A few years ago, my family and I visited some places that were important in the life of my father. “Memory Lane” took us out to Marvel, where my father pointed out an old cabin where he lived the first few years of his life. Then he told us that his family homestead was in that area, and the home that my grandfather built in the 1930s - from hand-cut logs, insulated with newspapers, cardboard, and flour sacks - might still be standing.
My father passed before we could visit the homestead. I realized tha I had no idea how to locate the homestead, or even the cabin where he lived his first years of life. Fortunately, I found the La Plata Open Space Conservancy (LPOSC) on the internet.
The LPOSC staff were incredibly responsive to my request for help, conducting internet research, calling Marvel residents who might know something about the structures, and even making in-person visits to landowners to gather information for us. They were able to determine that both structures were still standing, the location of each, and get permission for my family to visit each of the sites this summer.
Not only does the LPOSC preserve natural spaces, water and farm lands in the region, but in establishing conservancy agreements, it protects historical relics as well, such as our family homestead.
This organization deserves the support and admiration of the people of Southwest Colorado and all the families whose heritage the LPOSC has helped to preserve.
Dale PetersonLongmont
