Farm History

In 1860, Judge W.B. Osborn visited the Big Thompson Valley where he acquired a 160 acre homestead located between the Big Thompson River and present day East 14th Street SW. Judge Osborn and his wife Margaret settled on the homestead in 1861.

W.B. soon began operating a farm on his property and in addition served the new county of Larimer in various capacities, including stints as an appointed County Commissioner, Treasurer, Assessor, and Judge.

The first home built on what would become Timberlane Farm was this log cabin on the banks of the Big Thompson River. The Osborn family occupied the cabin from 1861 until 1882. Nothing remains of the original home today.

In 1883, W.B. and Margaret left the farm and moved to town where they constructed one of the first brick residences at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street, the site of what is now the Loveland Museum.

Milo Yates Osborn assumed responsibility for the operation of the family farm. In 1882, Milo and his family abandoned the original log homestead cabin and constructed a brick residence on the farm at 2306 East 1st Street. At this time the property became known as Timberlane Farm.

Milo Yates and his wife, Louisa Frazer Osborn raised four sons on the farm: Clarence, Walter, Llewellyn, and Milo Kenneth. Of the four sons, Milo Kenneth would be the one to carry the tradition of the farm on to the next generation.

Milo Kenneth Osborn was born in 1888 and raised in the brick house built by his parents. Though he was raised to be a farmer, his interests ranged far beyond those commonly associated with turn-of-the-century farm life. In addition to operating the farm, Kenneth spent two years studying mechanical engineering at Colorado A&M.

In 1916 Kenneth designed and built a cottage-style frame house for his bride-to-be, Leila Hook. This home was located at 2318 East 1st Street, next to his father’s home. Later he added a living room to the west side and widened the front and back porches. The kitchen featured a dumb waiter to the basement for cooling perishable foods.

Kenneth married Leila Hook in 1918, and together they had two children, Louise and John.

Milo Yates Osborn continued operating Timberlane Farm until his death in 1930, at which time his four sons inherited the farm. Milo Kenneth Osborn operated the farm for the family for several decades, living in the frame home that he constructed.

The gambrel-roofed, two story barn was built by Kenneth Osborn in 1934. The milking parlor and standing shed were added several years later. Kenneth also designed and built the outbuildings on the farm. As a teenager, he built a large waterwheel to provide electricity to the brick house and later to both houses and woodworking shop.

Leila passed away in 1953. Kenneth continued to farm until his death in 1973. Since that time, Timberlane Farm has been owned and managed by his daughter, Louise Osborn Gardels.

The Timberlane Farm property, which had finally grown to over 700 acres, was eventually divided among the descendents of Judge W.B. Osborn. Dale Osborn, the great-great grandson of Judge Osborn, now lives on the original homestead property at 1861 East 14th Street SW, where he operates Osborn Farm.

Louise Osborn Gardels, the great grand daughter of Judge Osborn, owns the Timberlane Farm property located north of the Big Thompson River, totaling approximately 165 acres. Mrs. Gardels sold most of this property in 2004 retaining the 5 acre home sites on East 1st Street for development as the Timberlane Farm Museum.

Under the direction of Mrs. Gardels, the Timberlane Farm Museum has restored and furnished the two Timberlane Farm homes to period correct condition. The home constructed by Milo Yates Osborn in 1882 demonstrates a typical Big Thompson Valley household in the late 1800s, without the modern conveniences of electricity and running water. The home constructed by Kenneth Osborn exhibits the improved living standards that were found in the valley in early 1900s households. Both homes demonstrate the typical family activities that existed during the respective time periods exhibited.

The original farm buildings located at the museum are undergoing restoration. The museum is home to live animals, farm crops, and period correct machinery, which are used to demonstrate the progression of farming techniques used in 1860-1940.

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