Travelers along the Smoky Hill & Cherokee Trails frequently stopped at this wayside house on their way to Denver. Six way stations spaced every 2 to 3 miles originally served as taverns, inns and stage stops along the Smoky Hill & Cherokee Trails, named for their distance to Denver (specifically the intersection of Colfax and Broadway). The 17 Mile House is the only one that remains in a rural setting and in its original location.
History
The original two-room log structure was built in the early 1860’s and later covered in wood clapboard. The house went through several expansions in the 1870’s and 80’s, eventually reaching its present appearance in the early 20th century.
Mary Hightower, a widow, is one of the earliest recorded occupants to operate the house as a tavern and inn. In 1870, the property went into foreclosure and was acquired by Susan and Nelson Doud. The Douds operated the 17 Mile House until 1881 and built the first barn on the site.
The earliest home here dates back to 1860—a log structure measuring just 17 feet by 27 feet. Over time, residents added on to accommodate their needs, building up and out, covering over the log house. The farmhouse, barn and other buildings you see today look much as they did in the late 19th century.
Arapahoe County Open Space
By the 1880’s railroads became the primary means of travel and patronage of the 17 Mile House significantly dwindled with the arrival of the Denver & New Orleans Railroad. Various owners farmed the land until John and Dorothy Race purchased it in 1938. John received many awards for soil conservation and the farm was selected to feature in the 1948 event, “Fitting a Farm for the Future.” The Race family left in 1976 and were the last family to live in the house.
Preservation and Current Use
The stage barn, which was built by Nelson Doud in the mid to late 1870’s, is typical in design and construction of 19th century western architecture, with its high, sloped roof and sturdy interlocking wood-pegged beams. The present dimensions of the barn date to about 1890.
National Register of Historic Places
Several historical preservation groups, led by Arapahoe County, banded together in 2001 in an effort to restore the 17 Mile House and Farm. The House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 but much work remained in order to restore the structures.
In 2010, restoration projects began to rehabilitate the house interior and barn. A milk house, dating from 1939, used a recessed floor filled with water to keep the milk cans cool. Additional structures on the site include a pair of windmills and a clay silo.
Finally, in 2012, the area opened for public use and several open house events are hosted annually. The area also provides trail connections to the Cherry Creek Regional Trail and the High Plains Trail.
Source: Arapahoe County (official site), National Register of Historic Places, Parker Area Historical Society
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