Ghost Town #1
by Jon Burch Photography
Title
Ghost Town #1
Artist
Jon Burch Photography
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
In 1887, as railroad track was being laid from the Kansas-Colorado state line to Pueblo, Colorado towns were platted along the route and named in alphabetical order. The name selected for the third town site was Chivington.
Chivington proved ideal for the railroad’s headquarters. The town included a roundhouse, maintenance facilities, corrals, a post office, school and seventeen saloons. There was a newspaper and the Kingdon Hotel which was described as the most magnificent hotel in the west. By 1902, Chivington boasted the largest population in Kiowa County.
Alkali in the water prompted the railroad to move its headquarters to Kansas. Businesses in Chivington closed and the population dwindled. In the 1920’s the Kingdon Hotel was dismantled, and by the 1960’s the school closed. Today a few families continue to live in Chivington and remain deeply rooted in its robust ranching heritage.
Periodically, efforts have been made to petition for a change in the name of the town. Supporters feel that a man responsible for a massacre shouldn’t be honored with a place name today. Others feel that retaining the name provides an opportunity to reflect upon the past. The discussion continues about whether it is better to erase elements of history or remember and learn from them...
Some digital effects were applied to the original image after the photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition. Your finished photograph will not contain the Fine Art America watermark.
Image copyright 2021 Jon Burch Photography.
Uploaded
June 27th, 2021
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