History
History of Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen is rich with history! Our first post office was established in 1875, marking 2025 as our 150th anniversary—our Sesquicentennial, if you will (try saying that three times fast!) Explore the tabs below to dive into our past, and visit 150th Birthday Page for a year-long celebration of Evergreen’s storied history.
Some of the first settlers in Evergreen were the Humphreys. The property was first developed by John J. Clarke in 1878 when he homesteaded 350 acres. He raised cattle, logged and built a small homestead cabin that still exists as the oldest part of the house. The center of the house and the stone-walled root cellar were built by "Cousin Jack," the best carpenter in Central City, in 1883. As most Evergreen residents, Clark used the land to log wood to meet the growing demand for lumber in Denver.
In 1920 Lucius (Lee) and Hazel Humphrey bought the ranch and moved here in 1921 with their daughter, Hazel Lou. The Humphrey's named the property Kinnikinnik Ranch.
Lee Humphrey was born at his grandfather's farmhouse in Jericho Center, Vermont in 1883. His ancestors came to New England from England in 1680. His newspaper career began early as he was the editor-in-chief of his school newspaper at Edmonds High Schools. He moved to Colorado in 1911 with his first wife Blanche. She died of tuberculosis in 1914.
Lee was head of the copy desk at the Rocky Mountain News for 25 years and the Denver Post for 10 years. He was a newspaperman's newspaperman and according to the Rocky Mountain News, "never too hurried to be right and never too busy to be courteous and kind." He even helped Mary Chase, author of Harvey, when she was a young reporter.
He too was known as the mountain area's first year-round Denver commuter. An honor indeed as Evergreen did not become known as a commuter community until the 1950s. He drove a Model T, that he named Mary Ann, for two and a half hours daily to reach the copy desk in Denver. At the time of his death in 1946, the Rocky Mountain News estimated that he had driven over a half a million miles - just to get back to the home and family he loved.
Step back in time on a vintage colorado ranch at a Farm to Fork dinner, Hay days and horse rides and farm animal visits or a Bluegrass and BBQ event. All are made possible thanks to the thoughtful preservation of Kinnikinnick Ranch.
Proud of her family's heritage, Hazel Lou left the property, home, and all household belongings to the Museum upon her death. Today the living history museum entertains and educates offering hands-on events, tours, and opportunities to experience ranch life as it was in the 1920s-1940s. Participants learn folk art, how to make homemade root beer or how to quilt or crochet. Kids make beef jerky and explore Native American music at Summer camp. At Toddler Tuesdays, young ones enjoy storytelling play dates. Visitors can celebrate their special event at an adult or children's tea party or browse for unique gifts at the ranch's Trading Post.
Hiwan Homestead was a cherished mountain retreat to the families who lived within its rough-hewn walls. In the 1890's, Mary Neosho Williams, a Civil War widow, and her daughter, Josepha, were among the aristocratic society of Denver who camped at Evergreen.
The legendary Little Bear Saloon, complete with swinging saloon doors, wooden bar stools and brass registers, has provided live entertainment in historic downtown Evergreen for 40 years. it is hard to believe the rowdy establishment's original core building was once St. Mark's in the Wilderness Episcopal Church.
Landowners were discussing their intentions to develop Noble Meadow in Evergreen as early as 1978. A soft real estate market and various protesting citizen groups stalled development plans but it wasn't until 1980 when the newly formed Mountain Area Land Trust (MALT) got involved that solutions favorable to all parties were ultimately suggested. The mission of Evergreen's MALT, a preservation organization serving six Colorado counties, is to save scenic vistas, wildlife habitats, water resources and natural areas for existing and future generations.
Alderfer Three Sisters Park, a part of Jeffco Open Space's 53,000-acre park system, was once the working ranch of the Alderfer family. in 1977, at Hank Alderfer's suggestion, it was acquired by the system, with additional adjacent properties purchased as recently as 2002. originally a Hester family homestead, the Alderfers initially raised silver foxes on the ranch. After World War II, when Russian fur pelts flooded the market, fur prices plunged and the mountain area's briefly profitable fur industry collapsed. Like most mountain ranchers, the Alderfers released their silver foxes into the wild.
Evergreen's origins date back to 1859 when a closely-knit group of families settled here and formed a ranching community. During the late nineteenth century, due to its proximity to Denver, city residents increasingly came up the hill to build summer homes and hunting cabins. After the dam was built and the reservoir filled in 1928 creating Evergreen Lake, the area increased in popularity.