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| Anna Kennicott and kitten |
Courtesy, Colorado Historical Society
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Eugenia R. Kennicott, 1899
CHS.X7959
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Frontier Pathways
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Segment 3: The Promise of Paradise
Standards-Based Themes: Human-Environmental Interaction, Preservation, and Settlement
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Summary
The Homestead Act of 1862 brought thousands of settlers to the Wet Mountain Valley. All were attracted by the promise of owning land in what they thought of as a paradise. If a settler lived on the land for five years, 160 acres would be his, but staying the course was not easy. Some were successful, such as the Kennicott family. Others did not last even a year. The Colfax Colony was an attempt by German immigrants to farm the land communally, with the intention of selling their crops to nearby towns. An extremely early winter coupled with a disastrous storehouse fire forced the colony to disband before spring. Many of the colonists stayed in the area, moving to nearby settlements or farming their own homesteads. Hope Lutheran Church still stands as a testament to their resolve and determination to build a life in Colorado.
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Vocabulary
Homestead Act
homesteaders
immigrants
obstacles
paradise
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Pre-Viewing Focus
The Landscape
- Why did the Colfax settlers think that the Wet Mountain Valley was the right place for their settlement? Did it meet their expectations?
The American Dream
- Who came to the Colfax Colony and why?
- How successful were the settlers in their attempt to establish a new community? Give reasons for your answer.
- How long did the Colfax Colony last?
- What happened to the Colfax settlers?
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Post-Viewing Discussion
The Landscape
- In what ways are mountains both an inspiration and an obstacle?
The American Dream
- What contributions to the area did the Colfax settlers make, even though their colony was unsuccessful?
- What qualities did these and other early settlers need to survive in this area?
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