Closing the Frontier - Douglas County Timeline

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

The Cedar Hill Cemetery was established outside Castle Rock in 1875, this photo was taken by M. King, January 31, 1935, Photo courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Department.

The wooden Castle Rock School was built in 1875. It burned down in 1896, reportedly due to a defective flue. It was built on "Schoolhouse hill," Cantril School is built on the location of the wooden school on Cantril Street between Third and Fourth Streets in Castle Rock. Photo from Douglas County News, May 11, 1972.

Castle Rock's Denver and Rio Grande Depot was built in 1875. The depot originally sat next to the railroad tracks in downtown Castle Rock, but it was moved to Elbert Street in the 1970's. The building now houses the Castle Rock Museum. Douglas County History Research Center #678.04

The Owens House opened in Castle Rock in 1879, it was one of the major businesses in town through the 19th century. Douglas County History Research Center #97032

George Crofutt's Grip Sack Guide to Colorado, published in 1881, encouraged people to travel west.

1875

* The town of Greenland is established by Fred Z. Salmon. (Hall Vol. III. p.336)

* Greenland was named by Helen Hunt Jackson (Johnson p.1)

* A wooden-frame school is built on the current day site of Cantril. (Our Heritage p.368)

* Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Station built at Castle Rock (now Castle Rock Museum.) (Clippings Notebooks)

* Cedar Hill cemetery established in Castle Rock (Appleby p.21)

* January 20 - California Ranch burns down south of Franktown for the last time, and is not rebuilt. (Appleby p.49)

1876

* Colorado becomes a state.

* The Plum Creek Toll Road company establishes a toll road south of Larkspur. (Larkspur p. 1)

1877

* Ferdinand Hayden completes his Atlas of Colorado, the first detailed survey of the state.

* October 11 - Platte Canyon Post Office opens (Bauer, Post Offices, p.115)

* Pratt or Cherry School (District 20) is built on West Cherry Creek. (Marr p.53)

1879

* (circa) Brick school building constructed on Allison Ranch. (Miller p.66)

* Kelly/Gann School constructed. (Our Heritage p.372)

* Big Dry Creek Cheese Ranch established in northern Douglas County. (Appleby p.69)

* The Owens House opens as a hotel in Castle Rock (Appleby p. 27)

1880s Prior to 1887

* East Cherry Creek School opens. (Everest p.10)

1880

* The town of Douglas is platted by the National Land and Improvement Company. The town serves a shipping point for rhyolite. (Weir p.185)(plat)

* The John Mouat Lumber Company opens the first sawmill on the banks of the Platte River at the site of the current town of Trumbul. (Appleby p. 33)

* Castle Rock ditch system built to provide irrigation water for the town. (Douglas County News - Press 1/21/1995)

1881

* Ute tribes are removed onto reservations. (CSA)

* The Denver Coal Company starts shipments of coal from the town of Lehigh, located west of Sedalia. (Marr p.106)

* O'Brien Quarry starts operations southeast of Castle Rock.

* The town of Castle Rock is incorporated. Irving S. Morse is the mayor, George Triplett is the clerk and recorder. Members of the town council are John G. Baldwin, David Owens, Thomas King, and Dr. A Johnson. (Weir p.185) (Appleby p.8)

* The town of Acequia is established by the National Land and Improvement Company. (Weir p.185)

* George Crofutt's Grip Sack Guide to Colorado is published. Thousands of people come west as tourists. (Appleby p.104)