and
CEMETERY
102nd and Riverdale Road
Research Team:
Michelle Palm
Debbie Pech
Transaction To Obtain Church Property
One hundred years ago, a little frame church and cemetery stood on the west side of Riverdale road. Its parsonage still remains, though boarded up, northeast of the Larkspur Trailer court.
The first recorded transaction dealing with the land on which the church sat was a Military Bounty Patent, received by John J. Brewer from the U.S. Government.
On March 1, 1867, Brewer Bold a portion of his 160 acres of land to Jacob and Emily Ike. Ike sold an acre of his land to the Platte Valley Baptist Church on April 19, 1873.
On October 27, 1903. Brewer transferred one-fourth acres, immediately north of the acre of ground on which the Platte Valley Congregational Church sat, to the Colorado Congregational Association.
The Colorado Congregational Association transferred this one-fourth acres to the Platte Valley Congregational Church, on November 23, 1903. This was to be used for the purposes of a Congregational Church and parsonage, if desired. On this land the parsonage was built.
Description Of Church And Grounds
The church was built in approximately 1873. The one-room frame building, set firmly on its brick foundation, faced east. There were three arched windows on either side but no steeple. At the front of the church was an open platform porch, with wooden steps leading up either side. They stored their coal underneath the porch. In the open space in front of the church were hitching posts.
The aisle ran from the front door to the preacher's platform. Wooden pews lined either side of the aisle. The pews faced the organ and the preachers platform. There was also a little coal-burning stove and benches used for Sunday School classes in the front of the church.
Behind the church building was the cemetery. In 1872, Mr. and Mrs. Arizona Morris were the first people to be buried there. Matthews and Blatzer were names on two of the other tombstones. One grave was enclosed by fence.
The parsonage was a frame building located immediately north of the church. On its south side was a bay window. A number of trees surrounded the parsonage.
Life Of The Church
Rev. R. C. Byers, Rev. Bloggets, Rev. Youngclaws, and Rev. Curtis were some of the men who preached at the Platte Valley Church.
While Rev. Curtis was ministering there, his little girl died and was buried there. However, her body was removed when the family moved further west.
Mrs. Ruth Swartz, daughter of Rev. R. C. Byers, was born in the parsonage during the time he was minister there.
One of the highlights of the year was Christmas. Preparations and plans were lovingly made by the ladies of the congregation. They asked for donations and then bought a Christmas tree and treats for the children. On Christmas Eve, the Sunday School classes presented a program, along with the special worship service. The grand finale was the arrival of Santa Claus, complete with a sackful of goodies.
Ownership Transfers Of Land To Present Time
After inheriting approximately 40 acres of land, partly bounded by Riverdale Road and 100th Avenue, Mrs. Bess Verrier and her husband, Ed, bought some adjoining land from the Colorado Congregational Church Association. The church, cemetery, and parsonage stood on this land.
During the time that Mr. and Mrs. Verrier lived there, they tore down the church building and used its wood for some of their buildings.
In 1952, Mrs. Verrier sold the land to Mr. George Johnson, his wife Elizabeth, and Earl Brewer (Elizabeth's brother). (John I. Brewer is the grandfather of Bess Verrier and Elizabeth Johnson.)
After the deaths of her husband and brother, Elizabeth Johnson sold the land to the Caribou Development Company, in 1970. They are the present owners.
List Of Land Deeds
Military Bounty Patent
U. S. Government to John J. Brewer
John I. Brewer to Jacob Ike
Jacob Ike to the Platte Valley Baptist Church
John I. Brewer to the Colorado Congregational Association
Colorado Congregational Association to the
Platte Valley Congregational Church
Epilogue
Today there is no trace of the Platte Valley Congregational Church or its Cemetery. Almost anyone that passed by would have no idea that a church building once stood here. Only those that know of it can imagine the way it looked on a Sunday morning, with horse and buggy rigs tethered out front. The familiar sounds of children laughing, ladies visiting, and men discussing their affairs, is now but an echo in their minds. The once nicely tended church grounds are now covered in weeds.
The parsonage, which was home to the ministers' families, and even heard the cries of a newborn child, still stands, though now it is boarded up and silent. Perhaps, in the future, it too shall be torn down.
Even though the buildings and grounds can be destroyed and forgotten, their memories can not. With the help of this project they shall live on . . . . . .
References:
Mrs. Daisy Clark
Mr. Roy McIntosh
Mrs. Lillian McIntosh
Mr. Albert Ford
Mrs. Duela Ford
Mrs. Ruth Swartz
Mr. Art Ross
Mrs. Beth Johnson