Annie the Railroad Dog Ft. Collins CO, USA

Annie in bronze. Author's Collection

I recently visited the grave of Annie the Railroad Dog in Ft. Collins. Annie's story is similar to Shep's, which happened not to far away. But it's not just their locations in Northern Colorado that make them similar. Both were mascots for transportation hubs while the country was shifting from trains to automobiles as our primary transport. Their stories dovetail nicely, with Annie's life ending in 1948, and the train station she lived in destroyed in 1953, while Shep appeared at the tollbooth shortly before it opened in 1952. Both became symbolic of the town and both garnered loyalty that protected their graves from encroaching change. 

This plaque was added at the grave in 1997 following landmarking and restoration. Author's Collection

What I can find of Annie's story begins in 1934, just west of Ft. Collins. She was found in a blacksmith shop in either Tinmath or Windsor, depending on the source. The blacksmith didn't want the dog, but didn't want to throw the starving and pregnant creature into the cold either. The men on a passing Colorado and Southern train stepped in to help. The team of conductors and brakemen, Gordon Gunderson,  Christopher Demuth, Harry Sauers, and George Trotter spied the dog.

The team that rescued Annie. History Colorado Photo

They were looking a mascot. This one was black and brown, probably a colie mix, and in trouble. They started out calling her Queen, or Queenie, and it's unclear why they changed her name. The men persuaded the dog to get in to the caboose of the train with some food, and brought her into Ft. Collins. It was her first train ride, but not her last. When they got into town, Gunderson took Annie to a vet and fed her. The men weren't sure if the manager of the train depot would allow the dog in; there was a no-dogs policy. They hid her in the basement near the furnace where it was warm and gave her parts of their lunch until she had her litter. The thirteen pups were divided among the town, primarily going to children and railroad men. One named Rip went to John Owens the foreman of the nearby roundhouse (a train storage and service station). Rip was featured in a news story about rail riding pets in 1939. 

The only known image of Annie. The man is Chris Demuth. History Colorado Photo

After the birth Annie began to ride the train with the C&S men, and apparently sometimes with random strangers. There is a story about a man giving Annie a bite of food, only to have her follow him on the train and all the way to Denver. As she grew older Annie grew less fond of riding on the train. Soon she stopped riding with the C&S crew, and started to hang out in the depot. It's not clear how the depot manager felt about this, but the no dog's policy wasn't changed, Annie was simply an exception. 

  

Black and white photo shows Annie's Grave in 1984, finial and complete inscription visible. Color photos are today.  The Coloradoan Photo, and Author's Collection.

Annie was described as large and friendly, and her time in the depot sharing traveler's lunches made her larger and more friendly. She leaned against one wall of the depot waiting for someone to beckon or call to her and offer pets and treats. The railroad men took turns walking Annie around the neighborhood and locals would visit the train depot just to pet her and give her a treat. There are stories of Annie licking the tears off the cheeks of returning servicemen after World War II. She became a part of the town. Christopher Demuth's daughter, Loretta recalled, "Annie belonged to everybody." After fourteen years Annie's weight and worsening arthritis made it difficult for her to get around. There are two stories about her death, either the C&S men decided it was time and they had her pet down, or they found her dead in the basement by the furnace. Either way she died in 1948.

Christopher Demuth, one of the original men who found her was skilled in concrete work. He crafted a headstone and a grave border for the dog, complete with a finial taken from a discarded fencepost. The gravestone read "From C&S Men To Annie Our Dog, 1934-1948." The depot closed and was destroyed in 1953, but the grave wasn't touched. In 1984 Burlington Northern took over the rails and Loretta Demuth Burdette, the daughter of one of Annie's saviors became concerned that the grave would be damaged or moved. She enlisted the local historical society and received promises from the railroad that it would be preserved. Shortly after that, vandals removed the metal finial from the grave, leaving only a screw protruding above the stone. In 1995 the city of Ft. Collins bought the land, including the remaining freight depot from the railroad. The same year the depot and the gravesite received historic landmark status. Inspired by the story artist Dawn Wiemar created 35 castings of Annie, based on the only known photo of the dog available. You can still buy one to benefit the local Humane Society. In 1997 one of these statues was installed in front of Ft. Collins' Main Library (207 Peterson St.). The diagonal sidewalk in Library Park was named "Annie's Walk," and an event, also called "Annie's Walk," began. The city-wide dog show, walk and fair was held in the park. At some point stones and laser cut statues were added to either end of the diagonal sidewalk. The event ended in 2011 amid lagging attendance.

Large stones mark Annie's Walk diagonally through Library park not far from Annie's Statue. Author's Collection

Loretta Burdettes' friend Arlene Ahlbrandt wrote a book on Annie, which I haven't managed to get a hold of yet. When I do I'll update this as necessary. The story of Annie is not really a unique one, as I mentioned earlier it's reminiscent of Shep, and my own grandfather, a railroad man, was known locally for bringing home wounded, hungry or needy strays and  even wild animals. What's really remarkable about Annie is the efforts to preserve her grave and remember her. She became a mascot for not only the men who saved her, but for the town. She was everyone's dog.

Annie's statue in front of the Library was placed in 1997 by sculptor Dawn Wiemar. Author's collection

Annie's statue at the library. This plaque echoes the one at her grave. Author's Collection

Sources:

Annie the Railroad Dog: A True Story, Arlene Briggs Ahlbrandt.
Fort Collins History Connection database
Denver Post story
This video of Arlene Ahlbrandt discussing her book
History Colorado article