Phone 1: 303 573-0067
Phone 2: 303 332-3785


Purcell Townsite Estates

LOTS FROM $17,900

Electric and telephone installed to every lot, on a County maintained paved road.
(well, septic, and propane to be installed by Buyer)
  • ZONED AG
  • LOCATED IN UNINCORPORATED WELD COUNTY
  • NO HOA FEES
Ault, CO

East of Pierce (North of Greeley) on CR 90 (15 minutes north of Greeley & 25 minutes east of Ft. Collins). Consists of 1 acre and 1/2 acre lots. LOTS AVAILABLE FOR SALE FROM $17,900

Purcell, Colorado, a brief history and directions:


North of Greeley, Colorado, on Highway 85, then 8 miles east of Pierce on County Road 90, is the early day farming and ranching community of Purcell; established in 1910 by Lawrence M. Purcell.

Around 1906, the Union Pacific RR built a light rail track from its Coverly intersection to an area south of CR 90 known as Hungerford Station. This was the Peaceful Valley Spur, but locals called it the ‘Prairie Dog Express.'  The remains of the old Hungerford Wye [a ‘Y' shaped section of track on which trains back onto to turn around] are still visible south of CR 90. However, Mr. Purcell persuaded the UPRR to extend its tracks north, across CR 90, by selling them a much larger area for their use for just one dollar. So UPRR laid tracks across CR 90 and built another Wye on the north side of Purcell. Therefore, Purcell is the only known railroad town located between two Wyes.

Purcell was the center of a fairly prosperous area for many years. 175 souls received mail in Hubert Waldo's store and post office. Dozens of homes were located in or near to Purcell. There were also two grain elevators, a (Waldo) mercantile and gas station, car repair shop, grocery store, a lumber yard, a multi-grade school with a small teacher's home, a stock yard, a Grange Hall and several churches.

An extensive irrigational canal to bring Larimer River water to the farmers surrounding Purcell was built, but this was later blocked by Wyoming politicians. The eroded remains of the original canal can still be seen across lands northwest of Purcell. This political double-cross and farming disaster was featured in James Michener's best selling novel on Colorado's history, CENTENNIAL.

During the 1930s, Purcell was effectively wiped out by Dust Bowl conditions. The Department of Agriculture relocated many Purcell families to the Grand Junction area. Many of Purcell's original buildings, especially its Grange and churches, were relocated for use in nearby Pierce and Galeton, with the lumber yard and gas station moved to the SE corner. With a lack of area business, the UPRR ceased its Peaceful Valley service around 1946 and pulled up its tracks in 1954.

Much of the townsite, except for a few privately owned parcels and a portion of the old UPRR rail yard, was acquired by a rancher who incorporated this area into his multi-section cattle range. This was later sold to another rancher, still raising cattle on adjoining range. However, the east portion of the townsite  was recently sold to Premier Community Homes and is being developed as Purcell Estates; a manufactured home community of 185 units on one half to one acre homesites. The Corps of Engineers is also in the process of building a 40,000 acre foot lake nearby with fishing and boating; called Galeton Reservoir.

Charles and Barbara Odendhal own the south portion of the UPRR rail yard. We call our home  'Double Wye Acres' because it is between the two RR Wyes. We are located on 13 acres along the west side of Purcell Estates' east development area, with a shared white vinyl fence. Visitors are welcomed!

Directions:


From Greeley go north on US 85 thru Pierce, then east on Weld County Road 90 (CR 90), 8+ miles, then past CR 49 to an area with white vinyl fencing. Our home is 24165 CR 90. The next road east into Purcell Estates is Vickroy Boulevard. A shorter route from Greeley on ‘back roads' is to go east on Eight Street or Route 263 to Anderson Salvage Yard, then go north on CR 43 to CR 90, then go east past CR 49 to Purcell Estates.

From I-25, take the Ft. Collins-State Highway 14 exit, then east to the town of Ault on Highway 85, then north to Pierce, then east on CR 90, past CR 49, to Double Wye Acres and Purcell Estates.

Mailing address: Charlie & Barbara Odendhal, 24165 County Road 90, Ault, CO 80610. Phone: 970-834-1286. Cell phone: 970-371-0932. E-mail: oden1933@wmconnect.com