Podcast Episode 72 - The town of Howbert, Colorado and its loss under a lake

The town of Howbert, Colorado was once an important railway loading station for cattle and lumber. In this episode, we’ll discuss the establishment of the town and life there. And we’ll talk about how the abandoning of the railroad and Denver’s ambitions were its doom.

The South Park Hotel built by Hardy and Josephine Eppersons in 1888. Photo borrowed from the article in The Flume, Parked in the Past, 46 Years in Howbert. Click the photo for the source.

The Epperson family. From left to right: Hardy, Mecia, Albert (front middle), and Josephine. Photo borrowed from the article in The Flume, Parked in the Past, 46 Years in Howbert. Click the photo for the source.

References:

Colorado Parks & Wildlife. (n. d.) Eleven Mile – History. Colorado Parks & Wildlife. https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/ElevenMile/Pages/History.aspx. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

Pikes Peak Library District. (n. d.). Irving Howbert 1846-1934. Colorado Biographies. https://ppld.org/sites/default/files/kids/biographies/IrvingHowbert.pdf. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

D&RGW.net. (n. d.). The Colorado Midland Railway. Rio Grande Info. https://www.drgw.net/info/ColoradoMidland. Retrieved June 26, 2023

Hawkins, E. M. & Cleghorn, E. S. (1884, July 31). We learn that the saw mill… The Fairplay Flume.

Hawkins, E. M. & Cleghorn, E. S. (1888, October 18). From the Park. The Fairplay Flume. 4.

Hawkins, E. M. & Cleghorn, E. S. (1893, October 26). Howbert Items. The Fairplay Flume. 1.

Paddock, L. C. (1915, August 28). THIRTY-FIVE HURT IN MIDLAND WRECK. The Daily Camera. 1.

11 Mile General Store. (n. d.). 11 MILE RESERVOIR HISTORY. Learn About the History of 11 Mile Reservoir. 11 Mile General Store. https://www.11milegeneralstore.com/history. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

Van Dusen, L. (2012, October 26). Parked in the Past 46 years in Howbert: Former ranching, railroading community covered by Eleven Mile Reservoir. The Flume. https://storage.snappages.site/o23zokrvom/assets/files/Flume-Parked-in-the-Past-46-years-in-How-30.pdf. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

Adams, J. (2021, June 29). Where does your water come from? Denver Water. https://www.denverwater.org/tap/where-does-your-water-come?size=n_21_n. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

Hoffmann, R. (2023, May 23). Looking back at Park County: Howbert, Colo. Sinks into history. The Flume. https://www.theflume.com/free_content/article_edde8b0a-c175-11e7-bc53-af57c3deccac.html. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

Kiddle. (2023, June 17). Howbert, Colorado Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia. https://kids.kiddle.co/Howbert,_Colorado. Retrieved June 26, 2023.