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OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PHONE (970) 356-4000, EXT. 4200
i
FAX: (970) 352-0242
915 10TH STREET
O P.O. BOX 758
111 GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
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COLORADO
August 3, 1998
Esther McCrumb
Executive Director
South Platte Valley Historical Society
POB 633
Ft. Lupton CO 80621
Dear Ms. McCrumb:
In response to your July 21 inquiry regarding Weld County contributing state lottery dollars toward the
development of the Fort Lupton Historical Park, the board would like to offer the following. Prior to
1987, Weld County had sufficient state lottery dollars to pay for the maintenance and capital
enhancements of the two county parks (Missile Site Park and Island Grove Park) and still offer limited
funds to other projects throughout the county. Since 1987, all state lottery funds have been devoted to
just maintaining the two county parks. As a result, no state lottery dollars are available for projects like
the Fort Lupton Historical Park.
Considering limited county resources, we do not anticipate contributing county dollars to park projects
within municipalities in the county. Besides devoting all state lottery dollars to the two county parks, we
have committed to contributing added capital to enhance facilities at Island Grove Park. This will be in
the form of an indoor arena that all county residents can use.
Although the county views the Fort Lupton Historical Park as a very worthwhile project, we do not
foresee the county being able to provide financial assistance with the project for some time. Our
resources are very limited, and there are heavy demands for money to fund projects such as additional
jail space and transportation enhancements to cope with the growth in Weld County.
We hope you understand our position on this matter.
Very truly yours,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
J, Constance L. Harbert, hair
William H.Webster, Pro Tern / Geor E. Baxter /
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Dale K. Hall a bars J. Kirkmey
cc: Don Warden
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South Platte Valley Historical Society
P.O. Box 633, Ft. Lupton, Colorado 8062/
President John W.Willard-659-3531 V.Pres.Sammy Hammers-333-2147
Secretary-Bill Crowley-970-395-0960 Treasurer-Marlene Stieber-857-2337
Membership Sec.Genevieve LeBlanc-857-2756 Executive Director Esther McCrumb-857-2123
Directors
James Angerer-7340742 Hattie McCoy-659-0860
Leon Burlew-785-6363 Charles Nesmith-466-3959
Joan Gabel-857-2152 Charles Rankin-857-4719
Albert Hause-659-3116 Gene Reynolds-857-2300
George Kennedy-536-4646 Larry Thiesen-857-2235
July 21, 1998
Chairman Connie Harbert and
Members of Weld County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 7558
Greeley, CO 80632
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter is to request a meeting with you to discuss your contributing Colorado Lottery funds towards
development of the Fort Lupton Historic Park.
I enclose the report that our board accepted last month from Tim Katers of CSU-DOLA Community
Technical Assistance. This is the first really comprehensive plan for development of the Historic Park.
We are proceeding with a construction fundraising campaign to build the replica of Old Fort Lupton and
a Visitor Center/Museum/Research Center. Our goal on the fundraising is between $1.5 million and $2
million. Lottery funds would certainly help make this happen.
We are completing restoration of the 1875 Independence School under a State Historical Fund grant, and
have just accepted a $65,930 Historical Fund grant to restore the Donelson House, the focus of the
historic farm portion of the park.
We have been working at this since 1988, redoubling our efforts since the death of our President, John
Martin. As you are probably aware, his dream was for a first-class facility that would educationally and
economically benefit not only Fort Lupton, but Weld County as well.
I also enclose a Case Statement that gives more information about the Society, together with several of
our brochures.
Sincerely,
Esther V. McCrumb
Executive Director
Ends. q yg 9
South Platte .Valley Historical Society
P.O. Box 633, Ft. Lupton, Colorado 80621
Case Statement
Much of Colorado history has already been lost,unthinkingly destroyed as development continues. Thus,every student of
Colorado history has to rely on the written word, hoping that all significant facts and sites have been duly noted. The site of Historic
Fort Lupton,built in 1836,has been purchased by South Platte Valley Historical Society with a plan to rebuild the fort on its original
site.The site and land immediately surrounding it was zoned for heavy industry, and that spurred the charter members of the Society
to action to salvage the site before it was lost forever to"progress."
Fort Lupton schools had an enrollment of 2,452 in 1994.Potential K-12 student visitors to the site would be about 105,000
students from school districts in Larimer, Weld,Boulder,and Adams Counties,the Northern Front Range. The educational value of
the reconstructed fort and research center/museum, as well as the living history activities being carried on now,is significant.
Tourism,becoming a major economic factor in Colorado,as estimated by the Community Development Center,University of
Colorado at Denver,will bring 90,000 visitors annually to the completed project.
Recently, a family has donated a schoolhouse built in 1875 to the Society. It has been moved to the historic farm portion of the
Society's land, and it is being restored with the help of a State Historical Fund grant. Value of the restoration is over$56,000.
Another donation was a late-1860s homestead house that has been moved to the Historic Park and will be restored when funds
become available.
Background
The South Platte Valley Historical Society,a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization,was incorporated March 9, 1988,to collect,
preserve, and maintain items and sites of historical significance to the South Platte Valley area. The goal of the Society is to develop
a living history park. With purchases,lease-purchase,and land donations,the park encompasses nearly 100 acres. The project will:
*Restore the 1875 Independence School and the Donelson Homestead House
•Rebuild historic Fort Lupton
*Build a visitor center which will contain a research center,museum, meeting room, and ancillary features
*Develop a Rendezvous area,nature area, and historic farm which will include the school,the Donelson House and outbuildings
It is estimated the entire project will cost$3 -$5 million over a period of ten years.
Accomplishments
In 1989 the Society purchased 3.4 acres containing the original site of the adobe fort.
In 1991 the Fort Lupton Development Corporation donated about 15 acres of a 20-acre island in the South Platte River adjacent
to the park site.
In 1991 some preliminary archaeological exploration of the fort site was conducted.
In 1992 the City of Fort Lupton purchased over 52 acres of the master plan site,which the Society is purchasing over a 30-year
period.
In 1994,under a State Historical Fund Grant,additional archaeology work was conducted to learn more about Lancaster
Lupton's adobe fort before plans are drawn for its reconstruction
In 1995,the Helen Parker Trust donated another 25+acres of land along the river,bringing SPVHS holdings to about 100 acres
In 1996,a Colorado Historical Fund grant in the amount of$29,998 was awarded to restore the 1875 Independence School
In 1996,the James White family donated the Donelson Homestead House which was moved to the site and set on a foundation
The Society is made up of a president,vice president, secretary, membership secretary,treasurer, and ten-member Board of
Directors,and a membership(approximately 400)from across the nation as well as the Front Range of Colorado. All functions of
the Society are performed by volunteers; there are no paid employees. The Executive Director,a Society member, serves without
compensation.
Major Goals
*During development,continue living history events, i.e.,Buckskinners Rendezvous,black powder shoots, and Spring Ball with
authentic 1800s music
*Rebuild Historic Fort Lupton and construct a visitor center/research center/museum
*Develop an Artisans Village that will be educational and help sustain operation of the Fort Lupton Historic Park
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