There was nothing for the buckboard occupants to worry about–nothing more serious than planning what they would do at the fair. Ginger had never attended a County Fair and must be prepared in detail for the delights she would find when she arrived.
“But this isn’t the kind of place I expected Fort Collins to be,” she exclaimed in dismay as they trotted down a pretty, shaded street at ten o’ clock. “I don’t see a single drugstore Indian or hitching post and there’s not a rough-riding cowboy in sight. Just nice houses and automobiles.”
“Why, this is a thriving town,” Vance told her proudly. “It even has quite a few paved streets.”
“Heck, I can see pavement in Los Angeles,” Ginger answered. “I want atmosphere.”
“Cheer up, you’ll get plenty of that at the fair.” –Back to Buckeye, Esther Greenacre Hall, 1934
Author Esther Greenacre Hall was the daughter of Allen Greenacre, a promising politician in Fort Collins and rancher in Buckeye, about 20 miles north. But he died young from a disease that slowly paralyzed him. Maybe ALS? Esther was a teenager at the time. She and her mother moved to Greeley soon after.
As an adult, Hall wrote books for teenage girls, some around a character named Holly Daggett. In this installment, Holly comes home from California to help her brother run the ranch. While here, she endures the same challenges we all still face: Flood, draught, irrigation troubles, and a perky friend from Los Angeles who thinks we’re a bunch of hicks.
You can still find this book from used bookstores online. (I use Abebooks.com)
Was Allen Greenacre related to the Doris and Jim Greenacre family? Doris and Jim Greenacre have both passed on now but their family goes back several generations in Ft. Collins.
Jim Burrill
Jim, As I recall, there were four Greenacre brothers who owned the Buckeye ranch. And I think Jim was descended from one of them.
But I read about it a very long time ago and could have the whole thing wrong.
Jim Greenacre here. I am the oldest son of Doris and Jim. There were three Greenacre brothers who came out in the late 1880′s from Illinois to ranch in Livermore. My Dad was the son of George Edgar Greenacre who took his share of the ranch when it was sold to the Monroe family in 1919 and purchased a hardware store on the corner of Mountain and Mason in what is now called Old Town. Edgar died in 1946.
Hope this helps.
Jim, it does clear things up, thanks. In Edgar Avery’s childhood diary from 1890, he has a childhood friend named Edgar Greenacre. Too young to be one of the original brothers. Was he George’s son, Jim’s brother, your uncle?
My Dad had no brothers. Just four sisters. The only Edgar Greenacre that I have ever heard connected with anyone at anytime in Fort Collins was my grandfather. He was not called George by those who knew him. If Edgar Avery was of the Avery House family than I am perplexed. My mother was very close to the Avery daughter and the family but I am not aware of any connection with my Dad’s side of the family. Now I’m curious!
JG
Uh-oh, maybe I made that bit up about an Edgar Greenacre. I asked the question from memory. So, I just now went to find my Edgar Avery, and I can’t find it (it’s a very small book). Looking….
Just a note…there were only two Holly Daggett books, the first was College on Horseback, most of which takes place in California, where Holly is at college. Somewhat unusual for a book written in 1933, her major was pre-med…she excelled at science and math, and planned on becoming a doctor and returning to the ranch to set up practice.
Thanks Susan. You don’t say how you know her books.
catfc, I have all of her books, except “Mario and the Chuna: a Boy and a Bird of the Argentine”
Susan, I got interested in Esther when I was researching the history of my house. She lived in my house back in the early 20th century. I just had to have a copy of Back to Buckeye!
Hi! I’ve passed this blog on to Esther’s daughter. She has also done some research that you may find helpful, the website is http://www.barcahall.com/genealogy/individual.php?pid=I18&ged=HALL_FAMILY.ged.
Kelly Toukatly