Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000

Subject: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 11:59 PM

It seems my ties to land are irrational, until I read of other's longings for places they've never even been, such as in the recent Scotland thread we had.

I grew up hearing family stories of how my great grandparents homesteaded a ranch in Western Colorado, just a few miles down the Colorado River from Glenwood Springs, which is another "just a few miles down" the Roaring Fork River from Aspen. My dad and mom grew up in the New Castle area on their parents' ranches. That area and their homesteads have always been a big part of our family identity.

The most tragic story told us was how my dad's parents lost their beloved Sundown Buttes in the depresssion. If I have remembered correctly, part of it was then purchased, as a kindly favour, by my dad's uncle. At any rate, before, there lived my dad and his family; since there has been his uncle, in the past, and now his cousin and five generations of his family living there.

Dad's cousin, Barton, is a good ole boy. Has to be close to 80 or older, by now. Tall, lanky, the epitome of the old time gallant rancher-gentleman. A year ago January he came to my mom's funeral in blue jeans, dress shirt, and cowboy boots, with red binding twine sticking out of his hip pocket. When I teased him about it, he told me about being out feeding the cattle early in the cold before sunup. Good people, salt of the earth, lots of their kids and their kids' kids living on the hundreds of acres.

Fortunately, the oldest part of my family's homestead is an elk refuge and safe from the madness which has overtaken Colorado. That is where the old, original log cabin lies.

In talking to my dad today, I found out the rest of the old place may not be so lucky. Barton is considering selling out for a subdivision to feed the greed which fuels that whole area now, with people driving up the Colorado for 30,40,50 miles and more to work in Aspen and elsewhere along the route of gentrification.

None of us blame him for considering this; after all they are offering him $20 million. It is a story I know is oft repeated across our land and it makes me terribly sad. Just seems there should be some way to help people out to keeo the old places intact and free from the clutter of the "gotta have its."

So, here's to the old homestead, literally. I suppose my grandsons will never see it, except in the faded photographs which I am grateful to have. Sorry this is not a very upbeat TFTD, but it struck at my heart and it helps to share, just as it did when my daughter's horse died.

Thanks for understanding, my friends. It just seems a tragedy....

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Biskit
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 12:25 AM

It does seem a tragic end, I keep wonderin' if they keep subdividing the farm/ranch land,where are they gonna grow the food. We have a real problem with over zealous land developers here in Tucson as well. There is hardly any open desert left within the city limits.I realize that people are gonna keep havin' babies and movin' on with there new families, and these folks gotta live somewhere, and I guess no matter where the developers build it's probably gonna be a special place to someone who wished they'da built somewhere else.Sigh!I wish I had an answer,

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: GUEST,SandyToes
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 12:32 AM

To My Dear Friend, You have brought me much happinesss. Thanks for our long talks. You are my future and the sunshine of my life. I look forward to the day when we are together as ONE. I love you very much. And no one can take that away from me. You are my inspiration and joy and mostly......... MY LOVE. Thanks for everything and...I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!! LOVE, HUGS, & KISSES, YOUR FRIEND, SANDYTOES...

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 12:35 AM

katie/kat (see, I have my own name for you now!), I know how badly it hurts to see the old home place broken up, but try to remember that these people are "land hungry" too. They just want their little piece of heaven. It's not their fault that it is so small. There is almost noplace left that big ranches/farms are viable anymore.

The XIT is gone, as are the 101, the Double Diamond, the Turkey Track and most of the King Ranch. These names bring tears to my eyes, but ranching just ain't what it used to be, and neither is "owning" land. It is too sad that the "White Man" never understood about "owning" the land, but we all have this hunger........even us City Folk.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Mbo
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 12:36 AM

I know EXACTLY how you feel, Sandy. Went and brought a tear to my eye too, you did. Thanks...and the same goes for me, too.

--Matt

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Giac
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 01:16 AM

Greed took the sycamore that had my initials carved 40 feet off the ground. Greed took the log barn where I brushed horses, cleaned stalls and loved colts. It leveled the house where I grew up -- its core was a log house built when my great-grandfather homesteaded there. Greed bulldozed and leveled the would-be railroad bed where my great-grandfather and his sons stood with guns and told the RR: "No. Go south by the river, not here!"

You touched a nerve here, too, my MudKat friend.

Giac,
who can't go home because home got up and walked away in disgust.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 09:37 AM

I like Judy Collins version of this song kat...
click here Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 11:01 AM

Hi Kat,

I can relate for we had nearly had a similar scare with my parent's place. We don't have anywhere near the history your family has but we hold the place close to our hearts.

My parents live on a 320 acre farm in New Limerick, Maine. If you look at a map of Maine you while see that New Limerick sits almost at the Northern end of I-95. There is an old stage road that runs through their property way back into thousands of acres of wild country. That road is the only access to that wilderness.

Back in the 1960's we built an extensive fence system for our horses. That included a gate across that road. For 25 years people who wanted to use that road happily negotiated that gate. Then a fellow from Rhode Island bought 700 acres around the end of County Road Lake and started to build a camp. He decided the gate was too much to deal with as a daily ritual and sued my parents for restricting access to his property.

His plan, as it turns out, was to open that area up for camps (cottages) on the lake. He wanted to make my parent's driveway the main road for all the people who would be building camps down there. He also wanted to put in a line of poles to run electrical and telephone serves down there. We are talking about a two mile run.

After a few years the case went before the Maine Supreme Court. He had lost on every count and appealed. The final ruling was that he could not get us to take down the gate and that anyone who wants to use the gate has to give my parents 24 hours notice. Dad made a point to let the idiot know that the requirement to notify will be required for access both ways, in to his property and out!

So take heart, Kat. Greed doesn't always win. Unfortunately it wins in too many instances. I hope this helps ease the pain.

Brett

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 11:50 AM

Kat, I can relate very much to your family loss.

My father owned a farm outside Kitchener many years ago. The city purchased it from him to build a subdivision.
I know my dad was not too emotionally stable at times, but the sale of his farm broke him emotionally and he was never the same again.
That farm represented who my dad was I guess.
He mourned the loss until the day he died.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 12:07 PM

The sign of the times..............

Karen's family had a large farm in Weldon Springs, just outside of St. Louis. Today its condos. Long story of course, but it is becoming rare in this world for anyone to be born, live, and die on a piece of family land or in a family home.

My grandparents on my mom's side were the last to grow up and live on the family "Homeplace." Most of it is now under a lake. They came to this country from the Isle of Wight in the early 1800's and settled in the Tuscarawas River valley around Deersville in 1845. family members built close to each other but the homes of almost all have now been lost either to the greed of coal, who owned the mineral rights, or to "progress" and flood control.

We have often camped at a State Park where I can look across the lake and see the old stone road leading now to nowhere as it comes out of the lake and into the woods. My grandfather and his brother built that road between their home and their uncle's. Strange to sit there and think about Pop those many years ago, building that road. He and I would go fishing there and I spent many days listening to stories. Wish I remembered more......At least I remember a few.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: tar_heel
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 09:13 PM

dear sandytoes,i'm like mbo....you went and brought a tear to my eye.............tears of happiness!wow,that was beautiful.............must be a wonderful feeling to be loved like that!!!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: tar_heel
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 10:59 PM

dear sandytoes, i cant hold it back any longer..........my friends in here at the mudcat ,have already figured it out!they know that message was for me,and that you are my future and the sunshine of my life,too!.........and i know i'm a very happy ,lucky man..............time is the only draw back here........someday,everyone will know! TAR_HEEL

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: Margaret V
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 11:00 PM

Sorry to hear it, kat. A very compassionate song that touches on this is John Gorka's "Houses in the Fields."

Sometimes the Nature Conservancy has achieved what you wished for, Kat, a way to "keep the old places intact and free from the clutter." In some cases they've been able to purchase land at close to market value and come up with arrangements so that the original owners have tenancy or easements so that they can continue farming / ranching etc. Obviously this only happens when the land in question is critical to maintaining biodiversity (any chance of a rare salamander or a patch of remnant prairie?). Something to think about. Margaret

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - August 5th, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 11:36 PM

Thank to you all for your understanding, stories, and compassion. Your stories, especially, Giac and Pat, brought such tears to my eyes. I just hate to see so-called progress liek this.

Margaret, thanks, I have seen the Nature Conservancy do great things in Wyomng. I will suggest it, but don't know if there is still time or not.

Chuck, I am sure glad you and Sandytoes made some things clear. I was beginning to wonder who was writing to me in that way! Best of luck.

kat