Monday, August 27, 2018

The Miksch-Helmer Cabin



My husband and I have lived in Colorado for six summers and in that short time, we have seen the front range of Colorado in the Denver area changing. Land sales, new construction, and the need to widen expressways by adding toll lanes are occurring. With many companies moving into the area and a constant increase in residents, the quiet, open bucolic areas of the front range is being lost to progress.

Happily, preservation has also occurred in many areas, with protected open space and parks owned by our counties. In 1913, the Douglas County Historic Preservation Board preserved a historic 1870 cabin, the Miksch-Helmer Cabin.


The central part of the cabin was built by Pennsylvanian Amos Miksch, who came across the vast dangerous plains to build a new life in what was then the Colorado Territory. Miksch enlisted in Colorado's Volunteer Cavalry and served in the 1862 Battle of Glorietta Pass, and the 1864 Battle of Sand Creek. (See my post on the Sand Creek Massacre Historic Site at this link) Miksch later testified at a formal hearing about the atrocities committed against the Cheyenne and Arapaho people at Sand Creek. Because of his service in the Union Army, Miksch received a patent under the 1862 Homestead Act permitting him to build and cultivate 160 acres of land. By 1871, he was married with two children and had built his cabin of Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine. He cultivated five acres, built a 14 x 24 chicken house and dug a well and a one-mile ditch to help irrigate the arid land. In 1873, Miksch sold the property to Frederick Neumeyer who lived there for a decade before selling the farm to Franz and Judith Helmer for $700.


 The Helmers lived there until 1888 when their son John purchased the farm from his parents. John Helmer and his Irish born wife Nellie had three children, two of whom survived. They raised cattle, sold milk, and irrigated crops using the nearby Highline Canal.  Many years later, after Nellie's death, the husband and son John remained in the cabin. In the 1940's financial troubles and the elder John's poor health led them to sell off some of their lands. In 1948, the son John married Margaret Hildebrand. They lived in the Hildebrand Ranch House until the 1970's when the US Corps of Engineers acquired part of the ranch for the Chatfield Dam and Reservoir.  The Helmer Cabin was intermittently rented and finally sold in 2005.  The last owners, Joseph and Mary Cronen, donated the cabin to Douglas County in 2013. Douglas County’s historic preservation board made several improvements to preserve the home so visitors could visit it on guided tours, combined with visits to the nearby Lamb Springs which dates back to the end of the last Ice Age. It is on this site where bones from more than 30 mammoths have been discovered over the course of multiple excavations by the Smithsonian in the 1960s and 80s. The mammoth remains trace back between 11,000 and 13,000 years!  To read my blog post about our visit to lamb Springs, click here.


The log cabin is constructed of logs laid with a square notch technique, and the interior consists of one large room with a flight of stairs to a loft. The walls are exposed log that at one time were whitewashed. The loft has a wood floor with log walls and horizontal boards in the gable ends. There is the original front door on the oldest portion of the cabin, and the original double-hung windows located on the west side of the original part of the cabin. The south addition was built prior to 1920 and is constructed of wood-frame with board-and-batten siding. Standing inside the cabin it was easy for me to imagine the sparse and simple life these pioneer families led.





The Miksch-Helmer is located near the 71 miles long High Line Canal, which has its own interesting story. The canal was constructed in 1883 to bring irrigation water to farmers. The canal is still operational today but now it is better known for its adjoining multi-use path. Most of the wide, flat 60 mile long High Line Canal Trail is a well-maintained dirt surface, shaded by cottonwood trees. and traversed by walkers and runners, bike riders, and horse riders.


That a cabin built almost 150 years ago still stands is a testament to the hard work and enduring care of its builder and past owners. That has been preserved with landmark status is a promise to future generations that we honor both our history and the fortitude of those who had a dream of living and cultivating the west.

 To visit Lamb Springs and the Miksch-Helmer Cabin visit the Lamb Spring website at this link for the tour schedule and information.


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Monday, August 20, 2018

Summer Retrospective


I've heard it said that "summer should receive a speeding ticket"!  Isn't that true? It seems as soon as summer arrives in the blink of an eye it is almost over. Like fruit ready to be harvested, our last days of summer were sweet, ripe, and juicy in enjoyment. (All photos and photo collages will enlarge if clicked on)


We took many hikes in our area and enjoyed the beauty of Colorado's Front Range


We spent lots of time with grandchildren, enjoying community playgrounds, parks, and pools.


We visited nearby scenic Red Rocks Amphitheatre to attend a concert by cello virtuoso, Yo-Yo Ma! 
If you'd like to listen to a few minutes of Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach at the concert --click here--to go to a video on my Mille Fiori Favoriti facebook page.


Watching twin fawns growing up, after their birth in our next door neighbor's yard in June, was very enjoyable! We've also been fortunate to see much other wildlife this summer--click here-- to read about that. One thing I really love about summer is its very long daylight hours and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Although we never seem to have enough rain in Colorado, we were finally blessed this August with some good showers (and some hail!)


We've also attended two exciting Broncos football exhibition games this August, that were held at Mile High Stadium in Denver! 
 More about that in a future post.


And as surely as August approaches its end, and the field grasses grow long and go to seed......


... it was "back to school" time in Colorado this past week, and also back to sports and school-related activities for our grandchildren.


Like the flight of a beautiful butterfly, the summer of 2018 has fluttered into its last few days and moments to savor. 


Autumn comes early to Colorado's high elevations and the aspen trees will soon be turning glorious shades of gold. Autumn is my favorite season and I'm looking forward to cooler weather and fall activities.  Are you looking forward to the same? What was your favorite memory of the summer of 2018?

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Monday, August 13, 2018

The Byers Evans House Museum, Denver, Colorado


The Byers Evans House Museum, located at 1310 Bannock Street, is a Denver landmark that reflects the character of two early and important Colorado pioneer families. It was built in 1883, by William Byers, the founder of the Rocky Mountain News, the first newspaper printed in Colorado; from 1859 until it ceased publication in  2009.  Its first issue of the newspaper was printed on a printing press from Omaha, Nebraska, that Byers had hauled by oxcart during the start of the Colorado Gold Rush. ( All photos will enlarge if clicked on)
Postcard of the house in the gift shop

The house was sold to William Gray Evans, the oldest son of Colorado's second territorial governor, John Evans. in 1889, who had several additions made to it over the years. William Evans lived in the home with his wife Cornelia Lunt Gray and their four children, John, Josephine, Margaret, and Katharine. William's mother, Margaret Patten Gray Evans, former first lady of Colorado, moved into the home in 1900 with her unmarried daughter, Anne Evans. Members of the Evans family continued to live in the home until 1981 when it was donated to the Colorado Historical Society. along with the entire contents of the house. 


The house has been restored to the 1912–1924 period and includes approximately 90% of the original furniture, glassware, china, and other household items belonging to the Evans family.


All visits to the Byers Evans House Museum are by a guided tour, but one is able to walk into each room and examine closely all its contents, while the tour guide recounts the history of the house and its former occupants.  It is a visit back in time as you see the polished antique furniture, large book collection, ornate fireplace mantels, patterned wallpapers and period artwork and early period electronics such as a record player and radio.


Family crystal, silver, and fine china on display.


Memorabilia was displayed as if it were perfectly frozen in time.


The Evans daughters were skilled in leather tooling and also did weaving, needlepoint, and painting.


Anne Evans devoted her life to the founding and support of some of Colorado's largest cultural institutions, including the Denver Art Museum, the Central City Opera, and the Denver Public Library

Anne collected Native American, Puebloan Art, and Spanish Colonial Art and in 1925 she donated a large portion of her collection to the Denver Museum of Art, making it one of the first art museums in the nation to collect this genre of artwork.


The Center for Colorado's Women's History is also located at the Byers Evans House Museum


World War I era women's uniforms.

A collage of the various informational posters on display. The Center sponsors programs which include talks, workshops, book clubs, and tea times, to encourage conversation for guests to discuss women’s issues, both in the Rocky Mountain states and worldwide.
Inspirational World War I posters

The Byers Evans House Museum is definitely an interesting place to tour, as it is full of interesting history and memorabilia. Enjoy a visit, and take a walk back in time!
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Sunday, August 5, 2018

Colorado Renaissance Festival


My husband and I, along with friends, attended the Colorado Renaissance Festival in Larkspur this weekend.  The festival was in its 42nd year and runs eight weekends, from June through the first weekend in August.  Every weekend the festival takes on a different theme, influencing many of the performances, costumes, food, drink, art, shops, contests, and games throughout the festival grounds. We had attended the New York Renaissance Faire ten years ago, held in upstate Tuxedo, New York--click here-- to read that blog post--and we were curious to see how they would compare. (All photos and photo collage in this post will enlarge if clicked on)

The permanent buildings of the festival are based on a 16th-century Tudor village and the grounds are fairly extensive. 
Click here to see the festival grounds map.

There were a multitude of costumed performers at the festival which really added to the festivity and made one feel as if you were really transported back in time!



A parade of performers passed through the grounds--photos above, and in this video from my Mille Fiori Favoriti facebook page.  Click here to go directly to the video on my facebook page if you can not see the video here.

There were many opportunities to rent or buy a period costume and we were impressed with the variety and the authentic intricacy of many of them!

 In fact, I enjoyed seeing the creative costumes of the performers and festival guests...

...most of all!

In addition to costumes, there were over 200 craft vendors selling many different period products both practical. decorative and fun. Click here to see this year's artisan's marketplace list.


There were plenty of different rides for children to enjoy at the festival...


..as well as games of skill to play,,,


...and lots of good food!

 These two gents were enjoying the delicious large turkey legs. Click here to see the extensive menu of foods available at the festival.

The entertainment was top notch and lots of fun! From jousting matches, juggling, acrobats, comedy skits, fire eaters, dancing, and so on.  Click here to see a full list of entertainment performances.


All in all, we had a wonderful time at the Colorado Renaissance Festival and we're looking forward to going again next summer!

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Amaze Me Monday, Mosaic Monday, All Seasons, Blue Monday,  Through My Lens Monday, Inspiration Monday, Blogging Grandmothers, You Are the Star Blog Hop, Good Random Fun, Nature Notes, Grand Social, Travel Photos, Photo Tunes, Happiness Is Homemade, Tuesday Treasures, Pictorial Tuesday, Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday, Tuesdays With A Twist, Party in Your PJ's, Wordless Wednesday, Oh My Heartsie Girl's Wonderful Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Whimsical Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World, Wonderful Wednesday,  Share Your Cup, Little Things Thursday,  Travel Photo Thursday, Thankful Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Friendship Fridays, Friday Photo Journal, Skywatch Friday, Sweet Inspiration, Weekend Travel Inspiration, Pink Saturday, Over the Moon, Happiness Is Homemade

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