Valley Homestead
Delta County
In 1899 Amos and Fanny Morell traveled by wagon from Illinois to Delta County, Colorado, and acquired 160 acres to farm. The family brought a teacher James Parks with them from Illinois who married one of the four Morrell daughters, Cora, so it’s no surprise Amos Morell gave land for and helped build the Midway school.
Valley Homestead Cabin being repaired.
The family’s farm was passed down to James and Cora Parks and then to Ken and Ida Parks. Today the farm is owned by Parks and Raffaghello siblings, who grow corn, hay and alfalfa. Forty two acres of the farm has been placed into a Conservation Easement that includes 15 acres of wetlands developed in cooperation with the Partners in Wildlife program.
Valley Homestead cabin post-restoration
Several historic structures are still in place including the Shepard-Wilnot ditch, a domestic pipeline and cistern, a 1908 smoke house, and 1899 log cabin homestead home, now considered by the family as the husband’s dog house.