Willard - Logan Co

Willard - Logan Co - CO

1st October 2009

Willard in Logan County, N.E Colorado, was our first 'Ghost' town visit in September 2009 and took place early morning on Tuesday 8th September. It was a beautiful morning in the warm late-summer sunshine and the very small town had an interesting mix of current inhabitants as well as many reminders of a much larger past. Willard was originally established in 1888, failed, then re-started in 1910. There was a railroad line through the town and this is still marked by the grain elevators and the trackbed is still clear to see on aerial photographs. I got the impression that much had been cleared up and there were only a few buildings and foundations left. However the beautiful views out over the N.E. Colorado grasslands made this a great start to two weeks in the USA and I think the photos came out well.

I am indebted to Jay Warburton at the Ghosttowns.Com website, his visit to Willard in 2000 inspired my visit and it is interesting to see how little has changed in nine years.

An old tractor abandoned in a field. 1024x768	The old grain elevators. 1024x745	The Willard Methodist church appears to still be in use and is kept in immaculate condition. 1024x731	The Willard Mercantile Store 1024x768
The store again. The door was open! 1024x768	A view inside the mercantile store from the door. 1024x683	What a magnificent view! 1024x682	The street sign is still maintained by Logan County. 1024x719
Another surviving but abandoned building. 1024x753	In relatively good condition and posted. 1024x767	This abandoned building was deteriorating somewhat. 1024x722	A lot still remains inside. 1024x738
Some old foundations in the grass. 1024x736	A view along Central Avenue. 1024x683	A nice photo in the early morning sun. 1107x768	A seat and a bath! 1024x744
The American Heritage book was marked as 'released' from the Willard School in 1958. Perhaps this is when the school closed? 1024x746	Proof there was a railway through Willard. 1024x749	A different view of the grain elevators. They look just a tad rickety. 1024x735	You had to be there! 1024x716
Believed to be the foundations of the schoolhouse at Willard. 1024x767