SLW Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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SLW Ranch
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The SLW Ranch
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | Weld County, Colorado, USA |
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| Nearest city | Greeley, Colorado |
| Area | 2,200 acres (8.9 km2) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Vernacular wood frame |
| MPS | Historic Farms and Ranches of Weld County MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000288 |
| Added to NRHP | March 15, 1991 |
The SLW Ranch, once known as the Percheron-Norman Horse Ranch, is a very old ranch. It's located about 8 miles (13 km) east of Greeley, Colorado. This special place is near where the Platte River and Crow Creek meet. In 1998, the Colorado Historical Society honored it as a "Centennial Ranch." This means it has been operating for over 100 years!
The ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. The listing included 2,200 acres (890 ha) of land. It also covered 17 important buildings and 12 structures that show its history.
The name SLW comes from the first letters of its three original partners. These were S for John Studebaker, famous for making wagons and cars. L was for Lafayette Lamb, who owned a lumber company. And W was for Harvey E. Witwer, who used to manage the horse ranch. Harvey was also John Studebaker's nephew.
The SLW Ranch Story
From Horses to Cattle
John Studebaker and Lafayette Lamb started the Percheron-Norman Horse Ranch in the 1880s. They bought the land from "Lord" Lyulph Ogilvy. At one point, this ranch was one of the biggest horse farms in America. It covered 22,000 acres (8,900 ha) and had 2,600 mother horses.
In 1899, the SLW Ranch partnership was formed. Besides the strong draft horses, the ranch also had a small group of white-faced cattle. Harvey Witwer bought more Hereford cattle from ranches in the East. Soon, the herd grew to 1,500 cows. To make sure the cattle were strong and healthy, they started a special breeding program.
In 1909, Witwer wanted to buy out his partners. The sale was finished in 1913. Over the next few years, the SLW Ranch became only a cattle ranch. It is now home to one of the oldest Hereford ranches in the country. It also has the oldest registered Hereford herd in Colorado.
Harvey Witwer and his wife Bertha had two sons, Stow Lathrop and Harvey E. Jr. They also had a daughter, Mary Frances. The sons helped run the ranch. They looked for ways to make the business more stable and profitable.
A Ranch for Guests
In the 1920s, Stow suggested a new idea: a dude ranch. People would come from all over to experience life on a real working ranch. The original 12-room Ogilvy home was turned into rooms for guests. By the 1930s, guests paid $35 a week for a room, meals, and activities.
The money from the guests helped the ranch when the cattle business was struggling. The ranch, which was 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) at the time, was almost lost. Stow and Harvey Jr. worked with the Federal Land Bank to save it. They were able to keep about 3,500 acres (1,400 ha). The ranch continued to host guests until 1942. It was still raising cattle in 2008.
The Witwer Family
As his sons took over the cattle business, Harvey Witwer Sr. stopped ranching. He then entered politics in Weld County. In 1933, he was elected County Treasurer. This is a public official who manages the county's money. He held this job until he passed away in 1942.
Stow Witwer Sr. married Clara Steele in 1926. They raised three children on the ranch: Joy, Carol, and Stow Jr. Stow Sr. and his family ran the ranch until he passed away in 1991. Today, Stow Witwer Jr. lives at the ranch.
Harvey Jr. married Marion Giddings. They had two daughters, Julie and Linda.
Mary Frances married Alexander McLeish. They had twin sons, Doug and Don.
