O.T. Jackson, one of Colorado's most important African Americans, is the focus of a Rocky Mountain PBS documentary that will premiere on Thursday (January 23).

Airing at 8 p.m. MST, Remnants of a Dream: The Story of Dearfield, Colorado follows Jackson's efforts to create an African-American community in the Centennial State.

These efforts, which began in 1910, led to the development of Dearfield, Colorado in 1917.

O.T. Jackson. Courtesy of Charles Nuckolls.
O.T. Jackson. Courtesy of Charles Nuckolls.
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It was one of the most successful African-American towns in the country at the time, and it is still the only town in Colorado to have been incorporated by a black community.

The settlement was largely used for farming, becoming a part of the global economy in WWI because of its crop exports.

By 1921, the town had expanded to 20,000 total farm acres, and had churches and a gas station. It is currently a ghost town, located 30 miles east of Greeley in Weld County.

A building in Dearfield today. Courtesy of Charles Nuckolls.
A building in Dearfield today. Courtesy of Charles Nuckolls.
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According to a press release from the film's creator, Charles Nuckolls, remnants of the settlement from that time period are "under threat of demolition by housing developers."

Preservationists, archaeologists, and advocates are hoping to convince developers to preserve the ruins.

Aside from establishing Dearfield, Jackson was also a known Colorado pioneer.

Serving as a caterer, restaurateur, and farmer in the state for over 40 years, he worked to pave the way for African-American rights in Colorado, even creating voter registration drives for the community.

This two-hour documentary is a piece of Colorado history you don't want to miss.

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