from the Fort Collins Standard
April 29, 1874
Thinking a few items from this part of Larimer County would be of interest to your many readers, I will send you a few notes I have gathered during my pilgrimage here.
Virginia Dale is situated at the head of a deep gorge on Dale Creek. On the east side of the canyon there is a towering and rugged chain of rocks, 600 feet high, which extend for a mile along the creek, giving a wild and romantic air to the scene. This point is called “Lover’s Leap,” which derives its name from a love affair in the early days which terminated in the true “Lord Lovell” style. Virginia Dale was first laid out and kept by the notorious Jack Slade, who was division agent for the old C.O.C. Stage Company. Slade was one of the those blood-thirsty desperadoes who infested the Rocky Mountains in the early days of Colorado, having, it is said, killed 13 men, among who was one Jules Burg, the founder of Julesburg, a town on the Union Pacific Railroad.
But not like former days, the place is now owned by Mr. Leach, an extensive cattle-raiser and dairyman, who has stocked it with the best horses and cattle, and with untiring perseverance and economy has made his place a spot to be admired and praised by everyone.
About 1 mile southwest from Dale we found our gentlemanly agent, Dr. Titus Weber, with his coat off and plow in hand, turning over rich soil of his beautiful valley farm preparatory to spring planting. He has fenced some 5,000 acres of pasture land for grazing purposes. We found his estimable lady as busy as a bee with her domestic cares, and from the appearance of their well arranged home, it seemed as if her hands were ever busy in trying to assist her husband to make the home a paradise.
M.E. Webber’s mills will start again about the first of May and continue to turn out the choicest native lumber during the coming summer, which they propose to sell to those desiring it at prices that will astonish the natives.
All who have seen the Fort Collins Standard are well pleased with it, and will extend it a very liberal hand.
— Orestes