Vintage: Douglas County, Colorado (19th Century)

Vintage: Douglas County, Colorado (19th Century)

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

Douglas County was one of the original 17 counties created in the Colorado Territory by the Colorado Territorial Legislature on November 1, 1861. The county was named in honor of U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, who died five months before the county was created. The county seat was originally Franktown, but was moved to California Ranch in 1863, and then to Castle Rock in 1874. Although the county’s boundaries originally extended eastward to the Kansas state border, in 1874 most of the eastern portion of the county became part of Elbert County.

Plum Avenue in Sedalia, Colorado, looking southeast, 1890

Plum Avenue in Sedalia, Colorado, looking southeast, 1890

The Marquis Victor house on Plum Avenue in Sedalia, Colorado built before 1876 by John Craig. The house is two stories, brick, and has a pitched roof with a chimney in the back, 1890

The Marquis Victor house on Plum Avenue in Sedalia, Colorado built before 1876 by John Craig. The house is two stories, brick, and has a pitched roof with a chimney in the back, 1890

The Weaver House at 5068 N. Plum Avenue in Sedalia, Colorado, 1893

The Weaver House at 5068 N. Plum Avenue in Sedalia, Colorado, 1893

Manhart Store and house, Plum Avenue, Sedalia, Colorado, 1895

Manhart Store and house, Plum Avenue, Sedalia, Colorado, 1895

Meat market, Sedalia, Colorado, 1895

Meat market, Sedalia, Colorado, 1895

Sedalia creamery which stood 'south of the railroad tracks, near East Plum Creek on land purchased from Lizzie Beeman', 1895

Sedalia creamery which stood ‘south of the railroad tracks, near East Plum Creek on land purchased from Lizzie Beeman’, 1895

Sedalia creamery which stood 'south of the railroad tracks, near East Plum Creek on land purchased from Lizzie Beeman', 1895

Sedalia creamery which stood ‘south of the railroad tracks, near East Plum Creek on land purchased from Lizzie Beeman’, 1895

United States Cavalry leaving Sedalia, Colorado, July 9, 1985

United States Cavalry leaving Sedalia, Colorado, July 9, 1985

Men standing on and near wagons with a team of four horses, West Creek, Colorado, Feb. 25, 1896

Men standing on and near wagons with a team of four horses, West Creek, Colorado, Feb. 25, 1896

Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad area north of Sedalia, Colorado looking north, 1897

Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad area north of Sedalia, Colorado looking north, 1897

 El Capitan Livery Stable and Feed Store, Castle Rock, Colorado, 1897

El Capitan Livery Stable and Feed Store, Castle Rock, Colorado, 1897

Children and women pose outside the Jarre Creek School, in use from 1888-1908 at the mouth of Jarre Canyon near Highway 67 west of Sedalia, 1898

Children and women pose outside the Jarre Creek School, in use from 1888-1908 at the mouth of Jarre Canyon near Highway 67 west of Sedalia, 1898

Manhart Store and Sedalia Post Office, Plum Avenue, Sedalia, Colorado, 1885

Manhart Store and Sedalia Post Office, Plum Avenue, Sedalia, Colorado, 1885

A couple (George Nickson and Sarah Paddison Nickson) stands outside their cabin was which made of logs and has a stone chimneyin the West Plum Creek area, 1887

A couple (George Nickson and Sarah Paddison Nickson) stands outside their cabin was which made of logs and has a stone chimneyin the West Plum Creek area, 1887

Group of people posed near debris after 'a big fire' in Sedalia, Colorado, 1889

Group of people posed near debris after ‘a big fire’ in Sedalia, Colorado, 1889

 Two young women sitting on Castle Rock, view to the south. Town of Castle Rock is visible in the distance, 1889

Two young women sitting on Castle Rock, view to the south. Town of Castle Rock is visible in the distance, 1889

Whittier family and house, Castle Rock, 1889

Whittier family and house, Castle Rock, 1889

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Depot, Sedalia, Colorado, 1890

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Depot, Sedalia, Colorado, 1890

via Archives and Local History at DCL


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