Written by Mark French, President of Berthoud Historical Society
Swan Peter Johnson’s 160-acre farm southwest of Berthoud claimed its place in state agricultural history when it joined the ranks of Colorado’s Centennial Farms in 2002. Sponsored by the Colorado State Fair, Colorado Department of Agriculture, and Colorado Historical Society, this award program recognizes working farms and ranches that have remained in the same family for more than 100 years.
The 160-acre Johnson Farm is located northwest of the intersection of Larimer County roads 17 and 4E. The farm was originally the property of prosperous Longmont cattleman and hotel owner George Zweck. When Zweck’s herds were wiped out by an icy Wyoming blizzard his fortunes spiraled downward until all his real estate was taken by creditors.
Following George Zweck’s financial catastrophe, the farm passed through the hands of bankers and creditors until it was purchased—along with shares of Handy and Dry Creek Lateral Ditch shares—by Swan Peter and Sophia Johnson.
Swan Peter Johnson was born in Sweden in 1859. While still living in his native country, the young farmer became engaged to Miss Sophia Soder. In 1881, she immigrated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she found work as a garment maker. Johnson followed a year later in 1882. By 1886 both of them were in Colorado where they were married at the Swedish Ryssby Church west of Longmont. A short time later they purchased a quarter-section of farm ground southwest of the new town of Berthoud and began farming.
Pete Johnson tilled his farm for over a decade before he passed away suddenly on November 1, 1902, at the age of 43. At the time of his death the Johnson family had grown to include sons Emil (born 1887), Charley (1889), Bert (1892) and William (1901).
According to family accounts, during his brief illness Johnson knew that he was likely to die and offered his apologies to Sophia for leaving her with four sons between the ages of one and 15 years and a large farm to tend. Johnson was laid to rest in Berthoud’s Greenlawn Cemetery. Sophia, with the help of her sons, headed the farming operation until her death in 1940.
After Pete Johnson’s death in 1902, the barn on his farm burned to the ground as the result of one of his sons was playing with matches. A story passed down through the Johnson family maintains that Sophia summoned two of her brothers from Sweden to raise a new barn. They came to America for a two-year stay during which time they handcrafted the sturdy barn that has withstood the ravages of wind and weather for over a century.
The new barn (still standing) may be seen at the northwest corner of Larimer County Road 17(Now call Berthoud Parkway) and Larimer County Road 4E. The row of windows at second-floor level was installed by William “Bill” Johnson when he decided to raise poultry in the barn after he purchased his older brothers’ shares in the farm in 1945.
The youngest of the Johnson sons, Bill who was also known as Willie, ran a typical northern Colorado farming operation growing corn, grain and alfalfa, milking cows, and raising cattle and poultry for forty-some years until his death in 1975. Following his death, the farm was divided into 40-acre parcels for his children Marjory, Charlene, Art, and Bill Jr.
At the Colorado State Fair on August 30, 2002, Pete Johnson’s descendants received a large metal plaque and a Centennial Farm certificate signed by Colorado Governor Bill Owens. To qualify for Centennial Farm status a farm must have been continuously owned and operated by the same family for a century or more.
The Johnson farm, one of 280-plus Colorado Centennial Farms, is well known to area residents for its red barn perched on a south-facing slope at the northwest corner of Larimer County Roads 17 and 4E. Along with the Grommon (DeFrance) and Salomonson farms, the Johnson farm became the third such farm in the Little Thompson Valley to earn the unique recognition.
Berthoud History
History
The Berthoud area first attracted folks in the early 1860’s following the Gold Rush. This small settlement grew after the Colorado Central Railroad laid tracks and depot stop. In the early 1880s the location of the depot and town moved 1.6K north to its current location due to the difficult climb for trains from the river bottom.
Agriculture flourished and the town grew due to ample water being diverted to crops from the Big and Little Thompson Rivers and committed hard working folks. The town grew up around agriculture with a tight-knit community that provided resiliency and strength to its residents. Berthoud holds true to its roots with a connected community where good things grow.
