George Dauth was born in Westhofen, Germany on October 24, 1868. At the age of 15 he immigrated to the United States to join his siblings who were living in Colorado.11884-10-16 – Fort Collins Courier – George and Catherine Dauth’s Arrival From Germany When he arrived he started working for his brother Louis Dauth at his grocery in Fort Collins, and later at Louis’s second grocery at Five Points in Denver. Gradually George gathered the resources to start his own business and in 1904 he opened his own grocery in downtown Greeley at 806 9th Street, which became known as the Ninth Street Market.22023 – Dauth Family Archive – George Dauth’s Meat Market George was active in the Greeley community, pitching in with the building of a skating rink in 1909 and the construction of Greeley’s first few baseball diamonds. He was a member of the Order of Elks and the Kensington Club. Eventually he expanded his business with the purchase of a slaughter house at the “Senier Place” on 5th street.32023 – Dauth Family Archive – George Dauth
Around this time George and his wife Florence had three children, George Jr, Elizabeth, and Leslie. They also adopted three children of George’s late older brother Philip Dauth; Louise, Fred, and Elsie.42023 – Dauth Family Archive – Philip Dauth
Announcement Advertisement for George Dauth’s Meat Market at 806 Ninth Street, Greeley Colorado. From The Greeley Tribune, January 7th, 1904.51904-01-07 – The Greeley Tribune – George Dauth Store Advertisement
George became Increasingly interested in the livestock business and in 1913 sold the Ninth Street Market to completely shift his focus towards ranching.61918-04-06 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauth Buys Back Store For five years George raised and sold livestock while increasingly becoming more involved with Greeley’s social organizations, such as the Elks and Commercial Clubs. However he missed the day to day routine of running a store and bought back the old Ninth Street Market from S. Reed in April 1918.71918-04-06 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauth Buys Back Store
By 1920 George was looking for a summer home where he could take his family on vacation or friends on a weekend outing. An opportunity came when the mountain resort Idlewild was relisted on the market. He initially bought five lots that included a two story cottage and one of the smaller one story cabins.81920-07-01 – Fort Collins Courier – Harvey Witwer Sells Idlewild Lots 1-6
GEORGE Dauth of Greeley has bought Harvey Witwer’s mountain property located on the Thompson- a very pleasant retreat and one which Dauth secured at a bargain. It is reported that Witwer will move to California, presumably to console Hi Johnson over his rough treatment at the hands of the G.O.P. – which Harvey no doubt will agree is no way to treat a perfectly sound “Bull Moose.”91920-06-17 – Windsor Beacon – George Dauth Buys Idlewild Lodge
Windsor Beacon – June 17, 1920
Idle Wild Lodge in 1920, as seen from the slope of Sheep Mountain.10c. 1920 – Idlewild Lodge – Looking North From The Slope Of Sheep Mountain
Closeup of Idle Wild Lodge in 1920. From left to right Lois Clifton, Billie Allen Clifton, Arthur Clifton, Stella Clifton, and Lloyd Clifton; neighbors and family friends of the Dauth’s from Greeley.11c. 1920 – Idlewild Lodge – Looking East
Panorama of Idle Wild in 1920.12c. 1920 – Panorama of Idlewild Lodge – Looking East
George wanted to focus his attention on developing his new retreat and began looking for a business partner that could help manage the Ninth Street Grocery. In 1921 George met August and Henry Baab who had many years of experience running their own grocery. The Baab Brothers agreed to a partnership and the store was rebranded as the Baab Bros & Dauth Market & Grocery.132023 – Dauth Family Archive – George Dauth’s Meat Market
The Baab Bros & Dauth Market & Grocery at 806 9th Street, Greeley. George is standing at left, his son George “June” second from left, and one of the Baab’s brothers, August Baab, is third from left. The deer trophy on the back wall was moved to Idlewild Lodge in 1933.14c. 1930 – George Dauth’s Store
In the following months George sold several of his lots to family friends. Lot 1 went to the Jones. Lot 2 to the Luthers. Lot 22 went to Robert E Hanna and Lot 21 went to John F. Redman.
Geo. Dauth to J. E. Jones, $500, part L 1 and 2, Idle Wild Subdivision151921-08-08 – Loveland Reporter – George Dauth Sells Lots 1 And 2 To John Jones
Loveland Reporter – August 8, 1921
Geo. Dauth to A. J. Luther, $10, part L 2, Idlewild Subdiv. Sec. 1-5-71161921-10-25 – The Loveland Reporter – George Dauth Sells Idlewild Lot 2 To Albert Luther
Loveland Reporter – October 25, 1921
Geo. Dauth to Robert E. Hanna, $10, E 1/2 L. 22, Idle Wild Sub. and other land.171921-09-03 – Fort Collins Courier – George Dauth Sells Idlewild Lot 22 To Robert Hanna
Loveland Reporter – September 3, 1921
Geo. Dauth to John F. Redman, $20 Pt. L. 21 and 22, Idle Wild sub division.181921-09-26 – The Loveland Reporter – George Dauth Sells Idlewild Lot 21 And 22 To John Redman
Loveland Reporter – September 26, 1921
In the 1920s George spent most of his time entertaining guests and landscaping the grounds around the lodge. He began by planting cottonwoods along the western and southern facades and building trellises for grape vines to climb.
George Dauth with family and friends at Idlewild Lodge. George is standing second from right. Florence Dauth fourth from right, and Elizabeth Dauth waving fifth from right c. 1920.19Circa 1920 – The Dauths at Idlewild Lodge
A newly built grape trellis that would provide a shaded sitting area along the Lodge’s western facade. Two newly planted Freemont cottonwoods are also visable in this photo mid 1920s.20Circa 1925 – Looking North East At Idlewild Lodge
George then plowed the area west of the lodge flattening the terrain and removing rocks. His intention was to improve and cultivate the land.
Freshly plowed ground west of Idle Wild, mid 1920s.21Circa 1925 – Plowed Land By Idlewild Lodge
Newly planted cherry orchard west of Idle Wild. The finished homes of the Jones’s, at the end of the drive (Lot 1), and the Luther’s, second from the end (Lot 2), are also visible, mid 1920s.22Circa 1925 – Idlewild Lodge – Looking East]
In the late 1920s George began construction of a second home near to where the original Idlewild shed stood. The new home had two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, dugout and garage.
Idle Wild Lodge in the foreground and George’s newly completed second home in the background c. 1929.23Circa 1929 – Idlewild Lodge – Looking South
Closeup of George Dauth’s secondary home, late 1920s.24Circa 1929 – View Of George Dauth’s Secondary Home
During this time he also added a dining room and a second floor bedroom to the lodge.25Circa 1929 – Idlewild Lodge Orchard
In 1928 George began working on a garden project between Idle Wild and the Luther’s summer home, DAM’FINO. A large pond was put in that received running water from the Idylwilde Dam penstock that ran through the property. A variety of flowers, trees, and shrubbery were then planted around the pond.
Garden development blueprints for “The George Dauth Summer Home” c. 1928.26Circa 1928 – Blueprints For George Dauths Idlewild Lodge Garden
Idle Wild Lodge with the newly completed garden and pond c. 1928.27Circa 1928 – Idlewild Lodge – Looking South At Idlewild Lodge, DAMFINO, And Cambrian Lodge
Idle Wild Lodge with a slightly updated pond c. 1929.28Circa 1929 – Idlewild Lodge From Sheep Mountain
George Dauth with the Kensington Club at Idle Wild c. 1929.291929-09 – George And Florence Dauth With The Kensington Club At Idlewild Lodge
In the 1930s George began exploring new interests. He started a fish hatchery in Greeley known as the “Idlewild Trout Farm” and began raising trees commercially at his tree farm known as “Dauth’s Grove.”301931-04-22 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauth Fish Hatchery311910-07-28 – The Greeley Tribune – The Dauth Grove By the end of 1931 he had planted over 3000 trees in the Idlewild and Glen Haven communities.321930-03-13 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauth Planting Trees In Big Thompson
In 1933 George sold his share of the Baab Bros & Dauth Market & Grocery and retired. He had been in the business for over 28 years.331946-04-29 – Weekly Tribune – George Dauth’s Obituary In retirement George continued to balance his time between his various hobbies. His tree planting reputation became known to the City of Greeley and they had George supply trees for their parks.341936-04-29 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauth Provides Trees For Greeley351937-05-26 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauths Trees At Glenmere Park In 1937 George became interested in preserving wildlife and started a sanctuary north of Greeley known as the “North Game Refuge.”361937-03-18 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauths North Game Refuge George also began spending more time on his farm, “The Old Dauth Ranch” near Evans, taking care of a few animals he kept there.371931-09-21 – Greeley Daily Tribune – George Dauth Ranch381946-04-29 – Weekly Tribune – George Dauth’s Obituary Despite having all these different passions and interests, Idlewild would always be a special place to George, and every year he would ensure that his schedule was free so that could spend the summer months relaxing at Idlewild Lodge.
George Dauth reading a newspaper next the hearth of Idle Wild Lodge c. 1940.39Circa 1930s – George Dauth At Idlewild Lodge
MLA Format
Idlewild Lodge. "George Dauth." Idlewild Lodge, Dauth Family Archive, 30 Mar. 2021, https://idlewildlodge.github.io/george-dauth/. Accessed 4 Jul. 2023.
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APA Format
Idlewild Lodge. (2021, March 30) George Dauth. Retrieved July 4, 2023, from https://idlewildlodge.github.io/george-dauth/.
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Chicago Format
Idlewild Lodge. "George Dauth." Idlewild Lodge. Dauth Family Archive, March 30, 2021. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://idlewildlodge.github.io/george-dauth/.
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