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Abner Loomis LbNA #15195

Owner:Ramdelt
Plant date:May 21, 2005
Location:
City:Fort Collins
County:Larimer
State:Colorado
Boxes:1
Found by: Eclipse
Last found:Sep 2, 2017
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFaFFFOFF
Last edited:May 21, 2005
This microbox was replaced 4/18/2015 with a letterbox in a different location. Please note the clue changes.

This letterbox is the eighth in a series commemorating the history of Northern Colorado, and will take you to various outdoor historical sites.

Did you realize that Fort Collins had their own real life “John Wayne”? Well, they did! His name was Abner Loomis. Loomis was a man that stood up for himself and Fort Collins when bandits would steal the horses, mules, or basically do anything to harm this small town in any way. An example of this is was when Loomis was confronted by the marshall from Denver wanting help in capturing the outlaw Musgrove. He did this by tricking Musgrove one morning at his ranch in Pleasant Valley south of Bellvue at the bottom of Bingham Hill. Abner invited Musgrove in for breakfast but as he dismounted his horse his shotgun went off killing Loomis’ mule. This upset Loomis and he later found Musgrove and told him that he had found a valuable horse that no doubt he wanted and took him to it. When they got back to Pleasant Valley Abner invited his guest in for lunch and upon a signal the marshall jumped in with guns pulled to arrest Musgrove. Musgrove was taken to Denver but was hung when the town found out he was captured.

Loomis later took part more in the business in town such as partnering with William Stover in building the Poudre Valley Bank

When I stopped to find a new hiding place for Abner Loomis, I was lucky enough to meet two wonderful women who now are the caretakers of this historic cemetery. Each of them has lost a son who are buried on the hill so please stop by and pay your respects to Ezra and James while you are passing through. This cemetery holds a lot of northern Colorado history and should be preserved to the highest level in my opinion. There are some amazing stories that I was told in regard to the cemetery history while I was there and I highly recommend that you try to find a copy of "Bingham Hill Cemetery" by Rose Brinks when you get a chance. Rose was the former caretaker and wrote much of the history in this book which is available at the library. According to Mrs. Jackson, there is an effort to re-publish the book with proceeds going to the cemetery. These proceeds are used for upkeep and replacing damaged stones. Can you find Ida Mae's stone? Hers is the next to be replaced due to damage. When stones are replaced, the old stone is left behind the new stone so that you can still see the history. This cemetery started as an old indian burial ground and the oldest stone in Larimer County is located here. This cemetery is filled with stones for children who dies too young due to many diseases that are now cureable due to the advancement of medicine. Please enjoy this experience and, should you feel the urge to donate, please consider contacting Mrs. Judy Jackson at bellvuesun@hotmail.com so that others are able to enjoy this piece of history just as you have. ENJOY!

Clues:

1. Remember that hill that Loomis lived by? Find the old cemetary named for that hill.

2. Follow the path towards the cemetary along the stream. The dirt path will become wooden before getting to the cemetary. Stop here. To the right in the hiding hole is where the original box was hidden before the evil spirits removed it.

3. Continue up the hill and stop at the first large concrete block. Find the stone for Mary Provost. Born June 25, 1854, Died Jan 22, 1865. This stone was replaced because the original stone "walked away", however once it was replaced, the original stone "reappeared". The original stone sits at the foot of the grave and is the oldest stone in Larimer County.

4. After you sign in the guest book, make your way to the next concrete barrier. Find the stone for young John E Dennes who was the protector of the 2nd microbox which was hidden to his right between the yucca and the concrete wall.

5. As you continue up the hill you will soon find a popular stone with the children who visit. James Michael Jackson, the son of the caretaker who picture is etched into the stone and puts a living reality to those that have been lost.

6. Further up the hill you will find Ezra whose amazing mother also spends a great deal of time here helping to maintain this cemeteries history.

7. As you reach the top of the hill, you will find a large memorial stone that was placed to honor all people buried here. The backside of these stones list the names of all of the children that have been buried in the cemetery. As a memory to all of the young children lost before their time, I chose to hide the Abner Loomis in their care in the evergreen bush to your left as you read those children's names. The neighbors up the hill are not fond of the cemetery and thus I ask that you be very careful not to make them aware of the box location. There are benches within the cemetery to sit, however I would like to recommend that you head back to James Michael Jackson's stone and stamp in while spending some time with him.

Abner Loomis was not buried here but did live near by.

Please attempt to hide the box better than you found it as this location is in town and could be found by people that may not appreciate letterboxing the way that you an I do. Also, since this is a public place, please be discreet. Leave a message in the journal if you wish. If you want, please let me know when you find the box and it‘s condition. Please also pick up any trash and leave this cemetery better than you found it. After you are done, check out the other letterboxes in Northern Colorado (Water Wagon is near by).

Planted by Ramdelt.
A handmade stamp and journal.