This day's adventure started out with the goal of finding a National Historic Site we had just become aware of. As often happens with the Kendall and Paula show, the adventure spontaneously expanded.
First goal: The Dearfield National Historic Site (https://www.nps.gov/places/dearfield-colorado.htm)
During its heyday, Dearfield was the
largest black homesteading settlement in Colorado, established by Oliver Toussaint Jackson in 1910. By 1915, Dearfield settlers had
constructed 44 wooden cabins on their homestead claims. At its peak between 1917 to 1921, Dearfield may have housed as many as 300
residents and the town businesses included a manufacturer of concrete blocks, a lumber and coal
yard, a boarding house and store, and a hotel. Two churches provided regular
services. O.T. Jackson built the Dearfield Lunchroom, which became a kind of
community center and gathering place for residents. Residents opened a school, and the
community hosted an annual festival and carnival. Demand for Dearfield’s
agricultural products boomed during World War I.
In 1918, Dearfield homesteaders harvested their first
significant marketable crops, netting them over $50,000. Sadly, the extreme drought of the 1930s and the Dust Bowl
forced most Dearfield homesteaders to seek work in the city. Eventually most of the town
was torn down, the lumber reused.
A few deserted buildings remain in Dearfield:
a gas station, a diner, and the founder's home. In 1995, the town was listed on
the National Register of Historic Places. In January of this year (2022), Congressmen Joe Neguse and Ken Buck introduced legislation that, if passed, would direct the Department of Interior to assess the historical significance of Dearfield and determine the feasibility of it becoming part of the National Park System.
Those photos show pretty much all that is there, and with the buildings fenced off, the visit was not exactly lengthy. So! What to do next since we found ourselves in the hinterlands of northeast Colorado? Well, it just so happens that this runner was aware of a trail that had good reviews spanning the distance between Greeley and Windsor - and Greeley was just a hop, skip, and jump away. So! Off to the Poudre River Trail we went!
Second goal: The Poudre River Trail (https://poudretrail.org/)
The full length of the trail runs 21 miles, following the Cache la Poudre River corridor which turned out offer a dandy bit of bird watching - literally hundreds of geese plus bald eagles and a water bird I have yet to identify - as well as a beautifully plowed surface (much appreciated after days and days of running on snow and ice around Boulder) going along the river, through farmlands, past tumbleweeds and almost always with a view of the Rockies to the west.
The building of the trail was quite an accomplishment with folks working on the trail from both the Greeley and Windsor ends putting together all the bits and pieces until both directions came together culminating in the trail version of the Golden Spike, connecting the west and east sections in December 2008.
Taz and I ran several miles of the trail, walking a bit with Kendall at the start, in the middle, and at the end (thus making it a legitimate entry in our 70 in 70 quest).
Of course, after all of that walking and running, we were in need of sustenance. And, of course, Kendall being Kendall, he had researched barbecue joints while I was finishing my run along the trail. He located a promising bbq restaurant in the nearby town of Loveland and, after picking up our take-out order, we looked for a park where we could eat our lunch. That led us to our third adventure of the day: the Chapungu Sculpture Park.
Third goal: Chapungu Sculpture Park (https://chapunguatcenterra.com)
This park covers 26 acres filled with over 80 stone sculptures making it the largest outdoor art center in the United States devoted to the stone sculptors of Zimbabwe, with each sculpture made from stone from Zimbabwe. "Chapungu" is the African name for the Bateleur eagle,
an African eagle possessed of great presence and exceptional power of
flight. The Zimbabwe people revere Chapungu as a spirit messenger, a protecting spirit and a good omen. Different themes are portrayed as you wander through the grounds: Nature and the Environment, Village Life, the Role of Women, the Elders, the Spirit World, Customs and Legend, and the Family and the Children. This was an exquisite addition to our day's adventures.
This is my favorite of all of the sculptures.
"Mawuya" (Welcome)
"My home is your home! You will share all I have"
by Colleen Madamombe
All in all, an absolutely wonderful day for our 70 in 70 quest!
