Building Douglas County-Douglas County Timeline

	Castle Rock		Cherry Valley/ Spring Valley/ Greenland		Franktown		Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree		Larkspur
	Louviers		Mountains		Parker		Roxborough		Sedalia

Parker, CO was originally called Pine Grove. This photo shows the landscape of early Parker, It was probably taken around 1900. Douglas County History Research Center #666.01

This early photo of Sedalia shows the railroad tracks and the second Manhart Store. The photo was taken before 1894. Douglas County History Research Center #687.538

The Castle Rock Methodist Church sat on the corner of Wilcox and 3rd Streets before it was moved one block to the corner of 3rd and Perry. It was the first church built in Douglas County. The church was completed in 1887. Douglas County History Research Center #678.103

This early photo of two girls sitting on Castle Rock shows a good panorama of the Town of Castle Rock. The Douglas County Courthouse is under construction in the upper right hand side of the image. c.1888. Douglas County History Research Center #xxx.118

The Santa Fe Quarry was located west of Plum Creek, and provided Rhyolite for the construction of many buildings in Castle Rock and Denver. The rhyolite quarries eventually closed at the beginning of the 20th century. Douglas County History Research Center #97011.4

The Castlewood Canyon Dam was built in 1890, and is visible at Castlewood Canyon State Park today. The dam burst in 1933 after several days of heavy rain weakened it. Douglas County History Research Center #93005.027.2

The Douglas County Courthouse was completed in 1889 and sat in the center of Castle Rock, it was destroyed by a fire in 1978. Douglas County History Research Center #678.01

This is a rare interior photo of the Douglas County Courthouse courtroom. It was probably taken around 1900. Douglas County History Research Center #678.107

The first Douglas County Fair was held in 1892 in Castle Rock, the second was held in 1894. The next fair was not held until 1918, and because of the gap, was also called the "first" Douglas County Fair. The fair books held advertising from businesses in Denver and Douglas County. Douglas County History Research Center

Gold fever swept the Platte River Valley in the 1890's after reports of strikes reached the east. By 1896, Westcreek, the largest of the gold rush towns, had a post office, and in 1897 it had a school. Most prospectors left after 1900, when little gold had been discovered. Douglas County History Research Center #654.16

The Rock Ridge Post Office in southeastern Douglas County was also known as the Case or Irving. Douglas County History Research Center #654.13

The Cantril School was built on "schoolhouse hill" in Castle Rock after the original wooden courthouse was destroyed by a fire in 1896. The building was completed in 1898 and held the first classes of Douglas County High School. Douglas County History Research Center #678.06

1882

* March 17 - Pine Grove Post Office changes to Parker (Bauer, Post Offices, p.113)

* Denver and Rio Grande renames Plum station Sedalia. (Appleby p.163)

* The town of Sedalia is platted by the National Land and Improvement Company. (Machann p.2; Hall Vol. III, p.365)

* With the arrival of the Denver and New Orleans Railroad, J. S. Parker renames Pine Grove Parker because there was already a Pine Grove Station on the Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railroad.

* Second Glen Grove School constructed after the first was destroyed by fire. (Marr p.201)

1883

* Fonder school burns down, rebuilt with rhyolite. (Miller p.65)

1884

* Indian Park school built. (Marr p. 229)

* Larkspur school built. (Marr p.188)

1885

* Frank Allison constructs Twin Houses on his ranch. (Marr Sept 7, 1972)

* Spring Valley School built. (Our Heritage)

1886

* November - Goldale School opens. (Marr p.59)

* Elias Ammons and Thomas Dawson begin ranching on the South Platte River. Ammons would latter become governor of Colorado, while Dawson Butte in central Douglas County was named in honor of Thomas Dawson. (Encyclopedia p.124)

1887

* The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe rail line is built through Douglas County. (Weir p.185)

* The Methodist Church in Castle Rock is completed. It is the first church in Douglas County. (Weir p.185)

* Castle Rock becomes the first school district in the county to have a nine month school term. (Weir p.185)

* Rock Ridge School is open and operating as Douglas County School District Number 24. (Castle Rock Journal April 20, 1887)

1888

* John Perry and Bela Hughes form Red Stone Town, Land and Mining Company, they begin plans to construct a resort community at Perry Park (Webb p. 24)

* Hilltop school opens in log building. (Cornish)

* St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is completed in Castle Rock. (Appleby p. 28)

* December 23 - Community church at Bear Canon is dedicated as St. Philip in the Field Episcopal Church. (Appleby p. 172)

1889

* Construction begins on the Douglas County Courthouse on Wilcox Street in Castle Rock. (Appleby p. 23)

* Santa Fe Quarry begins operations west of Castle Rock.

1890

* February 17 - Hill Top Post Office opens (Bauer, Post Offices, p.73)

* Denver and Rio Grande Railroad removes their spur from the town of Lehigh, marking the first time in the company's history that a spur is removed from a town.

* Douglas County has 28 school districts, with an enrollment of 612 students. (Weir p.185)

* July - Douglas County courthouse completed at a cost of $24,000. (Hall Vol. III, P.336)

* Castlewood Canyon Dam is built at a cost of $100,000. (Horan p.10)

* Larkspur school destroyed by tornado. (Marr p.188)

1891

*Forest Reserve Act Passes, creating Pike National Forest

1892

* March 11 - Perry Park Post Office opens (Bauer, Post Offices, p.112)

* Elias Ammons is elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives. He represents Douglas County. (Monnett p. 229)

* Red Stone Town, Land and Mining Company runs into legal problems when questions of ownership arise in regard to parts of Perry Park. (Webb p. 38)

* Greenland School built. (Our Heritage p.377)

* Douglas County Fair held for the first time.(Fair Books)

1893

*Colorado grants women the vote. (UCCS)

* July - Repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act causes Colorado economy to collapse. Many banks and businesses closed in the ensuing panic, including the John Mouat Lumber Company. (UCCS)

1895

* April - Gold is discovered in Tyler, in the mountains near Westcreek (Appleby p. 34)

* November 27 - Tyler Post Office opens (Bauer, Post Offices, p.144)

* Happy Canyon school already opened. (Castle Rock Journal Jan 18, 1896)

* Denver Water Board begins acquiring land along the Platte River in western Douglas County.(RMN 11 June 1988)

1896

* January 23 - Pemberton Post Office opens (Bauer, Post Offices, p.112)

* April 11 - Daffodil Post Office opens (Bauer, Post Offices, p.41)

* November - Castle Rock school burns down due to a defective flue. (Castle Rock Journal November 27, 1896)

* December 30 - Dakan Post Office established (Bauer, Post Offices, p.41)

* E. L. Rogers plats the town of Nighthawk to provide a base for lumbering and gold mining in the South Platte River area.

* March 16 - Gold mining town of Westcreek incorporated with post office.

* May - Glade School closed by measles epidemic (Castle Rock Journal May 6, 1896)

* May - New school built in Larkspur. (Larkspur Historical Society)

* Westcreek School opens (Cornish)

* First Ore Shipment from Westcreek

1897

* August 7 - Case Post Office opens, name changed from Rock Ridge. (Bauer, Post Offices, p.31)

* Cantril School built, includes high school curriculum. (Weir p.185, clippings notebook)

1898

* New Hilltop School built. (Miller p.66)

* Dewey School opened (District 34) (School Census)

* September 5 - Cantril School opens as Castle Rock High School. (Castle Rock Journal Aug 19, 1898)

* John Springer begins to acquire land in present day Highlands Ranch, eventually acquiring a large spread for cattle. (Appleby p.61)

1899

* July - Flintwood School (District 35) established. (Our Heritage p.374)

* Denver and New Orleans Railroad name changed to Colorado and Southern Railway.

* Cedar Grove or Larson's School is in operation as School District Number 33. (School Tax)

* Townsite of Douglas is officially vacated.