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Palisade History
Learn About Palisade
Palisade was named for the austere and dramatic palisades of Mancos Shale north of town. The sculptured appearance was formed by the uplifting of the area combined with localized erosion and the downcutting of the Colorado River.
About 75 million years ago, the Mesa Verde Group sands were stripped from the mountains in Utah and built up as beach sand and river beds as the Mancos sea retreated. The Mesa Verde group is also known for its thick layers of coal.
The first inhabitants of the Grand Valley were Ute Indians, followed by white settlers who began arriving in 1881.
By 1894, the first peach, pear, apple and grape orchards appeared in the area now known as the Vinelands. The soil was rich but rainfall was scarce, so barrels of water were hauled by wagons from the river to water young trees.
In 1913 the US Reclamation began construction of a system of irrigation canals to support agricultural efforts. Water from a 480 ft wide roller dam across the Colorado River diverts water into the 80 miles of irrigation canals which comprise the Highline Canal and Price and Stub Ditches.
The local climate is often referred to as "The Banana Belt." The mild climate and unique terrain create near-perfect peach and grape growing conditions. Winds moving through Debeque Canyon are compressed and warmed to prevent crop killing frosts in the spring. As the winds move down valley further west it spreads out and its warming effect is diminished. The climate, a 182-day growing season, and an average 78% of sunshine makes Palisade "The Peach Capital."
Palisade History in Pictures captures some of the flair and the tremendous success of early Palisade settlers. Many of the pictures on the site date from the 1890s and are presented "as is" with no enhancements or restoration. Whenever possible, people in the pictures are identified although we do not guarantee complete accuracy.
We hope you enjoy Palisade History in Pictures and that it gives you an interesting, and informative, background of one of Colorado's most unique areas.
People
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Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Bancroft with Rowland and Fairy.
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Early Women Settlers of Palisade
Front Row
Mrs. Gauham, Dosephine Nostrand, Mrs.Latson, Florence Toothaker, Mrs.Snyder, ?, Mrs. Martin (Clint Martin's mother).
Back Row
Lucille Hampton ?, Mrs. Jessie J. Hampton, Mrs. Jess Stoner, Mrs. J. B. Anderson (Emma Echternach's mother), Mrs. Sarah Cave, Mrs. Denton, Mrs. Hays (Yvonne Hays' mother), Fannie Applegate, ?, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Reasoner, Mrs. Belt, Mrs. Potter. |
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Lige Jordon, left, with Mr. Redder on donkey. Mr. Kluge and Mr. F. E. Port are to the right.
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Dave Wigner - Construction Engineer on many projects in the valley. Family opened and operated the Wigner mine. Lived in Palisade 1896 - 1927. |
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Funeral, C. Bower in center front. Believed to be Mr. Potter's Funeral.
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Community
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First City Council Meeting. Palisade.
Left to Right: J. W. Landreth; Dr. Brown; C.H. Martin (clerk); Herman Kluge,(mayo)r; Unknown; Frank Powell; Olsen; W. E. Bell. |
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Frank Berger/ Pioneer, County Commissioner.
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Fire Department in Palisade, 1918, Fire House III. |
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Early days of Palisade. Main street looking south.
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Ice Wagon about 1912. Jim McKay in the rear.
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Business
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East side of Main Street, 1909. |
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Jordan's Inn, E. W. Jordan, Proprietor. Across from Post Office, corner of Third and Main. |
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Hugus & Co. Store.
Paul Rice, Rowland Bancroft, girl unknown. |
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Early day Cameo. |
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Oil Drilling in Vineland, 1906.
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Education
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Palisade School, 7th grade, 1921
Left to Right
Back Row: Cowgill, Alta Mitchell, Lovene Coleman, Ruth Hill Woods, Vivian Donaldson, Edda Slattory, Beatrice Ross, Annie Sukey
Middle Row: True Bunte Watkins, Edna ?, Annamae Munns, ?, Helen Schneible, ?, Mabel Asmussen - Teacher
Bottom Row: Harvey Cohail, Oliver Lockhart, Keith Eyer, Fred Sayer, ?, Glen Blackstone, Medley Gearhaart, Morrie Sixbey
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Palisade School, 1900s, Teachers Miss Stella Van Cleve & Miss Clara Ball. |
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Palisade School, about 1900, Beulah Van Baren.
Left Row - Bessie Powell, Chas Bowman, Grace McKay, Levi Clark, Dana Potter, Denny Pearson, Charles Kelio
2nd Row - Clarence Bond, ?, Lucille Hampton, Earl Wister, Irene Parton, Phil Bower
3rd Row - Inez Kileo ,?, Stella Scroggins, Louie Parton, Mary Rogers, Axel Spitler, Ben Donaldson, Bessie Powell
4th Row - Erwin Hampton, Hannah Gearson, Mable McKay, Edith Lloyd, ?, ? Kitson.
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Schoolroom in early Palisade. |
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Palisade High School. Aug. 1900
Pro. Thompson, R. H. Bancroft, C. Bower.
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Agriculture
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A. R. Lloyd Orchards. About 1900. |
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Early day fruit stand.
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Building of Grand Valley Headgate, South of Palisade. 1883.
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Peach Queen of 1921 Juanita Strong.
Attendants seated: Mary Edith McKay, Dorothy Echternach, Dorothy Nuckols,
Standing Left to Right Helen Swisher, Mary Mosier, Ruth Wolfe, Jo Schniebel, Agnes Ever.
Taken on 5th St. between Sroaf's and Christian Parsonage.
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Digging of High Line Canal. A. M. Echternach house in background.
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Transportation
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First train of Elberta peaches shipped from Palisade. Train pulled 20 carloads. |
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Ferry and first bridge across Colorado River from East end of 4th St. To Vineland. This bridge was a swing bridge. |
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Suspension Bridge over the Grand (Colorado) River.
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State Bridge east of Palisade near Interstate Bridge.
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Celebrating the completion of road to Alexander Lakes for auto travel.
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Culture
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First Uniformed Band in Palisade, about 1904 or 1905.
Clint Martin - Director, John Donston, Manager. |
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Iowa Day about 1911. Looking south with Jordon Inn at Right.
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Needlecraft Club meeting east of Cameo 1910
Mrs. H. L. Davis, Mrs. Billy Hiatt, Station Agents' wife, Mrs. R. E. Green, Mrs. Dr. Brown, Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. Updegraph, Mrs. H. H. Younger, Mildred Younger, and two Updegraph boys. |
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Original Methodist Church.
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Palisade celebration.
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Recreation
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Palisade Ball Team vs. Indian Ball Team from Teller Institute, Grand Junction, Co 1902 or 1903. The Teller Institute (Indian School) now the Regional Center
Left to Right: Superintendent of the Teller Institute, E. F. (Mont) Reed, Preston, Olds, Herman Kluge, Pearl Dunston, Earl Cannam, Guy Cannam, Charlie Reed, August Kuhelenbeck - Manager.
Front - All the Indian Team from the Teller Institute.
House in the background is the Muluihill Ranch Home.
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Alexander Lakes, 1898.
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Hike Up Old "Stagecoach Trail" east of Palisade - 1912
Left to Right: May Stokes, Mary Rait, Kate Phillips Wills, Edna Wiggins, Mabel Eyer Asmusser, Minnie Loe Groner, Ellen Wiggins McRae, Nellie Bricker Devoe.
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Skating on the Grand Valley Canal in January.
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1909 Palisade Boys Baseball Team.
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