September Program: Rufus “Potato” Clark and the Clark Colony
Monday, September 21, 2026
Doors Open at 6:30 pm
Enjoy complimentary refreshments and browse our partner table.
Program 7:00-8:30 pm
Southridge Recreation Center
4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch
$5 Donation Suggested at Door for non-HRHS members
Consider applying the Donation to Membership! Click HERE for more info.
Registration Coming Soon
Cherry Creek: Castlewood Canyon, Canals, and Clark Colony Cherries
Lee Whiteley will enlighten and entertain us with the story of colorful “Potato” Clark. A potato farmer, real estate developer, and beloved philanthropist with a connection to the main campus of Denver University.
The 1890 Castlewood Canyon Dam south of Franktown helped protect Denver from Cherry Creek flooding, but the primary motive for the dam was irrigation. The dam, a canal, a water storage system, and 15,000 acres of Rufus “Potato” Clark’s Clark Colony in northern Douglas and Arapahoe counties provided the opportunity for new farming operations.
A series of developers and land promoters enticed settlers to develop 5-to-10-acre parcels of irrigated land for fruit orchards, primarily cherries. The secretary and treasurer of one of the development companies was John W. Springer, the owner of the Highlands Ranch Mansion property from 1897 – 1913.
One of his proposed new uses of Clark Colony land was the growing of sugar beets. But bankruptcies, problems with the dam, and lawsuits over land ownership and water rights slowed the developments. However, it was the failure of the Castlewood Dam in August 1933 that immediately ended the flow of water to the orchards. 
Lee will have an assortment of his books plus his latest book: Cherry Creek – A History of the Valley. Check or cash only.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTER: LEE WHITELEY
Lee Whiteley is a fourth generation Coloradan now living in Centennial. After taking an early retirement as a computer programmer-analyst, he began his study of the Cherokee Trail which passed through his great grandparents homestead east of Castle Rock. Lee and wife Jane are the authors of nine books and one PBS documentary, all dealing with early transportation systems in Colorado and the West.
Lee has presented several programs for the Highland Ranch Historical Society.