Hugo, Colorado, in Black and White

 

Colorado plains history: Hugo, Colorado

Prairie ocean:  Colorado’s eastern plains.

 

S.E. Keepers

S.E. Keepers

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Out on the homestead, about 1907. From left, S.E. Keepers, his sister Sadie Noble, his wife Laura Randall Keepers, and their children: Dolly, Dulcie, Vernon and Chub Keepers, and Verna and May Noble. The little dog is Nipper.

 

Colorado prairie town, early 1900s

The cousins, also among the children shown at the early homestead: Dolly and Dulcie Keepers and Verna and May Noble. Verna Noble can be seen in a later photo with Mr. Keepers and his housekeeper, Mrs. Roberts.

 

The Breaks relieve the vast flatness of the eastern plains.

The Breaks relieve the vast flatness of the Colorado eastern plains near Hugo.

 

Colorado prairie history, Hugo

More prosperous days on the Keepers homestead, 12 miles outside Hugo, Colorado.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

The Keepers Homestead in Winter.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Grandpa Keepers and stud horse Farmer Boy Rex.

 

Colorado prairie history, Hugo

1907 postcard ad for Farmer Boy Rex, the Keepers’ stud. In Homesteading the Soul, see Chapter 9, “Rites of Spring: The Stud Business.”

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Grandpa and the Mares.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Terry’s Dad, Steve, and the Mares.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Harness Horse and Young Boy.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Vernon.

 

Life on the Colorado prairie was not easy.

Rural funeral, 1918. For Vernon, who was killed by lightning at age 18. Terry’s father, Steve, is the little boy, age 5.

 

Plains history, Hugo, Colorado

After Vernon’s death in 1918, the family sold the farm and moved to town.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Distant trees on the prairie horizon.

 

Hugo, a young town on the eastern plains of Colorado

Early Hugo, Colorado.

 

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S.E. Keepers Shoe Store, Hugo, Colorado, November 1930.

 

Plains history: Hugo, Colorado

Keepers Shoe StoreThe People’s Shoe Store. Grandpa ran this store after the family moved to town following Vernon’s death. You had to be careful around the machinery because the wheels and belts could take your arm off.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Dan Willson’s office in Hugo. Ads for Dan’s “New Saloon and Billiard Hall” touted “The choicest Wines, Liquors and Cigars,” wholesale and retail, along with “Beer always on draught.”

 

Hugo, Colorado, and the plains.

S.E. Keepers and his wife, Laura Randall Keepers

 

Mrs. Roberts (Grandpa's housekeeper), Grandpa, and his niece Verna Noble Bowhan on the front porch of Grandpa's house, which was built around a train car.

Mrs. Roberts (Grandpa’s housekeeper), Grandpa, and his niece Verna Noble Bowhan on the front porch of Grandpa’s house, which was built around a train car.

 

May Lieber, Aunt Ida Cutbirth, S.E. Keepers, and Laura Randall Keepers

May Lieber, Aunt Ida Cutbirth, S.E. Keepers, and Laura Randall Keepers

 

Hugo, Colorado, about 1940.

Hugo, Colorado, about 1940.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

The Tower, Genoa, Colorado.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Grandpa and Terry.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Terry, possibly planning his next interesting, off-limits exploration. His mother said she found him at age 2 (a little younger than he is here) on top of the filling station roof after the family stopped to get gas.

 

Plains History, Hugo, Colorado, in Black & White

Grandpa and Terry, 1943.

 

Four generations: Baby Michael, Terry, Grandpa, and Steve.

Four generations: Baby Michael, Terry, Grandpa, and Steve.

 

S. E. Keepers: The setting sun.

S. E. Keepers: The Setting Sun.

 

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