MTFCA Forum

. Here is a 1909 or 10 sitting in front of the Siebert Colorado bank on Christmas 1911. My father, Hank Rootlieb was born in a sod house, 20 mi. outside of town, in 1922. In the late 80’s he and I found ourselves traveling nearby and decided to take a look at the old town. Not much left, a couple blocks going each way. We traveled out to the old homesteads and saw mostly empty land with the exception of large mounds of soil where the sod houses had collapsed over time and the windmills left from pumping water. He showed me where his cousins lived and where the school had been and told me how the girls rode the horse to school and the boys walked. They also picked crops on the way home to feed the animals. On the way back into town, my dad suggested we stop by his school teachers house and see if she was still around. He remembered her house and so we walked up to the front door and knocked. Shortly the door opened and a woman stepped forward and said “Well Hank! I didn’t expect to see you today!” She was 103 and still sharp as could be. I thought how amazing is that considering my dad only went to the 3rd grade.

What a great story. Thanks for sharing it.

Seibert State Bank on Colorado Ave, between 1st and 2nd street, on the west side of Colorado. Old photo was taken at noon in the winter.
Think I found it.
Building to the left added.
Three window outlines visible on the once 2nd floor, main building.
Two side windows still there.
Same style wood slats.
6 slats under 1st floor window.

And it still has the bulletin board by the front door!

Wonder if the outhouse is still in back?

That bank went the way most banks did, that's from giving loans on those new fangled automobiles !
Great story and a great find too !

Tom, Amazing story. Hanks school teacher was the icing on the cake. Thanks jw

Tom, Great story, that is one you can tell your grandchildren about some day.