Material Found in CollectionC PHOTO 141. Kenneth Jessen photo collectionNotesDerived title. Photographer's note: "Mahoney's Store (closed in 1967) and Willard grain elevator (closed in the 1960s). Willard has its share of abandoned buildings. Homesteaders started arriving in 1884, but it was the construction of the Colorado & Wyoming in 1887 from Sterling to Cheyenne that drew many more. Willard's location appealed to the railroad's need for a water stop for its steam locomotives. Water was discovered at a shallow depth near Little Pawnee Creek so the railroad installed a windmill to pump water up to a tank. An early settler deeded part of his homestead for a town site to the Lincoln Land Company. The land company platted the town of Willard and started selling lots. Papers of incorporation were filed in 1888. The town was named for railroad official Daniel Willard, who eventually became the railroad's vice-president. In the 1880s, there were wet years and good crop yields. By 1890, however, the area started a drought cycle that continued to deepen. Few early settlers stayed on their land the five years required by the 1862 Homestead Act to gain title. As the land was abandoned, it reverted back to the government. When rainfall returned around 1909, more land was homesteaded. In 1910, Willard was reoccupied and was platted for a second time. In 1916, The Denver Elevator constructed Willard's first elevator and a second elevator was built the following year. In 1918, a third elevator was built between the two earlier structures. The railroad ran two trains a day to haul the grain to outside markets. The Willard post office (called Arnold from 1892 to 1900) opened and closed several times and closed for good in 1968."DonorGift; Kenneth Jessen; 2020.
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Rights Statementhttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/CopyrightDPL holds copyrightCreditDenver Public Library Special Collections, [call number]Digital Reproduction Available for PurchaseYes
