A Junction in History: The Story of the Roberts House | Get to know your city
In 1873, decades before Woodland Park and other Teller County communities became incorporated, the Junction House, was built. The Junction House sat on County Road 21 on the eastern edge of Woodland Park; a narrow dirt road parallel to today’s US-24 near the Crystola Roadhouse. The Junction House was a bustling hub for travelers heading west up the Ute Pass en route to Leadville during the silver boom. Today, the land where the Junction House once stood is a humble log cabin, the former home of the Roberts family. The Roberts family and their home have made a lasting impression on the Woodland Park community, leading to the recent designation of the Roberts House as a Local Historic Landmark.
In the years following the height of California’s gold rush period and before the Pikes Peak region began its quest for mineral riches centered in Cripple Creek, silver was discovered in the black sands of Leadville, leading to a population surge of more than three times the size of Woodland Park today. The Junction House was a premier stop on the route offering weary westward-bound travelers services such as the restocking of basic supplies, a hotel, and equestrian services. The Junction House also served as the first official postal office, the Summit Park Post Office. In 1912, tragedy struck when the Junction House succumbed to fire, burning to the ground.
Rising from the ashes where the Junction House once stood, the Roberts family of Woodland Park would become the new tenants of the land, calling a newly rebuilt cabin their home. The new cabin was built in 1915 by local log cabin Contractor Morris Taylor, and soon after in 1919, Mr. & Mrs. William and Edith Roberts would make the cabin their home. Continuing in traditions of the original Junction House, the Roberts home would also serve the community as a mobile general store during the Great Depression.
The Roberts have generously served the Woodland Park community from their start. When friends and neighbors were struggling to provide their families with necessities, the Roberts sold essentials like eggs, butter, cheese, and milk from their homestead. Going the extra mile, the family was even known to deliver their bounty by a donkey-pulled cart for many miles. As the years passed and the family grew and evolved, so did the cabin. Improvements and additions were made to the cabin from the 1940s through the 1970s, including a mud room, and the original windows were replaced. As for the Roberts family, their roots are still planted in the Woodland Park community. William and Edith Roberts’ granddaughter, Hildred Davis recently attended City Council, accompanied by local historian Steve Plutt, sharing a glimpse into a few cherished family memories. Hildred’s maternal family originated in nearby Green Mountain Falls and were pioneers of the community, while her father’s side was influential in the establishment of Woodland Park. Hildred herself has been a dedicated 4-H leader since the 1950s, and evidenced by the passion she shared at Council, she is still committed to being involved in her community.
Steve Plutt, who leads local efforts to preserve the past and all of the notable contributions found within Woodland Park, spearheaded efforts to have the Roberts House dedicated as a National or State Monument. Strict criteria are followed for each distinction, and after careful completion of that process, it was recommended that the Roberts House instead be designated a local historic landmark, landing in the hands of city council, the Historic Preservation Committee, and the City of Woodland Park’s planning department, eventually becoming Ordinance 1458, Series 2023. Hildred and Steve stood together, proudly witnessing the unanimous adoption of the ordinance on Sept. 7, officially designating the Roberts House as a Local Historic Landmark. Ms. Davis approached Council and thanked them for the adoption of the ordinance, sharing what an honor it is for her and her family. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank all of you.”
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A special thank you is extended to Mr. Steve Plutt for his dedicated research and consulting for historical accuracy, as well as for his passionate dedication and efforts towards preserving living history in Woodland Park. The City also extends their gratitude to Hildred Davis and her extended family for their contributions to the preservation efforts of the Roberts House.
(From left) Matriarch Edith Lofland Roberts, daughter Bessie, Patriarch William Roberts, daughter Eudora and son Freddie. This was taken some time before 1933. The exact date was not given — possibly unknown.
The Roberts House today.
Steve Plutt and Hildred Davis talk about Davis’ ties to the Roberts House at a September meeting of the Woodland Park City Council. The city council voted to designate the house as a historic landmark.