Late-spring storm crippled Klug Ranch

In 1882, the Burlington-Missouri Railroad created a station called Keene on a sidetrack used primarily for loading and shipping livestock. When “burg” was added in 1907 to avoid confusion with Keene, Neb., a new town, Keenesburg, Colo., was born. Ranching and dryland farming defined its economy, but the expansion of the Henrylyn Irrigation System in the 1920s enabled Keenesburg, like its neighbor, Hudson, to produce bumper crops that included sugar beets. John P. Klug personified the promise and the perils of ranching in this area. In 1885, the Missourian homesteaded 14 miles north of Keenesburg in the Box Elder Valley between the eastern branch of the Burlington and the Julesburg branch of the Union Pacific. In 1917, with 20,000 deeded and 6,000 leased acres, he was Weld County’s largest individual landowner. Klug’s determination and progressive ideas transformed the ranch into a modern and profitable showplace. Having extensive water rights, it could handle 3,000 head of Herefords. Klug instituted diversified farming practices in 1914, and by 1917 had 700 acres of irrigated alfalfa, 400 acres of wheat yielding 40 bushels per acre, and 900 acres of dryland beans. Crews put up 1,500 tons of wild hay and alfalfa. Farming was done by 68 mules and three large tractors. The main ranch house had 12 rooms, steam heat and modern plumbing. The cattle shed, designed to protect 1,000 head of cattle was 100 feet long by 20 feet wide. Between April 17–19, 1920, a blizzard reputed to be the worst since 1856 hit Colorado. The Greeley Tribune carried blizzard-related news, including closures of rail lines, roads, schools and businesses. Snow drifts on 9th Street north of the Weld County Courthouse were more than seven feet tall. In the Keenesburg area, snow ranged from two to three feet deep. In the April 23, 1920, edition, the Greeley Tribune reported that 300 head of Klug’s cattle had been rounded up off the prairie north of his ranch where they were wandering in search of shelter. Some were rescued by local people, but 30 were lost and buried in snow drifts. John’s wife, Lillian, later wrote, “. . . 830 head of cattle drifted south to the B&M tracks and were smothered to death from ice forming on the nostrils, nothing was saved but the hides. It took courage and ability to go forward against such discouragement.” Tom Dean, a La Salle area neighbor, wrote, “Mr. Klug had turned his cattle out on the early spring grass. The storm caused them to drift and pile up against fence lines with the result that his losses were terrific. I remember seeing loads of dry cattle hides hauled from the Klug ranch to Greeley to sell in order to salvage something from the disaster. Later, Johnnie told me this was the heaviest loss he had while in the cattle business.” Originally published in the Greeley Tribune, May 1, 2009.