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Farmers Mercantile store and post office, McClave, CO, ca. 1910.

McClave sits in Bent County, about 109 miles east and a little south of Pueblo if you’re taking U.S. Highway 50.   It sits much closer to Lamar, which is only about 17 miles to the east.    

As you can see, there’s quite a gathering of people in front of the store—it would be interesting to know if this was a special occasion or just what was going on. The camera angle, the tall false front of the store and the man standing atop the farm wagon bring a hint of grandeur to the picture.  Note the “McClave Cash Store” located at the left beyond the wagon. 

Currently home to over 400 residents, McClave is no longer incorporated, but continues to maintain a post office, which opened in 1908.  The town was named after B.T. (Bayard Taylor) McClave of Illinois, who homesteaded in Colorado in 1892.  It was on his land that the town was built.   B.T. married fellow Illinoisan Ruby E. Shephard in Greeley in 1896. 

McClave was a farming and ranching community.  By all evidence, B.T. was himself a prosperous farmer and rancher, active not only in the agricultural, but also in the financial and civic, aspects of the community and surrounding area.  In 1915, he donated the land for the town’s United Methodist Church.   Offices held during his lifetime included:  vice president of the Bent County Good Roads Association; representative of the Fort Lyon canal of the Arkansas Valley Ditch Association, as well as vice-president of that association; president of the Fort Lyon Canal Company; president of the McClave Drainage district; vice president and then president of the Lamar National Bank; and one of the directors of the Southeast Colorado livestock association.  B.T. died in 1941, and Ruby died in 1955.  They are buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Lamar. 

It’s fun to peek In at the everyday life of a community, and one means for doing this is to read the columns in area newspapers devoted to the weekly activities and happenings involving the townspeople.  Here are some for McClave, presented by year, as found in the “Lamar Register” and in the “Las Animas Leader,” the latter of which featured the “McClave News” and “Scraps from the East End.”

1900:

“B.T. McClave, one of eastern Bent county’s most prosperous farmers, made final proof at the local land office today.” 

1908:

“The beet growers are coming together to protest the reduction in the price of beets.  They say the sugar factories are making most of the profit now.” 

1910:

“Dr. Hasty and B.T. McClave have had some good work done improving the grave yard road.  Let the good work go on, as this seems to be the only way to get it done.” 

1911:

“B.O. McClave is spending most of his time breaking mules; he has 23 coming 3 years old, all fine mules.”

“Mr. J.E. Davis sold a sucking mule a few days ago for $100.00.”

“Howard Fulkerson shipped 23 cars of sheep to Chicago, all loaded at McClave.” “Fred Keener shipped 4 cars from Prowers the same day.”

“The McClave picture man was over to Hasty doing some work this week.”

“Charles Ludlow has purchased the bailer belonging to Fritz Nyman and Bert Purinton.”

“McClave Cash Store is putting in a new pair of wagon scales.”

“J. B. Peterson is loading a car of broom-corn at McClave.”

“There will be a box social at McClave, February 14.  All good-looking boys and girls come.”

“While making some repairs on a violin the other day, Albert Harris let his knife slip and run it through his hand.” 

“Tuesday morning while shearing one of his young mule’s tail, D. M. Ard was kicked by the animal, breaking his nose and cutting his lip.   He is improving, and it is not thought that his injuries are serious.”

“Ella Ralston is working in the Village Hotel in McClave, as cook.”

1912:

“The McClave butcher was in Wiley this week.  We wonder what attractions are there for the village butcher?”

REFERENCES:

  • “Colorado Post Offices,” by Bauer, Ozment and Willard, 1990, Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation.  
  • “Craig Empire Courier” at www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org:

               Vol 24, #34, Feb 22, 1933

               Vol 43, #28, Jan 10, 1934

  • “Lamar Register,” Vol 14, #35, January 24, 1900, at       

    www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org

 Vol 36, #24, Nov 13, 1908;

 Vol 38, #2, June 10, 1910;

 Vol 38, #34 Jan 20, 1911;

 Vol 38, #36 Feb 3, 1911;

 Vol 38, #39 February 24, 1911;

 Vol 39, #41, March 8, 1912;

 Vol 49, #3, June 9, 1921.

  • “Rocky Ford Enterprise,” Vol 18, #52, May 26, 1905 (at www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org )

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