Points of Interest

Points of Interest. . , Hollenberg's Land- Gerat Hollenberg acquired 160 acres of land in 1857 or 1858. He bought it with a land warrant given by the United States government to a veteran of the War of 18 12. , 1. Hollenberg Station - The building also was known as Cottonwood Station because of its location on Cottonwood creek. It began as a one-room log cabin with a dirt floor. Five other rooms were built around it to complete a more useful and comfortable building. , 2. Stable - A large stable to the north of the station held draft animals for sale to passing wagon trains or for use by the stagecoaches or the Pony Express. , 3. Blacksmith Shop - A blacksmith shop. probably just in front of the station, was important for repairing wagons and reshoeing draft animals. , 4. Oregon-California Trail - The trail angled across Hollenberg's property on a line from Marysville on the southeast to Rock Creek Station on the northwest. One traveler described the road as being hard and smooth when dry but very slippery after a little rain. , 5. Cottonwood Creek - The creek runs southwesterly to a junction with the Little Blue River. It sometimes went dry during the summer. But it still furnished water for fuch of the traffic on the trail. , 6. Trail Crossing - Crossing the creek was easy when the water level was low; even though some travelers complained about large stones in the stream bed. But when the water rose, crossing could become very dangerous, if not impossible. , 7. Campground - The flat area on both sides of the crossing was very good for camping. In 1857, before Hollenberg bought the property, a government surveyor wrote that this spot was "a great camping point for Trains." Hollenberg probably allowed camping to continue there because it might bring more customers to his store. , 8. Railroad Right-of-Way - The St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad built its line across the property in 1872 on its way toward Hanover. The new rail line and the old trail crossed near the creek. , 9. Roads - A checkerboard of straight roads, spaced every mile on the section. lines, has replaced the old system of winding trails. Now highways carry cars and trucks farther in a few minutes than a wagon could travel in a day's journey.