SLW Ranch
Encyclopedia
The SLW Ranch, formerly known as the Percheron-Norman Horse Ranch, is an historic ranch located approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) east of Greeley, Colorado
, near the confluence of the Platte River
and Crow Creek
. In 1998 it was honored by the Colorado Historical Society as a Centennial Ranch, and it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
.
The SLW Ranch is named for the three initial partners - S for John Studebaker
of wagon and automotive manufacturing fame, L for Lafayette Lamb, a lumber company executive and W for Harvey E Witwer, former manager of the Percheron-Norman Horse Ranch and nephew of Studebaker.
. At one time the ranch was one of the largest horse operations in America, spanning 22000 acres (89 km²) with 2,600 brood mares. In 1899 the SLW Ranch partnership was formed. In addition to the draft horses, the ranch was home to a small herd of white-faced cattle. Witwer continued to purchase Hereford cattle
from ranches back East until the herd was 1,500 head. In order to promote strong healthy cattle with desirable traits, the herd was registered and began breeding operations.
In 1909 Witwer approached his partners with the idea of purchasing their shares in the ranch. The sale was completed in 1913, and over the course of the next few years the SLW Ranch operation switched exclusively to a cattle operation. The ranch is home to one of the oldest, continuously operating Hereford ranches in the country and the oldest registered Hereford herd in Colorado. Harvey Witwer and his wife Bertha had two sons, Stow Lathrop and Harvey E. Jr. and a daughter, Mary Frances. The sons became actively involved with operating the ranch and looked for ways to increase the stability and profitability of a somewhat volatile business.
In the 1920s, at Stow’s urging, the ranch became a dude ranch. Visitors would come from all over for a taste of the western life on a real working ranch. The original 12 room Ogilvy home was converted to accommodations for guests, who by the 1930s were paying $35 a week for room, board and activities. The income from the dudes provided money when the cattle operation took a bad turn and the 9000 acres (36.4 km²) ranch faced foreclosure
. Stow and Harvey Jr. worked with Federal Land Bank and were able to retain approximately 3500 acres (14.2 km²). The ranch continued taking dudes until 1942 and is still operating cattle in 2008.
. In 1933 he was elected County Treasurer, an office he held until his death in 1942.
Stow married Clara Steele in 1926. They raised three children on the ranch, Joy (Witwer) Thomson, Carol (Witwer) Worth and Stow Witwer Jr.. Stow Sr and his family operated the ranch until his death in 1991. The ranch is currently home to Stow Witwer Jr.
Harvey Jr. married Marion Giddings and they had two daughters, Julie (Witwer) Shade and Linda (Witwer) Bonnett.
Mary Frances married Alexander McLeish and they had twin sons, Doug and Don McLeish.
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
, near the confluence of the Platte River
Platte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
and Crow Creek
Crow Creek (Wyoming)
Crow Creek is a waterway of southeastern Wyoming and northern Colorado. Crow Creek is formed by the merger of the South Fork of Crow Creek with the Middle fork of Crow Creek, with the quick addition of the North Fork of Crow Creek about downstream. All of the major tributaries of Crow Creek begin...
. In 1998 it was honored by the Colorado Historical Society as a Centennial Ranch, and it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The SLW Ranch is named for the three initial partners - S for John Studebaker
John Studebaker
John Mohler Studebaker was the German-American co-founder and later executive of what would become the Studebaker Corporation automobile company...
of wagon and automotive manufacturing fame, L for Lafayette Lamb, a lumber company executive and W for Harvey E Witwer, former manager of the Percheron-Norman Horse Ranch and nephew of Studebaker.
History
Studebaker and Lamb established the Percheron-Norman Horse Ranch in the 1880s on property purchased from “Lord” Lyulph Ogilvy, second son of the seventh Earl of AirlieEarl of Airlie
Earl of Airlie is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created on 2 April 1639 for James Ogilvy, 7th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie, along with the title Lord Ogilvy of Alith and Lintrathen...
. At one time the ranch was one of the largest horse operations in America, spanning 22000 acres (89 km²) with 2,600 brood mares. In 1899 the SLW Ranch partnership was formed. In addition to the draft horses, the ranch was home to a small herd of white-faced cattle. Witwer continued to purchase Hereford cattle
Hereford (cattle)
Hereford cattle are a beef cattle breed, widely used both in intemperate areas and temperate areas, mainly for meat production.Originally from Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom, more than five million pedigree Hereford Cattle now exist in over 50 countries...
from ranches back East until the herd was 1,500 head. In order to promote strong healthy cattle with desirable traits, the herd was registered and began breeding operations.
In 1909 Witwer approached his partners with the idea of purchasing their shares in the ranch. The sale was completed in 1913, and over the course of the next few years the SLW Ranch operation switched exclusively to a cattle operation. The ranch is home to one of the oldest, continuously operating Hereford ranches in the country and the oldest registered Hereford herd in Colorado. Harvey Witwer and his wife Bertha had two sons, Stow Lathrop and Harvey E. Jr. and a daughter, Mary Frances. The sons became actively involved with operating the ranch and looked for ways to increase the stability and profitability of a somewhat volatile business.
In the 1920s, at Stow’s urging, the ranch became a dude ranch. Visitors would come from all over for a taste of the western life on a real working ranch. The original 12 room Ogilvy home was converted to accommodations for guests, who by the 1930s were paying $35 a week for room, board and activities. The income from the dudes provided money when the cattle operation took a bad turn and the 9000 acres (36.4 km²) ranch faced foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
. Stow and Harvey Jr. worked with Federal Land Bank and were able to retain approximately 3500 acres (14.2 km²). The ranch continued taking dudes until 1942 and is still operating cattle in 2008.
Witwer family
As the sons became more active in the cattle operations, Harvey Witwer Sr. retired from ranching and entered politics in Weld CountyWeld County, Colorado
As of the census of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
. In 1933 he was elected County Treasurer, an office he held until his death in 1942.
Stow married Clara Steele in 1926. They raised three children on the ranch, Joy (Witwer) Thomson, Carol (Witwer) Worth and Stow Witwer Jr.. Stow Sr and his family operated the ranch until his death in 1991. The ranch is currently home to Stow Witwer Jr.
Harvey Jr. married Marion Giddings and they had two daughters, Julie (Witwer) Shade and Linda (Witwer) Bonnett.
Mary Frances married Alexander McLeish and they had twin sons, Doug and Don McLeish.