In 1870, Anders Tallman emigrated from Sweden to the United States and discovered a cabin at the present-day site of the Tallman Ranch.
Its location was in a large meadow along Nott Creek, and due to its remote location, it was referred to as Forgotten Valley.
Homestead: The Tallman Ranch.
Where: Jefferson County, site located within Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Access is by trail from either of two trailheads.
What: Ranch house plus several buildings remain.
Tallman married Christina Bengson in Golden at the Swedish Lutheran Church. The couple settled down to a ranching life at his cabin.
In 1882, Tallman constructed a frame ranch house by first moving a one-room schoolhouse to the property and adding a kitchen. Other additions were made later. Over the years, a milk house, barn and stable were added.
Nott Creek was diverted and ran over the milk house floor to keep their dairy products cool. The chicken coop later became a workshop for repairing harnesses, furniture and utensils.
Tallman's children married other Swedes and his granddaughter-in-law, Ruth, and her husband John Wickstrom, took over the ranch.
During this time, they added a stable.
Ruth moved away after John Wickstrom's death in 1951. From this point own, absentee owners neglected this remote place.
In 1970, it became part of Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
In recent years, the State Historical Fund has spent over $100,000 to preserve the buildings associated with the ranch.
Top reach the Tallman Ranch requires a modest hike from the Rifleman-Phillips picnic area along Gap Road (downhill) or from the Nott Creek trailhead near the Red Barn picnic area (uphill). The distance is a little over a mile.
Kenneth Jessen has been a Loveland resident since 1965. He is an author of 18 books and more than 1,300 articles. He was an engineer for Hewlett-Packard for 33 years and now works as a full-time author, lecturer and guide.