Sir Garby, the Patriarchal Peacock

In 1993, while still living in California, JoAnne, Richard, and their son, Mitch were vacationing in Colorado. One of their outings, to revisit family roots, included a trip to Hotchkiss, a small town originally named after JoAnne’s family. In 1867 the three Hotchkiss brothers traveled across the country in covered wagons and homesteaded in Colorado in what is now known as the Hotchkiss and the Colona area. The Hotchkiss brothers and their families were pioneers in the area, and became actively involved in many ventures, including ranching and gold mining. The brothers were highly respected members of their communities, and played an important role in farming and developing both Hotchkiss and Paonia.

While having lunch at a local restaurant in Paonia, JoAnne picked up a local publication advertising the local real-estate market, and the family’s curiosity peaked when they read about a Historic School House, located in the countryside between Paonia and Hotchkiss, which had been converted to a residence. Friendly locals, beautiful mountains, valleys, and mesas, and lush green hillsides coupled with the small hometown feeling acted as a magnet for the family. They acted on their dream and purchased the Stewart Mesa School in October of 1993. JoAnne, a Colorado native, was always hoping to return to Colorado to raise their son and be closer to family, and a year later they jumped at an opportunity to relocate to Boulder, Colorado. 

The Stewart Mesa School House is located in a pastoral country setting between Hotchkiss and Paonia on Stewart Mesa. The property includes seven acres, a barn and horse stables that were built to house the horses the children that rode to school, Peacocks, Guinea Hen, and the resident ducks came with the property, and added so much charm to the daily life on the farm.

When the Petersen’s purchased the property, they knew the property would require major work that would need to be phased over several years. 

Before and after shots of the extensive renovations on the Historic Stewart Mesa Schoolhouse.

Click on images to enlarge

The extent of renovation of an older property is typically filled with surprises and this was no exception!

In the summer of 1995, JoAnne and Mitch, then 10 years old, took the summer and moved to the property to take an active part in the first stage of renovation. When they arrived at the property they were met with a “disaster”.       

Renters had left the property in shambles, a strong wind had ripped the roof off of the back deck, the property was flooded by unintended irrigation water, and one of the Peacocks had been attacked by a Rottweiler. Parts of the roof and the peacock’s’ tail feathers were spread over the property and the weeds were over three feet high. To say the least, it was “crazy” and the only thought JoAnne had at that moment was to get the property fixed up and “sell it!” 

While JoAnne directed and participated in the renovations, Mitch would “nurse” the injured peacock, care for the other animals, clean the barn and build a treehouse in the huge willow tree shading the barn. Twelve hour days, six to seven days a week were typical. Richard would make the 500 mile round trip from Boulder every weekend and participate with the renovation.

That summer the Petersens had the roof over the deck reconstructed, put a new roof on the building, repaired fences, painted, had a perimeter drain installed around the building, and had repairs done in the interior areas.

The effort was rewarding, and over the course of the summer, the idea of selling the property faded away as the family fell in love with the building and grounds they fondly refer to as “the farm”. The delightful antics of the farm animals, the majestic landscape, the wonderful locals that would drop by to tell stories they or their family members experienced while attending the school, all found an important place in their hearts. Even when working long hours, the sense of peace they experienced while at the property and what JoAnne calls “the absence of pretense” provided a retreat from the busy and hectic world. 

The family cherished the resident farm animals; especially the peacocks lead by Sir Garby, the older patriarchal peacock – hence the name Sir Garby’s Old Stewart Mesa School House. It certainly did seem that the resident animals and the locals, with their fond memories of the old school, were the true owners of this historic property while the family assumed the role of caretakers. 

Sir Garby would sit on the deck railing outside the bedroom and perform his ritual 6:00 AM wakeup call. The cool crisp mornings would begin with coffee on the deck with the majestic view of the mountains, watching the Barn Swallows practicing their Olympic moves or watching a cattle drive traveling down the country road adjacent to the property.

The family was touched by the entire feeling of the area - it seemed as though they had stepped back 50 years when life moved slower and seemed “simpler”.  While at the property that summer, locals would stop by to bring cookies or just to chat and let you know how pleased they were that the school was once again a respected member of the community. Many cherished memories were passed on by the locals about how they, or another family member, had attended the school. The Petersens continue to collect and record personal stories and the 110 year history of the school, as of 2022.

After years of determination, patience and sheer love, the family continues to make the Old Stewart Mesa House into a charming country home.  Sadly, after many years, the resident farm animals are no longer at the property and Sir Garby, the patriarchal peacock, flew off to join an attractive female on a nearby ranch.