1951 Map of Brush West

About this map

The South Platte River corridor dominates this landscape, serving as the central artery for a complex network of irrigation and transport in Morgan County. In the early 1950s, the town of Brush functioned as a regional hub, evidenced by the presence of the Eben-Ezer Hospital and several rural education centers like Colwell School, Morey School, and Nelson School. The mapping reveals how water management transformed the high plains, with the Riverside Canal, Upper Platte and Beaver Canal, and Brush Lateral cutting across the terrain to support local agriculture. The influence of the railroad is clear, with the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern lines following the river's path, connecting small stops such as Dodd and Lodi to the broader market. This period captures the height of the valley's reliance on these intricate systems of ditches and rails before the modernization of the highway network fully altered the local economy.