The “Popcorn Man” of Sterling, Colorado
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June 29, 2025
Clarence Mentgen, a man who had suffered from left-side paralysis since his youth, made his living selling popcorn and snacks on a street corner in front of the Logan County Courthouse in Sterling, Colorado. Working tirelessly six days a week for nearly four decades, Clarence’s efforts, combined with his cheery demeanor, made him a beloved local figure. He was Sterling’s “Popcorn Man,” and his place of business became “Clarence’s Corner.“
Sterling, Colorado, with a population of 13,000, is a vibrant agricultural and market town located in the high plains of northeastern Colorado, approximately 125 miles northeast of Denver. Mentgen sold popcorn and snacks in this little town from the 1930s until 1977, when the Colorado State Health Department shut him down for lacking running water and a sewer tap. It must have been a sad day.
The Popcorn Man exemplifies the hardy work ethic of this small town, which is shaped by the rigors of the Colorado high plains. Life is tough in this rough land. Sterling’s many shade trees aren’t native to the area; irrigation waters from the South Platte River sustain them, and they wouldn’t survive on the open plains outside of town.
Sterling’s residents take pride in their homes, porches, and shady sidewalks, recognizing the achievement of creating an oasis of greenery in Colorado’s high plains.
Sterling’s churches also provide that feeling of a special hometown, since they are large and clustered near the courthouse square, giving those blocks a sense of special gravity. Although the Catholic Church’s red brick façade is imposing, it’s the Presbyterian Church that is truly grand, occupying almost an entire block and topped by a brown dome worthy of the Roman Pantheon.
Finally, at the center of town, the Logan County Courthouse is fantastic. It features a large white cupola and pillars constructed of brown stone with white stone trim. There’s an expansive lawn on three sides that’s well-kept and has many shade trees. Inside the courthouse is a real rotunda view and ten oil paintings by a local artist named Carrera. The paintings depict early Colorado life and the state’s historic events, particularly clashes with Native Americans.
The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Below: statues and memorials decorate the grounds surrounding the Logan County Courthouse. The sculpture in the bottom right photo is called “Rain on the Prairie” and is dedicated to the farmers of the South Platte River Valley.
Click here for a list of all TimManBlog American County Seats Series posts.
The photos in this post were taken on May 6, 2006 and June 15, 2010, and are copyrighted by Tim Seibel.
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