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Los Caminos Antiguos
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Wayside Excursion: Manassa
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| The town of Manassa was founded by Mormon emigrants in 1879. Named after a son of the Israelite, Joseph, Manassa was located a short distance from two ranches purchased by the Mormons from Hispanos on the south side of the Conejos River, across from Los Cerritos. The selection of the land for the colony was made on the assurance that the railroad would soon be built nearby. One year later the railroad passed just three miles west of the colony and the original 75 member group grew to nearly 400. |
| Although the Mormon emigrants were inexperienced in farming irrigated land and the growing season was much shorter than that to which they were accustomed, the Manassa colony proved to be a success. Soon, however, hostilities by some non-Mormon neighbors began to occur. Having received a hospitable welcome from prominent Hispanos a year before, Hispanos dammed the Conejos River to prevent the Mormons from drawing water for irrigation. Boldly, the Mormons knocked down the dams. Too, rumors began to circulate about the Mormons. The rumors, many of which were championed in Denver’s newspapers, declared that the Mormons were polygamists and thieves bent on establishing bases all across the state so that they could eventually rule the state. The rumors were of course unfounded, and the Manassa colony eventually earned the respect of their neighbors. |
| The first public buildings in Manassa were a school and a church, quickly followed by a cooperative store and a flour mill. The Manassa post office opened in 1879. |
| The success of the settlers in Manassa led to the founding of several other Mormon colonies and towns. In 1881, Mormon newcomers settled Ephraim, four miles from Manassa. In 1882, nearby Richfield was settled. Both however, were abandoned when irrigation waters caused the water tables to rise and the land became waterlogged. In 1886, Morgan, located 15 miles northwest of Manassa, was established, and by 1888 Sanford, located a half mile from Ephraim, was becoming the most prosperous community in the area. In addition to the communities around Manassa, Mormon settlements were developed in other parts of the valley. By the early 1900s however, most had been abandoned and the Mormons, also known as Latter-day Saints, restricted their activities to the area around Manassa. |
| Manassa is also the birthplace of William Harrison Dempsey. Born in 1895, “Harry” as his family called him, became known as “Jack” Dempsey or the “Manassa Mauler,” a world heavyweight boxing champion. One of 11 children, Jack Dempsey left home at the age of 16 and traveled throughout the west on freight trains. In the company of hobos, and settling periodically in mining towns, Dempsey learned to fight as a means of survival. Known for his knockout victories and bouts that sometimes lasted only a few seconds, Dempsey won more than 80 professional fights by the time he was 24 years of age. After holding the heavyweight title for seven years, Dempsey was defeated in 1926 by Gene Tunney. In 1927 the two fought again and Tunney was again victorious. |
| During his career, Dempsey was often times the object of negative publicity. Sportswriters often referred to him as an “animal hypnotized by his own ferocity.” Others labeled him a “slacker” because he did not fight in World War I. After his second defeat to Tunney, the “Manassa Mauler” boxed in exhibition fights until 1940 when he retired to become a successful restaurant owner in New York. Dempsey died on May 31, 1983. |
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