Old Release

Artist

Robert Tully

Year

2011

Location

Water's Way Park, 715 Fairbourne Way

Description

The dam just south of here was built in 1882 by Aaron S. Benson.  He opened tree nurseries and constructed the Louden ditch system from the Big Thompson River, which supplies this dam. The water nourished cherry orchards to the west and alfalfa, corn and sugar beets in this area. An orchard of 73,000 cherry trees was the largest west of the Mississippi. Droughts, a hard freeze, and out-of-state competition ended the cherry industry. Once known as Fairport Reservoir, it is now named after his grandson, Robert Benson, who farmed this location.

This artwork reuses stones from the historic dam gate, although an earlier gate was probably timber. Metal parts are from the ditch system. The artist chose to create an historic marker and respond to it with tall grasses edged in carved concrete, flowing north across the walk.

Photos