Name/Title
History of Julesburg and Surrounding Country, 1964Entry/Object ID
AM1987.31.4ACScope and Content
History of Julesburg and Surrounding Country,1964, The earliest history of Julesburg came during the operation of the Pony Express and Overland Stage Route. The station was established on the south side of the river east of the mouth of Lodge Pole creek. The first division agent was Jules Coffey who operated a saloon.
The Pony Express was established in April 1860. The trip form St. Joseph to San Francisco took ten days. It cost five dollars to send a letter from St. Joseph to San Francisco. With hard riding a letter could arrive within eight days and cost two dollars.
There was a need for a railroad to carry supplies and 1863 the Union Pacific Railroad was completed. The Railroad began at Omaha and San Francisco and the connecting rail was laid at Ogden and San Francisco and it was spiked with a gold spike sent from California, while a train load of people from New York and one from San Francisco looked on and cheered.
During the time from 1860-1869 the Pony Express and Overland stage lines operated.
During the gold rush in 1849 thousands went over the old Oregon Trail which went through Ash Hollow.
Reasons why Julesburg should be named as a National Historic site or landmark: The town has existed since the 1850's. It had four different sites, all of historic importance: Jules Beni started a trading Post for Indians, trappers and traders on the Old Trader's trail into Colorado near mouth of Lodgepole creek.. The Upper California crossing became famous landmark in the Oregon and California Trails, Junction at Julesburg where travelers into Colorado continued along the South Platte, those headed further west crossed the Platte and up the Lodgepole Valley. First stage and freight line station built here by Russell, Majors and Waddell. Only Pony Express Station in Colorado.
During this period developed the famous feud between Jules and Jack Slade, division superintendent for the Overland stages. The much publicized story about the death of Jules when he was shot by Slade.
The first telegraph station in Colorado was built when first Transcontinental Telegraph line was completed to the Pacific in October 1861. It crossed the Platte at Julesburg and followed the Lodgepole toward Fort Laramie. The Overland Stage line was switched from the North Platte route to the south Platte instead of crossing the Platte at Julesburg and continued along the South Platte to Latham near Denver. The first telegraph line extended from Julesburg into Denver along south Platte to Fort Morgan from there into Denver on what was called the Cut Off Road.
Indian attacks along Platte stopped all travel into Denver during late summer 1864. Camp Rankin, renamed Fort Sedwick was established just west of Julesburg to protect the important lines of travel and communication, restored travel. First attach on Julesburg and Fort by united Sioux, Apapaho and Cheyennes in retaliation for San Creek
Battle. There were only 37 soldiers under Captain O'Brien to fight off over 1,000 warriors. Citizens fled to Fort for protection, 15 soldiers, 5 citizens and about 60 Indians reported killed in battle. The town plundered but the fort stood.
Julesburg burned in second battle which was part of a general attack, between Julesburg and Fort Morgan. Practically all stage stations and telegraph lines were destroyed in that area, but the fort stood. Julesburg built up 3 miles east as a stage station, also used by Nebraska City-Denver freight line. Julesburg is platted and recorded in Weld County CO. The first railroad station in Colorado was built in June 1867. It became an important Union Pacific shipping point for great cattle ranches such as cliff cattle Kingdom which stretched from Greely to Julesburg.
It was a junction where Denver Branch Line joined the main line of the Union Pacific. Homesteaders started moving in and the 4th Julesburg site was located at the Junction of the rails.
Italian caves were dug near Devil's Drive by Alberto Gibello.
Irrigation began in this area, and development of modern cattle industry in the 1890's.The Julesburg or jumbo Reservoir was completed, and opened way to extensive irrigation and Sugar beet farming which lead to large G. W. factory near site of 1st Julesburg now Ovid, Colorado.
Archeologist discoveries proved existence of prehistoric Folsom people along Platte river in this area near Julesburg, Stone, tools, pottery, arrowheads and other Indian artifacts were identified. Many Indian Village sites where mapped by L. R. Lytle. These are in the Julesburg Historical Museum.
In 1950's discoveries of oil and gas were found in Julesburg Basin. later called the Denver Julesburg Basin. In 1969 when Interstate 80 was being worked on they uncovered prehistoric fossils of mastodon and other animals, dating back several million years in age. The Interstate follows Old Trails between Julesburg 4 and site of 1st Julesburg Junction of 80W and 80E.Lexicon
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Pony expressSearch Terms
Julesburg, C, Fort Morgan, Denver, CO, Platte Valley, Lodgepole, Julesburg, Colorado HistoryRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Jules CoffeyPerson or Organization
Alberto GibelloPerson or Organization
Aleander MajorsPerson or Organization
Waddell, WilliamPerson or Organization
William RussellPerson or Organization
Jule BeniPerson or Organization
L. R. Lytle