Page 22 - AreaNewsletters "May2023"

Castle Rock’s
History Corner
Painting by: Victoria Davis Berg
And Then There Were Trees
One of our favorite pictures of Castle Rock here at the Castle Rock Museum was taken in 1889 from on top of the Rock. It was taken just before construction of the Rhyolite courthouse would begin in the middle of town. The picture shows the beginnings of our great town. There are several important buildings that we still have today. It also shows the beginning of some of the wonderful trees we have around town.
Article provided by
Castle Rock Museum
By 1883, the small town of Castle Rock was facing a significant problem: deforestation.
The town, which was primarily made up of farmers and ranchers, had been using wood for fuel, building materials, and fencing for years. This resulted in the depletion of the local forest, which was also causing soil erosion and loss of habitat for wildlife. In response to this issue, the town decided to take action and begin a tree- planting campaign.
The tree planting campaign was led by the Castle Rock Improvement So- ciety, a group of local residents who were concerned about the state of the town’s environment. The society decided to plant a variety of trees, including cottonwoods, elms, and evergreens. They believed that these trees would not only provide shade and beauty but would also help to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
An article in the Castle Rock Journal, April 11, 1883, stated: “Before this time a year hence there will have been planted over a thousand various shade trees which are found in our thickets. The people will have the necessary pride and desires to make their homes beautiful. The spot which is now little more than a waste of land and desert will be one of the most desirable resorts and a city of homes and refinement.”
May 2023 • Castle Rock “AreaNewsletters” 22
Picture taken in 1889; it appears there are no trees, but there are, planted about 25 feet apart.
The same view of Castle Rock in 1925 with an abundance of full-grown trees.
CASTLE ROCK AREA HISTORY