Cozens Ranch

Cozens Ranch was built in 1874 by pioneer homesteader William Zane Cozens. It was an important early ranch and stage stop in the Fraser River valley in north central Colorado. The ranch served for nearly thirty years as the area’s main post office. Later the Cozens family donated the ranch to the Jesuits of Sacred Heart (later Regis College). For much of the twentieth century the Jesuits used it as a summer retreat. Now the ranch is open to the public as a museum. The ranch includes one of the few remaining planked log buildings in Colorado.

Ranch and Stage Stop

Born in Canada and raised in New York, William Zane Cozens came to Colorado in the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858–59 and made his way to Central City. He soon became sheriff of Gilpin County. He married Mary York, a devout Catholic Irishwoman, and started a family.

In the early 1870s, William and Mary decided to move their family from Central City to the Fraser River Valley. In 1872 William paid a little more than $500 to buy George Grimshaw’s squatter’s rights to land on the west bank of the Fraser River north of Berthoud Pass. Two years later he built a one-and-a-half-story ranch house on his land. It was near the recently completed wagon road, now US 40, that went over Berthoud Pass and through the valley. The ranch house served as the first stage stop beyond Berthoud Pass. Mary York Cozens and her two daughters provided hearty meals to travelers. In 1876 it became home to the Fraser post office, with Cozens as postmaster. After additions for the post office and stage stop, the building had more than 3,000 square feet.

Cozens Ranch prospered and grew. It housed the only post office between Empire and Hot Sulphur Springs as well as the main stage stop in the Fraser valley. By 1885 the ranch consisted of 320 acres of improved land and buildings worth $6,000, as well as $800 in livestock and $300 in farming equipment.

Cozens Ranch experienced several major changes in the early twentieth century. In 1901 a group of Denver Jesuits from Regis College camped at the ranch and struck up a friendship with Cozens and his Catholic wife. The Cozens family invited them back in subsequent summers. In 1905 the Cozens family sold the Jesuits eighty acres of land for use as a summer retreat. The Jesuits constructed a three-part building there and called the retreat Maryvale, after Mary, the mother of Jesus.

In 1904 William Cozens died, and in 1905 the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railroad was completed over Rollins Pass to the Fraser valley. As a result, stage traffic over Berthoud Pass decreased. The post office was relocated to the new railroad town of Fraser just north of the ranch. Around the time of Mary York Cozens’s death in 1909, the family sold a few parcels of land. The three Cozens children, Will, Mary Elizabeth, and Sarah, continued to live at the ranch.

After Sarah’s death in 1923, Mary Elizabeth offered the ranch to Regis College, saying it had long been the family’s wish to give their land to the Jesuits. In November 1924 Mary Elizabeth and her brother Will signed the property over to the Jesuits of Regis College and High School. When Mary Elizabeth died in 1928, Will Cozens moved to Regis College as a guest of the Jesuits. He continued to spend summers with the Jesuits at Cozens Ranch until his death in 1938.

Museum

The Regis Jesuits kept Cozens Ranch much the same as they found it, with the exception that they converted the ranch house for use as a chapel for almost thirty years. In the 1980s Regis deeded the site to the town of Fraser. They in turn gave it to the Grand County Historical Association in 1987. The original Jesuit retreat building collapsed during this period and was removed in 1989.

In 1988 the historical association had the ranch listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historical association also opened a museum, the Cozens Ranch Museum, which has exhibits on Grand County history and a gallery featuring work by local artists and artisans.

Cozens Ranch was built in 1874 by pioneer homesteader William Zane Cozens. It was important both as a ranch and as a stage stop in the Fraser River valley in north central Colorado. The ranch served for nearly thirty years as the area’s main post office. Later the Cozens family donated the ranch to the Jesuits of Sacred Heart. For much of the twentieth century they used it as a summer retreat. Now the ranch is open to the public as a museum. It includes one of the few planked log buildings remaining in Colorado.

Ranch and Stage Stop

Born in Canada and raised in New York, William Zane Cozens came to Colorado in the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858–59. He made his way to Central City and soon became sheriff of Gilpin County. He married Mary York, a devout Catholic Irishwoman, and started a family.

In the early 1870s, William and Mary moved their family to the Fraser River valley. In 1872 William paid a little more than $500 to buy land on the west bank of the Fraser River, north of Berthoud Pass. Two years later he built a one-and-a-half-story ranch house. The recently completed wagon road (now US 40) that went over Berthoud Pass passed near the house. The ranch house served as the first stage stop beyond the pass. Mary and her two daughters provided hearty meals to travelers. In 1876 the ranch also became the Fraser post office. Cozens served as postmaster. After additions for the post office and stage stop, the building had more than 3,000 square feet.

Cozens Ranch prospered and grew. It was the Fraser valley’s main stage coach stop. It housed the only post office between Empire and Hot Sulphur Springs. By 1885 the ranch consisted of 320 acres of improved land and buildings, together worth $6,000. In addition, there was $800 in livestock and $300 in farming equipment.

Cozens Ranch experienced several major changes in the early twentieth century. In 1901 a group of Denver Jesuits from Regis College camped at the ranch and struck up a friendship with Cozens and his Catholic wife. The Cozens family invited them back in subsequent summers. In 1905 the Cozens family sold the Jesuits eighty acres of land for use as a summer retreat. The Jesuits built a three-part building there and called the retreat Maryvale, named after Mary, the mother of Jesus.

In 1904 William Cozens died. The next year, the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railroad was completed over Rollins Pass into the Fraser valley. As a result, stage traffic over Berthoud Pass decreased. The post office was moved north of the ranch to the new railroad town of Fraser. Around the time of Mary York Cozens’s death in 1909, the family sold a few parcels of land. The three Cozens children, Will, Mary Elizabeth, and Sarah, continued to live at the ranch.

After Sarah’s death in 1923, Mary Elizabeth offered the ranch to Regis College. She noted that it had long been the family’s wish to give their land to the Jesuits. In November 1924 Mary Elizabeth and her brother Will signed the property over to the Jesuits of Regis College and High School. When Mary Elizabeth died in 1928, Will Cozens moved to Regis College. He continued to spend summers with the Jesuits at Cozens Ranch until his death in 1938.

Museum

The Regis Jesuits kept Cozens Ranch much the same as they found it. The main exception was that they converted the ranch house for use as a chapel for almost thirty years. In the 1980s, Regis deeded the site to the town of Fraser. The city then gave it to the Grand County Historical Association in 1987. The original Jesuit retreat building collapsed during this period and was removed in 1989.

In 1988 the ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historical association also opened a museum. The Cozens Ranch Museum has exhibits on Grand County history and a gallery featuring work by local artists and artisans.

In 1874 William Zane Cozens built an unusual cabin on his ranch. It was in north central Colorado. It was unusual because it was built with planks. These are long, thin pieces of lumber. Most cabins were built with whole logs. It is one of the few planked log buildings still in the state.

Stage coaches stopped at Cozens Ranch. It became a post office in the Fraser River valley. In 1905 the Cozens donated the ranch to the Jesuits of the Sacred Heart. These priests started the school that became Regis University. They used the ranch as a summer retreat. Now the ranch is a museum.

Ranch and Stage Stop

Born in Canada, William Zane Cozens was raised in New York. He came to Colorado in the 1858–59 gold rush. He settled in Central City. He became sheriff of Gilpin County. He married Mary York. She was Irish and a devout Catholic. They had three children: Will, Mary Elizabeth, and Sarah.

In the early 1870s the Cozens moved to the Fraser River valley. Their land was on the west bank of the river, north of Berthoud Pass. William built a one-and-a-half-story house. A new wagon road passed close by. That road is now US 40. Cozens’ ranch became a stop for stage coaches. William expanded the house for travelers. Mary and her daughters cooked meals.

In 1876 the ranch became Fraser’s post office. It was the only one between Empire and Hot Sulphur Springs. Cozens was postmaster. He expanded his house to more than 3,000 square feet. By 1885 the ranch had 320 acres of improved land. The land and buildings were worth $6,000. There was also $800 in livestock and $300 in farm equipment.

In 1901 some Jesuits camped at the ranch. Jesuits are a branch of Catholic priests. These Jesuits were from Sacred Heart College near Denver. The college became Regis College, then Regis University. The priests were friends with William and Mary. The Cozens family invited them back. In 1905 the family sold the Jesuits eighty acres. They used it for a summer retreat. The retreat was called Maryvale. It was named for Mary, the mother of Jesus.

In 1904 William Cozens died. The next year, the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railroad was finished. Stage coach traffic over Berthoud Pass slowed. The post office moved. Mary York Cozens died in 1909. The family sold some land. All three children still lived at the ranch.

Sarah died in 1923. Mary Elizabeth offered the ranch to Regis College. She knew her family wanted to give its land to the Jesuits. In November 1924, Mary Elizabeth and her brother Will signed over the property. After Mary Elizabeth died in 1928, Will moved to Regis College. He spent summers with the Jesuits at the ranch where he had lived. Will died in 1938.

Museum

The Regis Jesuits kept Cozens Ranch for fifty-six years. They converted the house into a chapel. Most of the ranch stayed unchanged. In the 1980s, they gave the site to the town of Fraser. In 1987 the town gave it to the Grand County Historical Association.

In 1988 the ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historical association opened a museum. The Cozens Ranch Museum has exhibits on Grand County history. A gallery shows work by local artists.