Fowler, CO
Located in southeastern Colorado, roughly 40 miles from Pueblo, along the south side of the Arkansas River, the land was once home to hunters and gatherers. Tribes such as the Arapahoe, Commanche, Kiowa and Ute all made their homes here. By the 1800's, the town had only a few residents as one of the eastern Colorado railroad stops. The settlers used the deep and swift water of the Arkansas River as their life source. They also ran a pulley along the river which they would send letters along as means of communication.
It wasn't until 1887, when a tall, lanky professor by the name of O.S. Fowler came to the town that the town began to grow. He saw the potential to start a farming community. His goal was to create a health community, growing small fruit, vegetables and grain. O.S. Fowler stated:
"Our company proposes to start a great farm upon which we will raise all manner and kinds of crops. It will be cooperative but do not confound that with anything tending to socialism. On our farm we will have from 300 to 500 families... We will have our own store which will be cooperative, the profits at the end of the year to be divided among the purchasers."