This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Born in 1836, Morse Coffin grew up on an Illinois farm. He became an accomplished farmer, running his father’s homestead by the age of 21. However, wanderlust set in for the young Coffin. So, on May 5, 1859, he set out with two of his friends and headed west. On July 18, the trio arrived in Boulder, Colorado where Morse settled in and became a sawyer, working on timber. He also dabbled in prospecting, but he eventually went back to his farming roots. With money earned from his hard work, he purchased a 160-acre homestead about 3.5 miles east of the intersection of Longmont’s present-day highways 287 and 119.
Morse began to work the farm, which he would eventually add 200 more acres to, and his brothers Reuben and George Coffin relocated to work on the farm as well. In 1860, the Sandstone Ranch house was built along the banks of the St. Vrain River. The house gets its name from the surrounding sandstone bluffs that act as a natural barrier from Colorado’s strong winds. That very sandstone was quarried onsite to build the home. Today, the home is on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Longmont Historic Landmark.
The farm had flourished by 1865, so Morse returned to Illinois to marry Julia Dunbar. The two returned to the farm in 1866 and raised five children. Morse passed away in 1913, and Julia died in 1926. They reside in Mountain View Cemetery, 62 11th Ave., in Longmont along with one of their sons. Sandstone Ranch remained in the Coffin family until 1981 when it was purchased by the Bigelow family. The Bigelows renovated the home and sold it to the City of Longmont in the 1990s.
So where do the ghosts come in to the story? Well, since the city took over the property, the home became a visitor and learning center. The center hosts special events, tours and educational seminars about the natural area and wildlife found on the property and the history of the homestead. Some employees have reported some mysterious events that have happened in the home.
One of those repeated events happens with Julia Etta Coffin’s bedroom. Julia Etta was the daughter of Morse and Julia who was rumored to be mentally unstable. Those rumors go further in saying she was confined to an upstairs bedroom and corridor during her life. When employees have locked the door to Julia Etta’s bedroom when closing up at night, they often have come back in the morning to find the bedroom door unlocked and wide open. A tourist, who claimed to be a psychic, visiting the home declared she saw the spirit of a either a girl or young woman who was “desperately unhappy.” Could this have been a sighting of Julie Etta?
Richard Estep, author of Haunted Longmont, held a ghost hunting fundraiser in the home in January 2014. He was joined by members of the Boulder County Paranormal Research Society and the general public. The group spent the night in the home. They experienced many odd occurrences including room temperature changes, strange noises, equipment failures, flickering lights and possible spirit sightings. Their findings were contaminated by untrained public participants and are inconclusive.
So, decide for yourself. Is the Sandstone Ranch Visitors & Learning Center haunted? Plan to visit the property during one of their many special events or tours. It’s a beautiful property with a rich history, and the scenery is pastoral. The property sits along the St. Vrain Greenway and offers a glimpse of local wildlife. See the below information for upcoming events in fall 2017. Click here for more information about tours, special events and classes at Sandstone Ranch Visitors & Learning Center.
The information for this post was collected from Haunted Longmont by Richard Estep. Get your copy today at one of our local bookstores, Barbed Wire Books or Used Book Emporium. It was originally published on the Visit Longmont website.
