This gelatin silver print was taken by David DeHarport (1921-2001) circa 1990 in Wray, Colorado. A water tower and telephone poles stand in the background of the photograph, and in the foreground a mailbox and large sign stand on the side of the road. The sign reads "Wray Industrial Park, lots for sale, inquire at city hall." David DeHarport (1921-2001) was a photographer, archaeologist, and anthropologist. Between 1937-2000, DeHarport photographed the southwestern United States, specifically focusing on Colorado and the Four Corners region. Much of his work focused on abandoned agricultural and mining towns in Colorado, as well as landscapes of the state's eastern plains.
This photograph is from DeHarport's "Last Chance to Cope" photographic series of eastern Colorado that he began in the late 1980s along with photographer Marscha Winterfield. The series was named for the towns of Last Chance and Cope, Colorado however its scope extended to all of Colorado's eastern plains. The goal of the series was to bring attention to the Colorado plains, which DeHarport and Winterfield felt were often overlooked in favor of the mountains further west. This photograph is part of the David DeHarport collection (Ph.00510).