Pioneer Town Museum
Pioneer Town History
A visit to Pioneer Town is like a trip back into early years of the county
By Paul Ash, The Valley Heartbeat
CEDAREDGE - One of the many prime attractions of Cedaredge is
Pioneer Town, located just two blocks south of downtown Cedaredge.
Visitors can travel back 100 or more years in time at the special
attraction, operated by the Surface Creek Valley Historical Society.
The entrance to Pioneer Town is through the Cedaredge Welcome
Center, a visitors information center at the east entrance to
Pioneer Town. It contains free informational brochures about
Cedaredge, the Surface Creek Valley, and Grand Mesa.
Pioneer Town, a continuing project of the Surface Creek Valley
Historical Society, allows guests to take a look back at the early
years of Delta County. It includes an actual old town main street
and many other buildings filled with historical treasures of the
past.
A monument to the early settlers, Pioneer Town is complete with
many original restored structures, furnished and outfitted with the
artifacts of that period.
History of Surface Creek Valley Historical Society and Pioneer Town (click on individual sites for more information).
|
1980 |
Surface Creek Valley Historical Society formed. |
|
1981 |
Silos, erected in 1916-17, with the central portion of present Pioneer Town and access right of way leased, later donated.. Colby Store was moved from west of Cedaredge to the northwest end of what has become Main Street. It was originally used as a community building. Inside are original post office boxes from the first Lazear Post Office. |
| 1982 |
The Jail,
built in 1903, was donated by the Town of Cedaredge and moved to the southwest end of Main Street. The Girling collection of buildings and
artifacts was acquired and became the basis for Main Street. These included the
Lizard Head Saloon (The Lizard Head
Saloon features a bar which was originally from Crested
Butte),Mercantile
Store,
First State Bank
(features a chair donated by the Tabor Opera House in
Leadville),
Ditch and Water Co. Office (at first set up as a Wells
Fargo Office), Barber Shop (complete with antique chair and all the supplies and
equipment used by Old West barbers), Creamery
(where locally famous Challenge Butter was originally
made), and Livery Stable. |
|
? |
The building housing the
States Museum and
Print Shop was built by the society, probably about the same time or shortly after the Girling collection was added.
The now-antique equipment inside was originally the home of the Surface Creek Champion Newspaper and Print Shop, which was operated between 1904 and 1943. On its
presses, the original Olathe newspaper was printed and many of the early-day papers are on display. It was designed so that the new blended with the old on the museum’s
Main Street. Later, exhibits were rearranged to make space for the Doctors office.
|
| 1983 |
Peterson’s
log cabin, built in 1884-85 was moved from west of Cedaredge. |
| 1986 |
The
Wagon Shed was built by the Cedaredge Lions Club. |
| 1987 |
Restrooms built by the Society was financed by the Cedaredge Rotary Club. Sand Creek Schoolhouse
, with space for the Office, and Archives was moved from west of Cedaredge. Left abandoned and donated to Pioneer Town, has been restored close to its
original features. The school educated youngsters from the grades 1-8 and was used from the early 1900s to the 1930s. |
| 1988 |
3 ½ acres west of Main Street were purchased with the assistance of Don and Inez Petersen. |
|
1989 |
Chapel of the Cross was constructed with funds
provided by the Petersen’s |
|
1990 |
Indian Museum was built by the society to house the
Sutherland Estate arrowhead and points collection.
Blacksmith Shop was built with funds and
materials provided by Melvin and Veda Doughty, who also
donated much of the contents. The blacksmith shop
represents the last of a series of such businesses, as
Cedaredge at one time boasted five blacksmith shops. The
restored shop of today features many of the old machines
used by blacksmiths of by-gone eras, donated by Melvin
Doughty of Doughty Steel in Delta. |
| 1991 |
Land east of the
silos (to 2nd Street and Highway 65) was
acquired with help from a trust fund.
Stolte Packing Shed was donated by Tom and Irene
Lowe and moved from north of Cedaredge. Probably
the most visible structure at Pioneer Town is the
historic Stolte Packing Shed, a Cedaredge landmark for
decades in the fruit packing business. Through
remodeling, this stately shed has been converted into a
multiple-use facility. |
| 1994 |
Austin Depot was moved from a long time temporary location in Delta. Welcome Center serves as the southern entrance to Grand Mesa Scenic Byway and Pioneer Town. |
| 1997 |
Veteran’s Memorial represents all of the local veteran groups. |
| 2000 |
Pioneer Monument is estimated to weigh 11 tons, quarried in Marble, Co, the monument honors Pioneers of
Delta County. Doll and Toy House built by the society, displays an outstanding collection of loaned and donated childhood treasures. |
| 2006 |
Rangers Cabin moved from Grand Mesa was most likely constructed in 1934-35 by CCC Camp workers to be used as storage shed. It was dedicated in 2007. |
PIONEER TOWN HISTORY
Where were the Bar I Silos originally built?
CLICK HERE for the answer