Rooney Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rooney Ranch
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| Location | Rooney Rd. and Alameda Pkwy, Golden, Colorado |
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| Nearest city | Morrison, Colorado |
| Built | 1860s |
| Architect | Alexander Rooney |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000522 |
| Added to NRHP | 1975-02-13 |
The Rooney Ranch is a historic ranch located near Morrison, in Jefferson County, Colorado. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, which means it's a special place recognized for its history.
Contents
A Look Back: Ranch History
Starting a New Life in the West
Alexander Rooney moved west in 1859, looking for new chances. He worked many different jobs to earn money. He was a stone mason, helped move wood and supplies to mining towns like Denver and South Park, and even ran a dairy farm.
Alexander found that the high mountains made him feel uncomfortable. So, he looked for lower areas where his cattle could spend the winter. In the fall of 1861, he found the perfect spot. It was along the eastern edge of a rocky ridge called the hogback, between the mountains and the wide plains. He then brought his wife, Emeline, and his family from Anamosa, Iowa, to their new home in the West.
Growing the Ranch Land
Over the years, Alexander Rooney and his family gathered a lot of land, about 4,480 acres (1,813 hectares). They used different ways to get this land:
- They used the homesteading law, which allowed each family member to claim 160 acres (65 hectares).
- They bought land that was given to soldiers (military patents).
- They also bought land from the state that was meant for colleges (State land grant college lands).
- Some land came from the Union Pacific railroad.
- They also bought land from other people who had claimed it through the Homestead Acts.
The ranch became very large. It stretched from the hogback in the west all the way to the South Platte River in the east. From south to north, it went from Bear Creek to Table Mountain, near Golden.
Cattle and Horses: The Ranch's Business
The main way the Rooney family earned money was by raising cattle and horses. Alexander Rooney brought a special type of cattle called Galloway cattle all the way from Scotland. These cattle were shipped from Scotland to Missouri, and then Alexander drove them overland to his ranch. Galloway cattle were great because they provided both meat and thick, warm coats from their hides.
The ranch also bred Morgan horses. These strong horses were sold to the United States Cavalry (the army's horse soldiers) and the British Army. The Rooney family continued to raise cattle until 1971.
What the Ranch Looks Like
The buildings at Rooney Ranch still look much like they did on the outside in 1865, when they were first built. Inside, however, they have been updated with things like plumbing and electricity.
The ranch buildings are located in a valley. A hogback ridge is on the west side, and Green Mountain is on the east. A small creek runs through the valley, which is called Rooney Gulch. There are also natural mineral springs, clay pits, lime deposits, and coal deposits nearby. Alexander Rooney built the first buildings himself. Over the years, other family members, who also had good masonry (stone-building) skills, added more buildings.
Main Ranch Buildings
- Main Ranch House: This house has two stories and a pointed roof. It was built in 1865 using local sandstone and limestone. The walls are very thick, about 18 inches (46 cm) wide. The house itself is 36 feet (11 meters) long and 24 feet (7.3 meters) wide. The special cement (mortar) used to hold the stones together was made right on the ranch. They dug up the materials, burned them in kilns (special ovens) on the ranch, and mixed them with sand from the creek.
- Spring House: This small building, about 10 by 12 feet (3 by 3.7 meters), looks just like the main house and was built at the same time. It covers a natural spring, which kept dairy products like milk and butter cool at 51°F (10.6°C).
- Rock Ranch House
- Stone House
- Barn and Tack House
- Original Barn and Stable Yard: These were also built in 1865.
