HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE Historic Context Statement of Context
Platt Farmhouse is historically significant for its association with the Platt family and its role in the agricultural development of east Boulder. Platt Farmhouse is architecturally significant as an intact example of an early 20th century vernacular farmhouse as reflected in its hipped-box design, simple wood frame construction, and prominent wrap-around front porch. The house is significant for its proximity to the North Boulder Farmers Ditch and Boulder and Lefthand Ditch, which played an important role in the agricultural development of the Valmont community. 5 Background History Platt Farmhouse is located in east Boulder in an area generally known as the Valmont community. The subject farm was originally homesteaded by James Rhoads, the son of the Boulder pioneer Joseph Rhoads, in 1872. 6 It is unclear if Rhoads and his family ever lived on the property. The farm changed ownership multiple times in the 1880s to 1990s until it was purchased by James M. Platt in 1896. The Platt family built the Farmhouse in 1908. Platt and his family moved to Boulder from Iowa in search of new farming opportunities. He remarried after his first wife died and had twelve children in total. In addition to farming, Platt served as Boulder County’s first water commissioner. Upon Platt’s death, he passed along this position to his son, Thomas Platt, who also served as a daily weather server for the National Weather Service. 7 The Platt family lived in the farmhouse until the early 1950s. The Farmhouse was owned by the Howe Family of Howe Mortuary and, later, Mr. Everett Wiehe until the property was finally acquired by the Boulder Parks and Recreation Department in 1997. 8 When the Parks and Recreation Department purchased the land, they proposed moving the Farmhouse to facilitate the construction of a bike park to the north and east of the site. 9 Originally, the farmhouse was located on approximately 25 acres of rural, undeveloped land bounded to the south by Valmont Road, Airport Road to the west, the Boulder County Jail complex to the north, and an industrial site to the east. 10 On March 3, 2011, the Landmarks Board approved a Landmark Alteration Certificate to relocate and restore Platt Farmhouse. On June 3, 2011, the building was relocated from 5227 Valmont Road to 3160 Airport Road, and the bike park construction was completed soon after. 11 Definition of the Context Platt Farmhouse and its setting are associated with the themes of Architecture and Agricultural Development. The Farmhouse is an intact example of early 20th century vernacular Farmhouse construction and is associated with the Platt family, who played a valuable role in the development of the Valmont community and agriculture within the City of Boulder.
5 Holthouser, Neil and Ruth McHeyser. Memorandum. City of Boulder Parks Department, 2. 6 Ibid., 3. 7 Ibid., 2. 8 Ibid. 9 East Boulder Working Group. East Boulder Inventory and Analysis Report, Boulder (Colo.) Office of Arts and Culture, 6. 10 Holthouser, Neil and Ruth McHeyser. Memorandum. City of Boulder Parks Department, 3. 11 East Boulder Working Group. East Boulder Inventory and Analysis Report, Boulder (Colo.) Office of Arts and Culture, 6.
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