On Saturday, October 12 the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area hosted the Poudre Pour Art & Culture Fest, an annual event celebrating our river corridor’s vibrant history and culture. This event was held from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Windsor History Museum (Boardwalk Park) in Windsor, CO.
Guest Blog by Katherine Mercier, Windsor’s Museum Education Coordinator
If you have ever been to the Town of Windsor just north of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, you have probably noticed water: Windsor Lake, the No 2 Ditch Canal, Chimney Park Pool, the Poudre River that snakes through the southern part of town. Windsor has grown up alongside water, following the Greeley # 2 Canal that was painstakingly dug in the early 1870s to bring much-needed irrigation to dry farm fields. In the 1800s, water meant survival for Windsor, but in the 1960s the role of water began to expand to something else: fun and recreation!
If you were visiting Windsor in July 1964, in addition to the brand-new song “A Hard’s Day Night” by the Beatles, you would have heard discussions about the latest hot button topic in town: should Windsor get a swimming pool? The debate was intense. Some community members were in favor of creating a private, members-only pool funded by citizens. Others wanted a public pool funded by the town. Town leadership eventually decided that Windsor needed a pool that was open to all.
In May 1965, the town parks committee announced exciting news: plans were in place for Windsor’s first town pool! The committee, which consisted of residents Harold Hettinger, Ed Eichorn, Glenn Anderson, Gene Morey, and Bill Kirby, was hoping to lease a plot of land in “Lakeside Park” (now Boardwalk Park) for the pool. In 1966, the committee received a $12,000 federal grant to help fund the pool. Additionally, the community came together to ensure the pool’s success. Town organizations fundraised for the pool; the Boy Scouts had a bake sale, and local businesses hosted a car wash and a hamburger sale. These extra funds enabled mayor Wayne Miller to break ground on the swimming pool on April 20, 1967. Conceptual drawings were published, and construction went quickly.
Conceptual drawing of Windsor’s first swimming pool, April 27, 1967, Windsor Beacon. Notice the pool building at top left and the baby pool on the bottom left.
Windsor pool groundbreaking, April 20, 1967, Windsor Beacon. L-R: Ed Brown, Mrs. Ruben Hergert, Mrs. Helen Casten, Mrs. William Haas, Jr., Cheryl Miller, Glenn Anderson, Mrs. Wayne Lutz, Mrs. Thelma Hemmerle, Rev E.F. Jensen (stooping with the spade), Wayne Lutz, Wayne Miller, and Leland Hull.
Windsor’s first pool opened in July 1967 to wide acclaim and intense joy from the local children. By 1976, over 3,000 people were using the pool per month in the summer! Considering that Windsor had a population of less than 4,000 people at this time, this shows that the community truly embraced and loved the fun and recreation that this first pool provided.
Windsor’s municipal swimming pool in Boardwalk Park, unknown date. Town of Windsor Museums Permanent Collection.
The pool at Boardwalk Park was widely beloved and used for almost three decades. By the mid-1980s, deteriorating conditions at the pool led to the construction of what is now Chimney Park Pool on the east side of town. The municipal pool at Boardwalk Park did not open in 1987 but was used for a popular fishing derby. With the opening of Chimney Park pool in 1988, the old pool fell out of use. By the 1990s, it had been filled in and planted over with grass, and the Windsor Garden Club planted flowers in the old baby pool. On the old pool building, the Windsor-Severance Historical Society painted a large mural depicting scenes from Windsor’s past.
Windsor pool building with mural, group of men and women in front: Charlie Manweiler, Lois Huckabee, Leona Bernhardt, Shirley Stein, Gloria Gaslin, Vic Bernhardt, Bertha Huwa, Cliff Boyd, and Virginia Boyd, 1990. Town of Windsor Museums Permanent Collection.
Windsor History Museum, then the Windsor Centennial Museum and Pioneer Village, c. 1995. Photo taken by Gene Morey. Pool building with mural visible on the right. Town of Windsor Museums Permanent Collection.
Today, no traces of the pool remain, but if you visit Boardwalk Park, you can see the large, open field where it once was by the Windsor History Museum Farmhouse. In fact, if you attend this year’s Poudre Pour with the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, you will be enjoying drinks and live music right on top of the old pool! The pool may be gone today, but its story is not lost. Windsor’s first pool continues to show us the enduring importance of water in northern Colorado—not just for survival, but also for fun.
Former location of the Boardwalk park swimming pool, August 29, 2024. Image Credit: Town of Windsor Museums Staff
In the early 1900s, sugar beets were introduced as a cash crop in Colorado, and Great Western Sugar Company factories, where beets were processed into white sugar, popped up in many towns, fueling a sugar boom—in industry, economy, and population! Sugar beets require a LOT of labor, from planting to hoeing, harvesting, and refining and Northern Colorado’s small population couldn’t support the new industry. Looking for a labor force, Great Western started recruiting workers, first in Germans from Russia later from Hispanic and Latino communities.
Each year the Cache NHA provides funding to local and regional partners in support of projects, programs, and events that benefit the community and further the mission of Cache NHA to promote a variety of historical and cultural opportunities, engage people in the river corridor, and inspire learning, preservation, and stewardship. There are multiple funding opportunities available including Heritage Area Events Grants, Community Projects Grants, and Pass Through and Collaborative Funding Opportunities.
Separated by time, the story of these children is a story of a vastly different childhood on the banks of the same river. Before popsicles. Before child labor laws.
Numerous small businesses in the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area serve delicious ice cream.
On Thursday, June 20, the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area hosted Cache & Cocktails, an evening dedicated to art, culture, and community. The event was held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Windsong Estate Event Center in Severance, CO.
Capture the Cache photo contest winners and participants were recognized during a celebratory evening of signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvers, and camaraderie. Cache NHA emeritus inductees were also honored for their service to the heritage area. A gallery of images were on display in a silent auction, available for purchase. There were gift baskets correlated to our photo contest categories (History Along the River Corridor, Outdoor Community Culture, and In Motion) auctioned off too. Thank you to the local businesses who supported the silent auction: Visit Fort Collins, Poudre Pet & Feed, Silver Grill, Old Firehouse Books, and Blue Credit Union.
Plein air artists, Kim Stenson and Laura Young, from the Thompson Valley Art League took to the outdoor patio for their incredible watercolor painting demonstration. They were joined by photo contest participant, Nicholas Fischer. All three paintings were auctioned off at the end of the night.
“It was lovely to meet other creative, nature-minded folks,” said Young. “What a cool event.”
The annual Capture the Cache photo contest celebrates the natural beauty, culture, and heritage of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. Winning images offer a snapshot of what makes the heritage area unique and important. View the full 2024 participant gallery here.
During the event, emeriti were recognized and honored for their services to heritage area. Emeriti are individuals who have served the Poudre Heritage Alliance, the nonprofit managing entity of the Cache NHA, and the heritage area with distinction, excellence, and outstanding service. The unveiling of the new perpetual plaque marks the legacy of the outstanding service of each emeritus member. Two of the individuals named on the plaque were in attendance: Dick Maxfield and Brian Werner.
“The plaque will be on permanent display in our office,” said Executive Director, Sabrina Stoker. “On behalf of the Poudre Heritage Alliance, we express our most sincere gratitude to your service and continued support.”
The evening’s honoree, Brian Werner, testified before Congress in 1995 in support of the S. 342 the Cache la Poudre River National Water Heritage Area. His testimony was a crucial step in securing designation for the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. Werner was an original appointee to the Poudre Heritage Alliance Board from 2001 to 2016.
”"As a founding member of what became the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, I have a true soft spot for everything Cache NHA is about and am truly honored to be receiving the Emeritus Award. The Poudre River is such a wonderful natural resource and a real lifeline for the region. We should celebrate all this river is about."
Brian Werner
April 18, 2024 by Visit Fort Collins
Whether you’re in Fort Collins for a weekend or two weeks, it’s nearly impossible to explore all of the trails, lakes, rivers, and streams in the surrounding foothills and mountains, so if you only have time to explore a few, we suggest experiencing Horsetooth Reservoir and the Cache la Poudre River.
Horsetooth Reservoir is one of Colorado’s most scenic outdoor utopias and it is located just minutes from the heart of Fort Collins. The reservoir also has quite the story of how it acquired its name from the distinctive rock formation that sits above the large body of water. There is an old Native American legend regarding this famous stone. The Valley of Contentment (today’s Horsetooth Reservoir) was once guarded by a giant so that no buffalo, deer, or antelope were hunted in the valley. Chief Maunamoku led Indians to slay the giant. In killing the giant, the Chief slashed at his heart, first in the center, then on the right, and then on the left with a tomahawk from the heavens. The next day the giant turned to stone and is now known as Horsetooth Rock.
Today, the 6.5-mile-long reservoir is a beloved recreation spot for activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, water skiing, hiking, and camping. There are tons of miles of trails surrounding the reservoir for mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking. The east side of the reservoir is one of the best spots in Colorado for bouldering. Horsetooth Reservoir is open year-round and includes RV spots, campsites, and cabins, managed by Larimer County Natural Areas. If camping isn’t your forte, you are welcome to relax in one of the condos or bed & breakfasts in the area and you can rent a boat, kayak, SUP board, and more at the local marina.
The Cache la Poudre River Canyon truly is something to behold. Surrounded by magnificent cliffs and captivating rock formations, encased in ponderosa and lodgepole pine trees, sagebrush, mountain mahogany, and aspen – the canyon is nothing short of a wonderland. The Poudre River also happens to be Colorado’s only nationally designated “Wild & Scenic” river. Colorado Highway 14, the road which follows much of the river, is a designated Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway as well.
Fort Collins plays host to some of the greatest festivals and events in the state of Colorado each and every year. Enjoy summertime events celebrating everything great about our town from craft beer to bikes to music and food. See Visit Fort Collins’ event blog and calendar here.
Wellness is a way of life in Fort Collins and our city facilitates many opportunities to treat yourself right while visiting. Enjoy all kinds of outdoor recreation from outdoor yoga to hiking to kayaking. Summertime in Fort Collins additionally offers amazing running events to participate in. For passionate cyclists, The FoCo Fondo offers many biking events that provide for both heart-healthy exercise and opportunities to explore beautiful Northern Colorado.
The 4th of July celebration in Fort Collins is a sight to behold, with events happening all around town, there are ways to celebrate all day long. Enjoy family-friendly celebrations such as the annual parade that rolls through the historic streets of Old Town traveling east on Mountain Avenue, beginning at Jackson Avenue and ending at Meldrum Street. After that, enjoy a day of live music, food, and vendors at City Park as the night culminates with a spectacular firework show in Fort Collins’ oldest recreational park.
Celebrating music, musicians, and providing opportunities for visitors and community members to take part in the music scene is a big part of the Fort Collins culture. Summertime is outdoor live music season and on any given weekend, and often weekdays, you will find live music in Fort Collins. Venues like The Lyric, Wolverine Farm Publick House, and our craft breweries frequently host outdoor live music events.
The slogan for this annual costumed bike and beer parade festival says it all: Bikes, Beer, and Bemusement. Get out and have a ball at this eccentric festival hosted by New Belgium Brewery on August 24th. This is your chance to ride your bicycle in your best costume from Old Town to City Park while enjoying a day full of wacky carnival fun, live performances, and delicious New Belgium Beer. Welcome to the home of New Belgium – Fort Collins, CO.
HORSETOOTH FALLS
Located in the gorgeous Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, Horsetooth Falls is truly one of the most family-friendly hikes you can find in and around Fort Collins. It’s a little less than 2.5 miles roundtrip and rated as easy to moderate skill level. There is beautiful scenery all around this trail, from open meadows to green wild grass and beautiful wildflowers with the payoff of a waterfall at the end, this hike is truly spectacular. Pack a lunch and have a picnic when you get to the waterfall and go ahead and dip your feet in the water, and if you really want, you can cool down and dip your head under the falling water as well.
ARTHUR’S ROCK
Set with the stunning natural background of Lory State Park, Arthur’s Rock offers some of the most magnificent views of Horsetooth Reservoir and the city of Fort Collins. Arthur’s Rock is a very short drive from Fort Collins and is also a relatively short intermediate hike. This approximately two-mile trail bends through open meadows and brilliant mountain views on the way to the summit of Arthur’s Rock, which ascends to an elevation of 6,780 feet. The hike does gain in elevation quickly, which means it’s climbing up on the way to the top and shooting down on the way back to the bottom. There is also a fantastic natural stairway leading you to the top of the rock which provides a perfect setting for a picnic if you pack a lunch.
HORSETOOTH ROCK
Views upon views upon more spectacular views describe this hike in a nutshell. There is an incredible feeling that overcomes you when standing atop Horsetooth Rock while staring down into beautiful Horsetooth Reservoir. Just as impressive is the opposite view of the rolling hills to the west. Not to mention, Horsetooth Rock is one of the more unique rock formations you’ll ever come across. There truly is nothing that looks quite like Horsetooth Rock. This hike is 5 miles roundtrip and is a moderate skill level hike.
GREYROCK
This fantastic hike resides in Cache la Poudre River Canyon and is less than 20 minutes from Old Town Fort Collins. This moderate skill level hike has two trail options: the Meadows trail (approximately 7.4 miles roundtrip) and the Greyrock Summit trail (approximately 5.5 miles) with both offering stunning views equipped with ponds that live atop the summit of the rock. The elevation gain on this hike is nearly 2,000 feet with the summit sitting at 7,480 feet. This hike is definitely a bit of a challenge that comes with a little bouldering toward the end. But the payoff is worth it as it offers outstanding 360-degree views of Poudre River Canyon.
Biking might be the best way to get to know Fort Collins. The city boasts a reasonably flat terrain, extremely wide bike lanes, and trails that follow the Cache la Poudre River and Spring Creek. Plus, biking is an enjoyable, healthy, and environmentally friendly way to get around. Whether you’re discovering some of Fort Collins’ 285-plus miles of trails or riding in the mountains, you’ll recognize why Fort Collins is a platinum-level bike-friendly city. Cycle to Old Town or pedal to one of the 20-plus local breweries and you just might come across more bikes than cars on the road on any given day.
Every town has an identity, a way of life, a certain aura-something that specifically defines why the town is special. For Fort Collins, that certain something is craft beer and the culture that has grown around it. The relationship between the brewing industry and the town of Fort Collins is more than just a business correlation, it’s a societal culture – a culture that has been around for over 25 years.
There are numerous ways to explore each of the 20 and counting breweries in Fort Collins. You can go on a beer and bike tour, take a magic bus ride, or indulge in a self-guided tour. There are so many unique ways for everyone of age to experience the incredible beer that resides in Colorado’s craft beer capital. We encourage you to partake in what is such a big part of the Fort Collins community. We promise you will not be disappointed – cheers!
When you are exploring the wonders of Fort Collins, remember you are in a national heritage area – how cool is that! The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area extends 45 miles and includes the lands within the 100-year flood plain of the Cache la Poudre River. It begins in Larimer County at the eastern edge of the Roosevelt National Forest and ends east of Greeley, 1/4 miles west of the confluence with the South Platte.
On Friday, May 17, the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area and three other individuals and organizations were recognized by the Town of Windsor’s Historic Preservation Commission for their contributions to historic preservation in Windsor. Historic landmark plaques, physical markers to commemorate historical and architectural significance, were presented for each of the four newly designated buildings in the area.
The historic landmark plaque for Eaton House, currently undergoing preservation work, was presented to the Cache NHA as the organization is partially funding the restoration project.
The Windsor Eaton House was constructed in 1903 by Benjamin Eaton as a dormitory for ditch riders on the Greeley #2 Ditch. Benjamin Eaton settled along the Poudre near Windsor in the 1860s, making him one of the earliest settlers in the area. Eaton dug some of the earliest irrigation ditches of the Poudre, including the B.H. Eaton Ditch in 1864, and was instrumental in shaping the Windsor community. An early irrigation pioneer, Eaton went on to work on many of the canals in Northern Colorado, including the High Line and Larimer and Weld Canals, and helped construct the Windsor Reservoir. In 1885 he became Colorado’s fourth Governor and is one of the sixteen individuals whose portraits line the dome on the Colorado Capital.
While Benjamin Eaton never lived at the “Eaton House,” he constructed it to house vital irrigation employees. The house has been vacant for most of the last twenty years, but the Town of Windsor has long held a vision for the Eaton House to become a hub for community education surrounding Windsor’s agriculture history and connection to water. In 2016, the first steps toward rehabilitation of the building were taken when a Historic Structure Assessment and Landscape Master Plan were completed with the help of the Cache NHA. In 2021, the Cache NHA again helped push the project forward by helping to fund the completion of full design and construction documents for the rehabilitation of the Eaton House into a nature and history center. The construction process will begin soon and when finished, the B.H. Eaton Nature Center will house a classroom, community gathering space, and a visitor center where community members can learn more about the history of Windsor and its open spaces, trails, and farmland.
”The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area has been involved with preservation efforts at this property since 2013, and more specifically at the Eaton House since 2015, so it has been really fulfilling to see these projects come to fruition. This partnership with the Town of Windsor has been incredibly meaningful to our organization, and we sincerely appreciate this recognition.”
Dan BiwerChair of the Cache NHA Board of Directors
The other historic sites that received historic landmark plaques were the Cheese Factory and Creamery, the Windsor Railroad Depot, and the Halfway Homestead.
The Historic Preservation Commission hosted this open house in celebration of Historic Preservation Month. There were about 55 community members in attendance, who heard stories about the four highlighted historic properties, virtually toured the historic Halfway Homestead Park program (via drone footage), and walked the remaining three properties for a brief historical discussion at each location.
Windsor’s Historic Preservation Commission is composed of seven members and works with property owners to protect the historic environment through a designation program. There are 12 locally designated historic properties in Windsor, according to the town’s website.
The sun is out, and the water is calling. However, it is important to remember one of our most beloved places to recreate in the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage area is still a force of nature. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Cache la Poudre River in Fort Collins was flowing at a discharge rate (the volume of water moving down the river per unit of time) of 627 ft3/s as of May 29, 2024, at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. An hour earlier the flow rate was down to 197 ft3/s. This constant fluctuation is one of the major reasons it is so important to be prepared when recreating on the river.
1. Wear proper safety equipment.
2. Is it safe to go?
3. Know where you are.
4. Float Sober, Float Safe
5. Be Courteous
6. What if you flip?
| Flotation Devices | Shoes | Helmets | |
| JAX Outdoor Gear | X | X | X |
| Johnstown Scheels | X | X | X |
| Life Jackets | Helmet | River Tubes | |
| Garretson’s Sport Center | X | ||
| Eastman Park – Windsor | X | X | |
| Rocky Mountain Adventures (gear specifically for whitewater rafting) | X | X | X |
Information provided by the U.S. Geological Survey is provisional and subject to revision. Images provided by photographer Terry Walsh and the Town of Windsor.
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