HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE Historic Context Statement of Context
Roney Farmhouse is historically significant for its role in the agricultural development of the Valmont community, and architecturally significant as an intact example of an early 20th century farmhouse as reflected in its vernacular hipped-box design, simple wood-framed construction, and prominent front porch. 5 The farmhouse remains in its original location, set back from Valmont Road by approximately 30 feet. 6 Roney Farmhouse is the only historic farmhouse in the Valmont community, making it a unique piece of history to the Valmont community and city of Boulder. Background History The property was homesteaded by Joseph D. Fowler in 1865, although little is known about Fowler or his lifestyle. The property remained undeveloped until the late 1890s when the Inland Oil and Refining Company purchased the property and built an oil refinery (since demolished) located south of the farmhouse. James Roney moved to Boulder from Kansas in the early 1880s and found work as a sawmill laborer. In 1887 Roney married Mabel Copes and they had four children: Roy, Curtis, John, and Robert. In the early 1900s James Roney moved his family from Ward to the Valmont community and began leasing approximately 36 acres from the Inland Oil and Refining Company. In 1910 Roney built the farmhouse on the northern edge of this property, fronting Valmont Road. Roney built several outbuildings and established a dairy and poultry farm that the family operated until the 1960s. All structures have since been demolished. Roney bought the 36-acre farm outright in 1915. James Roney also served as undersheriff for Boulder County starting in 1918. 7 James’ son, Robert, grew up on the family farm where he helped raise dairy cows and poultry. In 1927 he married Boulder native Ruby Sellers, the great-granddaughter of Boulder pioneer James King. Robert and Ruby Roney lived in the farmhouse from 1927 until the late 1960s. In addition to farming Robert and Ruby worked for the Post Office, delivering mail to several mountain communities. In 1939 the Roney’s helped establish the Pow Wow Rodeo (then the third-largest rodeo in the country). Robert Roney died in 1968, after which his wife moved to Niwot. She passed away in 1992. 8 The Roney family sold the farm in 1972 to Kenneth C. Schneider who sold the property to the Boulder Parks and Recreation Department in the 1990s. 9 Definition of the Context Roney Farmhouse and its setting are associated with the themes of Architecture and Agricultural Development. Roney Farmhouse is an intact example of early 20th century vernacular farmhouse construction. Its associations with the Roney Family played a valuable role in the development of the Valmont community and agriculture within the City of Boulder. Roney Farmhouse is situated among four of east Boulder's most historically important land features: Valmont Road, the North Boulder Farmers Ditch, the Boulder and Left Hand Ditch, and the Denver and Boulder Valley Railroad. Development of the Theme or Area of Significance Roney Farmhouse is located in east Boulder in an area known as the Valmont community. The Valmont community was founded in 1860 by a group of former miners seeking their fortunes in agriculture. The town of Valmont, plotted in 1865, started as a farming community. For a brief period in the 1860s, Valmont's population actually surpassed that of Boulder. Roney Farmhouse is significant for its relationship to three key land features in east Boulder: North Boulder Farmers Ditch, Boulder and Left Hand Ditch, and Denver and Boulder Valley Railroad. 10 The water supply was supplemented in 1873 with the construction of the Boulder and Left Hand Ditch, which runs nearly parallel to the Farmers Ditch north of Roney Farmhouse. The Roney property was served by an irrigation canal, called the Young Ditch, which drew water from the Farmers Ditch. 11
5 Holthouser, Neil and Ruth McHeyser. Memorandum for 5172 Valmont Road, 4. 6 Ibid., 3. 7 Ibid., 2. 8 Ibid., 3. 9 East Boulder Working Group. East Boulder Inventory and Analysis Report, Boulder (Colo.) Office of Arts and Culture, 7.
10 Holthouser, Neil and Ruth McHeyser. Memorandum for 5172 Valmont Road, 3. 11 Holthouser, Neil and Ruth McHeyser. Memorandum for 5172 Valmont Road, 3.
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