Shaw – Colorado Ghost Town
by local author & historian: John LaBorde
To the north end of Lincoln County lies the little community of Shaw. Here there was a General Store, Gas Station, a Post Office and other buildings. At the junction of CR 4C and CR 38 is a few trees, some footers, a corral and some small sheds. Not much else as reminder that this was once a busy little burg on the prairie.
Nearby are a variety of abandoned buildings that were mostly homesteads. It is surprising to see so many still standing. Because of taxes many of these abandoned dreams have been torn down. Yet one can see how many people lived in the area at one time and how there would be a small community in the area.
Daily the letter carrier would bring the mail up for the people and the mail to be delivered back to the Post Office would be picked up for the railroad to gather. It was a scene that was lived out until the mid 50’s when the Post Office was closed. Soon the store would follow along with the gas station. What had been a bustling little community was going into the memories of a few locals. No longer was the community barn used for dances, card parties, quilting bees, weddings, or get togethers. Today the corner lot sits vacant, memories float among the grasses, cattle graze where people had lived their lives.
On a warm summer day a cloud of dust can be seen in the distance. An approaching car can be made out. It is the letter carrier bringing the mail. In her front seat she has a couple of packages of baby chicks chirping. The clanking of cream cans can be heard bouncing in the back seat with the mail pouch. The letter carrier is also a neighbor and she would help her neighbors by carrying packages to town or carrying the cream cans to and from the train station. At the store she exchanges pleasantries with the store keeper and who ever happened to be in the store that day. The letter carrier that delivered to the north would be there. Together, at the little table in the corner of the store, they would sit and sort out the mail. Finished putting the mail up, they would get in their cars and continue their routes. Dust swirling up from the road, cream cans rattling, baby chicks chirping. The mail would be delivered.