2013-Cairn January 2013: 4 Mile Historic Park

Start Date-End Date: 01/12/2013-01/12/2013 Land Manager Office: Four Mile Historic Park Land Manager Contact: Laura Hiniker Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: This month we are partnering with Four Mile Historic Park, nestled on the banks of Cherry Creek. The Four Mile House was the last stop coming west to Denver along the Cherokee Trail. It was a welcome site for the weary travelers, a place to wash off the trail dust, have a drink of cool fresh water, find a home-cooked meal, or spend the night before heading in to Denver. The house was built in 1859 by the Brantner brothers who planned to settle in the area. The Brantners sold the Four Mile House to the widow Mary Cawker in 1860. Mary and her two teenage children opened the house as a stage stop from 1860-1864, when she sold the property to Levi and Mille Booth. The Booths continued to offer the same hospitality to travelers, while building a thriving farm. The arrival of the railroads in 1870 eventually ended much of the stage and freight business, but the Booth's property grew to 600 acres. The Booth family continued to live on and work the land until the 1940s. In 1975 the City of Denver purchased the house and the remaining 12 acres of the farm, designating the property a Denver City Park. With the support of a number of organizations, Four Mile House was restored and the Park was opened to the public in 1978. Today, the 12-acre site serves as a portal into Denver and the West's pioneer past. The Four Mile House is the centerpiece of the Park and is listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. Visitors can tour the historic house, say hello to the horses, goats, and chickens, learn about the craftsmanship of the historic barns and outbuilding, or just spread a blanket under a shady tree and enjoy a beautiful day. The Cairn Program will be assisting the Park staff with general site maintenance including fence repair, chopping wood and working on their root cellar amongst other things. The day will commence with a historic tour of the Park. Description: This month we are partnering with Four Mile Historic Park, nestled on the banks of Cherry Creek. The Four Mile House was the last stop coming west to Denver along the Cherokee Trail. It was a welcome site for the weary travelers, a place to wash off the trail dust, have a drink of cool fresh water, find a home-cooked meal, or spend the night before heading in to Denver. The house was built in 1859 by the Brantner brothers who planned to settle in the area. The Brantners sold the Four Mile House to the widow Mary Cawker in 1860. Mary and her two teenage children opened the house as a stage stop from 1860-1864, when she sold the property to Levi and Mille Booth. The Booths continued to offer the same hospitality to travelers, while building a thriving farm. The arrival of the railroads in 1870 eventually ended much of the stage and freight business, but the Booth's property grew to 600 acres. The Booth family continued to live on and work the land until the 1940s. In 1975 the City of Denver purchased the house and the remaining 12 acres of the farm, designating the property a Denver City Park. With the support of a number of organizations, Four Mile House was restored and the Park was opened to the public in 1978. Today, the 12-acre site serves as a portal into Denver and the West's pioneer past. The Four Mile House is the centerpiece of the Park and is listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. Visitors can tour the historic house, say hello to the horses, goats, and chickens, learn about the craftsmanship of the historic barns and outbuilding, or just spread a blanket under a shady tree and enjoy a beautiful day. The Cairn Program will be assisting the Park staff with general site maintenance including fence repair, chopping wood and working on their root cellar amongst other things. The day will commence with a historic tour of the Park. Latitude/Longitude: 39.70348, -104.929453 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 35 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 5 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 27 Total Volunteer Days: 32 Total Unique Volunteers: 32 Total Volunteer Hours: 224 Staff Hours: 8 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: The Cairn Youth Program battled single digit temperatures on Saturday, January 12th at the 4 Mile Historic Park. Students and mentors arrived to enjoy some hot cider and corn fritters cooked on an open fire, received a tour of the park, and then retreated indoors for some team building activities before returning outdoors to help restore the loop road around the park. Students shoveled, wheel barrowed, and spread mulch over 1/3 of a mile of road in very cold temperatures. Their hard work helped maintain a road that is used for carriage rides, horseback riding, and general park users. Next month, Cairn will be traveling to Golden to partake in some indoor rock climbing with the Colorado Mountain Club and a hike on North Table Mountain.