Established in 1888 by H. D. Watson, the historic Watson Ranch at one time contained 8,000 acres, stretching from the fertile Platte Valley on the south to the rolling hills on the north and from downtown Kearney to a point five miles west. During its existence, its operations were devoted to grains, poultry, vegetables, and a 250-acre fruit orchard primarily of cherry, plum, and apple trees, while Watson also planted thousands of other trees of numerous varieties. Resembling a huge experiment station, the ranch included crops such as wheat, rye, barley, corn, potatoes, sugar beets, squash, and asparagus. In the 1890's, Watson introduced alfalfa into the Platte Valley, and in part to demonstrate its value as feed, he constructed a dairy barn in 1900. Located 650 feet northwest, the barn measured 500 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 56 feet high; attached to an immense silo, it contained stanchions for 400 cows, huge hay lofts, and wagon and machinery storage. Because it was located 1,733 miles from both Boston and San Francisco, it later became known as the "1733 Ranch," and the huge barn remained a landmark until it was torn down in 1935.