Continuing on his pictorial tour of the Eastern Plains, Denver Newspaper Agency state circulation manager Rick Charbonneau offers this alternative to actually roasting marshmallows over an open flame (it’s the responsible thing to do, what with summer fire bans and all.) Where is this ad? Tell us what you know about the place and the ad in a note to coloradosunday@denverpost.com. Include a digital photo of yourself and tell us where you live. We’ll pick at least one story to share next week. The best wins a $50 gas card.
How’d you know?
Last week: Pike’s Tower, Lamar
THE WINNER: Deon Wolfenbarger, Nederland
Pike’s Tower is located in Willow Creek Park. It is a 40-foot tall observation tower, combining elements of Rustic park architecture with Craftsman details. It was built to commemorate the campgrounds of Zebulon Pike. Local historian R.L. “Bob” Christy investigated Pike’s journey through Colorado and came to the conclusion that Pike camped on Willow Creek.
The tower was constructed in 1938, at the height of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl as a Works Progress Administration project.
Willow Creek Park was originally conceived as a flood-control project funded by a New Deal program that preceded the WPA, the Civil Works Administration. This was the very first CWA project in the state (an entry sign to the park erroneously states that it was the first WPA project in the state). There were numerous New Deal projects in Willow Creek Park over the years, many of which still remain, including the stone caretaker’s residence, stone walls and small foot bridges.
The park was one of the largest phased work-relief projects in eastern Colorado during the Depression, which was devastated by the combined effects of the economic depression and the decade-long drought; the Willow Creek projects employed several hundred men over a period of five years.
This tower was recently surveyed as part of the “New Deal Survey Project in Eastern Colorado,” funded by a State Historic Fund grant and conducted by Colorado Preservation Inc. A nomination for listing Willow Creek Park on the National Register of Historic Places is being prepared.
FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE: Robbi Rose Zamora, Aurora
Zebulon Pike camped here in 1805. Wow! 200 years ago. I recognized the structure at first glance, having been born and raised in Lamar. My brother and I jumped in the car and took these photos. I still enjoy the tower as much as I did as a child. Thanks to Rick Charbonneau, I ran up it twice just for old time’s sake.
THAR SHE FLOWS: Tim Weeks, Eads
Zebulon Pike tower, in the south end of Willow Creek Park, survived the flood in 1965 and served as a great lookout to see the damage caused by the flooding coming in from the south by way of Clay and Willow creeks. I graduated from Lamar in 1970 and now live in Eads but work in Lamar.
