Historically Jeffco Magazine 2004

Volume 17, Issue 25, 2004 HHII SS TTOORRIICCAA LL LLYY JJEE FF FF CCOO CONTENTS

The Kidnap-Murder of Adolph Coors III 2 HHIISSTT First Place Winner Writer’s Award Contest

The White Ash Mine Disaster 9 Second Place Winner Writer’s Award Contest

HIstory of Coal Creek Canyon 14 Volunteer Fire Department Honorable Mention Writer’s Award Contest

Mountain View – 19 One Hundred Years and Counting

Jefferson County 24 Historic Hall of Fame Barbara & Eugene Sternberg Robert Boyles Bradford

Steamboats on Clear Creek 26

Jesuits in Jefferson County: 30 A Story of Regis College

Historic Arvada 1850-2004 35

Historic Site Designations 40 in Jefferson County

JCHC News & Members 44

JCHC Publications Committee Erlene Hulsey-Lutz, Chair Mark McGoff, Vice Chair Milly Roeder, Editor, Historically Jeffco

Published by Jefferson County Historical Commission (JCHC) Volume 17, Issue 25, 2004 ISSN 1532-6047

Cover Photo Two well-dressed women and a man look at a hydraulic placer gold mining dredge (see story page 26). Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library Western History Collection, Call # X-60126

Design & Layout FinePrint, Golden, CO SSTTOORRIICCAA LL LLYY JJEE FF FF CCOO

Miners of the White Ash Mine (See story page 9) Photo courtesy of Golden DAR Pioneer Museum, (negative #554) -1- Newspaper photos and articles courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History Collection. -2- The Kidnap-Murder of Adolph Coors III

First Place the next plane for home, dragging 10:30 Tuesday meeting with his Writer’s Award Contest By Jerry Grunska Mary back in dismay. brothers, Ad’s friend Bill Moomey, On that overcast morning in Coors’ advertising director, anky, laid back, 44-year-old 1960, wearing his customary base- volunteered to fetch him. Adolph Coors III had some ball cap, Ad left his ranch home, Moomey drove to Turkey Creek L handicaps to contend with a T-shaped structure perched on Road (what is now West Belleview at the start of 1960, several of the west shoulder of the Dakota Avenue) off Highway 285 through which he was aware a cut in the hog- but one that he was back, where he not. He was not saw a milk truck aware that moving parked at the to a ranch south of edge of the Morrison left him bridge, the driver vulnerable to a blowing his stalker. Those of horn. Moomey which he was aware got out of his included a pro- car and spoke to nounced stutter, a Dan Crocker, a ferocious temper, local milkman, and an allergic reac- who said, “That tion to beer. The car’s blocking beer allergy, though the bridge and quaint, was not real- the driver’s ly a problem, nowhere around. although it relegat- The radio’s ed him to a nomi- still on.” nal role in running Moomey saw the family brewery. that the car on Younger brothers the bridge was Bill and Joe actually Ad’s green-and- ran the firm. white Interna- The usually affa- tional Travelall ble Adolph, called station wagon, “Ad” by family and puffing exhaust. co-workers, should- After he and n’t really have been Dan Crocker in Colorado at all arrived at the on February 9th. vehicle, Moomey Late in January, he and his wife Hogback overlooking picturesque shut off the engine and went to Mary had flown to the Bahamas Turkey Creek valley around the railing. He called out Coors’s for a vacation; but when the resort 8:00 a.m., for the ten-mile drive name. Only silence. fumbled their reservation, Ad flew to the brewery in Golden. Recently, Dan Crocker’s brother into a rage and climbed aboard When he didn’t show up for a Jim (Dan died about 20 years ago)

-3- said that the nation, tension was creating a eerie. Dan major felt a cold sensation. shudder. All the Moomey public jerked his knew was hands from that no the bridge rail- contact ing. There from the was blood on kidnappers it, and he was had also standing occurred in a smear of and that blood. Down- officials stream on the were com- bank was a pletely tan baseball befuddled. cap, and But alongside that that wasn’t lay a brown true. The fedora that following Moomey didn’t recognize. In the was kept from the public, first in day the mail brought a ransom shallow stream was Ad’s pair of hopes of rescuing Coors alive and note to the ranch: glasses with flesh-colored rims. then in an effort to trace his Mrs. Coors: You [sic] husband Moomey told Crocker to head for abductor – without the perpetrator has been kidnaped [sic]. His a phone and call the police. “Tell knowing how the law was closing car is by Turkey Creek. Call them there’s been an accident.” in on him. the police or the F.B.I.: he Crocker did as he was told, but Art Wermuth, Jefferson County dies. Cooperate: he lives. he had doubts about it being an sheriff brought deputies to the Ransom: $200,000 in tens and accident. “He knew whose station scene, some on horseback, some $300,000 in twenties. There wagon that was,” Crocker’s brother with bloodhounds. When will be no negotiating. said. “He suspected foul play Wermuth’s bloodhounds couldn’t Bills: used/non-consecutive/ almost at once.” pick up a trail, both Bill Moomey unrecorded/unmarked. Moomey figured that two cars and Wermuth concluded that Ad Warning: we will know if you call had come together at the Turkey Coors had never left the bridge on police or record serial numbers. Creek one-lane bridge, neither man his own. The elder Coors, Adolph Directions: Place money & this willing to pull back. They leapt II, 76, was vacationing in Hawaii. letter & envelope in one suit- out of the car, began swinging, When he flew back, reporters met case or bag. Have two men and one guy smacked his head him at Stapleton Airport. “I am with a car ready to make the against the railing. The other dealing with crooks who have delivery. When all set, advertise fellow must have stuck Ad in his something I want to buy: my son,” a tractor for sale in Denver Post car and hustled him off to a he said. “The price is secondary.” Section 69. Sign ad King hospital, leaving the other car run- The FBI waited 24 hours – the Ranch, Fort Lupton. Wait at ning. But calls around quickly law forbade their entry sooner – NA 9 4455 for instructions determined that Adolph wasn’t before coming in on the case. The after ad appears. Deliver imme- in any hospital. He was gone. law presumed that an abductor diately after receiving call. Any Thus began a mystery within a could cross state lines within that delay will be regarded as a stall dilemma, because much of the period. News of the assumed to set up a stake out. Under- drama that eventually unfolded kidnapping rocketed around the stand this: Adolph’s life is in

-4- your hands. We have no desire to commit murder. All we want is that money. If you follow instructions, he will be released unharmed within 48 hours after the money is received. The envelope was postmarked Denver on the same date as Ad’s disappearance. Distraught, Mary ran the ad in The Denver Post for two weeks, beginning February 11: “JOHN DEERE. 1957 model 820, 69 h.p. tractor for sale. King Ranch. Fort Lupton, Colo.” No call ever came. But the FBI had a suspect within eight days. The Coors’s 16-year-old daughter Cecily recently had seen a man waiting by the bridge several times. Later, in 1996, then Mrs. Anson Garnsey, Cecily said she had seen the same man in Denver, near their former home on South Steele Street. He wore glasses, a brown fedora, and he was in an old yellow car. Other people living near the ranch had seen the car too; a yellow four-door early 1950s Mercury, one of them said. Several other people along Turkey The following week a burned-out Seattle and had attended the Creek said they heard shots 1951 yellow Mercury – without University of California at (“like lightning hitting a tree”) plates - was discovered in Atlantic Berkeley. that morning, and some even City, New Jersey, but the VIN The manslaughter conviction came up with a partial license number showed it registered to in California came about because number: AT-62… Osborne in Colorado. Plus, finger he had picked up an Air Force By the next Saturday, February prints in the car matched those sergeant and shot him. Corbett 13th, the FBI learned that only found in his apartment. These claimed the hitchhiker had pulled four Mercurys in the whole state fingerprints revealed something a gun and Corbett wrested the bore plates beginning with AT-62. else. Osborne wasn’t Osborne at gun away. However, the dead Three people were quickly cleared, all. He was Joseph Corbett Jr., an man had bullet wounds in the but a fourth individual, one Walter escaped convict from California, back of his head. Without Osborne of 1435 Pearl Street in where he had been serving time witnesses, the prosecutor pushed Denver, had moved out of his for manslaughter. for manslaughter. apartment – leaving no forwarding Before long, this much was Under the name of William information – the day after Coors known about “Osborne:” Chiffins, Corbett had purchased disappeared. Corbett was originally from a Royalite portable typewriter, the

-5- kind used to produce the ransom FBI waited till August 1960 to put marked AC III. Bones were note, late in 1959. An Arthur out a nationwide alert, identifying scattered about, and a skull was Cheffins was Corbett’s cellmate Corbett as “the most wanted man retrieved that dental records in the minimum security since Dillinger,” and finally the showed was Adolph Coors III.

Chino Prison from which Photo by Jerry Grunska Coors’s jacket was also Corbett had escaped. The picked up, with two prisoner Cheffins had also bullet holes in the administered I.Q. tests to back, holes matched by inmates, and Corbett’s identical punctures in supposedly came up at the shirt he had worn. 148, a near-genius level. A fellow worker in Scott Warren, Chief FBI Toronto, Canada, agent in Denver, had the identified Corbett ransom note scrutinized from a flyer as Walter by experts who were Osborne. But impressed by the Corbett was not in sophisticated phrasing his apartment when and eight colons. Corbett Mounties came looking had worked at a typewriter for him. Bank records outlet while in college, of his checks revealed a place that insisted that he had rented a car demonstrators use TWO Sign at settlement 14 miles west of Castle Rock. in Winnipeg, reportedly spaces after colons. The Shamballah Ashrama where Coors’ bones were found. heading west. Mounties note contained only two Coors family and Colorado citizens knocked on his hotel door in misspellings and no erasures. knew that a genuine suspect had Vancouver, British Columbia, on Corbett had purchased a fedora emerged. J. Edgar Hoover himself October 29, and Corbett (then such as was found at the scene furnished a description of Corbett calling himself Thomas Wainwright) from the May D & F store in in The Readers Digest, generating said, “All right, you’ve got me.” Cherry Creek. Clerks identified tips from all over the country. He had $89 and a loaded pistol him from a photograph. Corbett was 32 years old, 6’2” tall, in a satchel. He had also purchased several 170 lbs., blue eyes, brown hair, The trial was held in Golden guns, plus handcuffs and leg extremely near-sighted – the kind in March of 1961. Corbett never irons in the autumn of 1959. of individual who could readily confessed. Having been declared The undercarriage of the burned- blend into a crowd. indigent, Corbett asked for out Mercury had telling gravel Then they found Ad’s remains. prominent attorney William H. residues that were traced to the A pizza driver named Ed Greene Erickson. Another attorney, H. distinctive light gray quartzite went several miles southwest of Malcolm Mackay, also was and pink feldspar of the Dakota Sedalia on Jackson Creek Road on appointed as defense counsel. Hogback, indicating that the September 11, 1960, to try out a Joseph Corbett Sr. sent money car had been around the new pistol. The site was an illegal from Seattle so that his son Morrison area. dump on property owned by the could have presentable suits to Joseph Corbett Jr. had told Shamballah Ashrama, Brotherhood wear at the trial. fellow workers at the Benjamin of the White Temple, a religious Many witnesses testified to the Moore paint factory at 2500 sect. Down a brushy slope Greene evidence shown above, plus an Walnut Street in Denver, where came across a pair of trousers with additional witness would reveal he was a night-shift alkyd cooker, 43 cents change in the pocket. more. A 73-year-old chiropractor that he expected to come into a A penknife was inscribed named Beulah N. Lewis said she half million dollars shortly. AC III. Later a monogrammed was driving past the Turkey Creek But Corbett was gone, as the handkerchief with AC III was bridge on the morning of February saying goes, without a trace. The also found along with a tie clasp 9, 1960, heading for Idaho Springs.

-6- Mrs. Lewis said she saw two men When they plopped it on his until his retirement in 1996. struggling on the bridge. One man head in court, the brown fedora Contacted recently about the case, had blood on him, and the other found near the bridge over Turkey Judge Erickson said that Corbett hit the bloodied man over the Creek fit Joe Corbett perfectly. was a diligent and cooperative head (with an object she couldn’t Corbett never took the stand, client. “I felt he was forthright see) and shoved him into the back and the defense called no with me. I checked out seat of a yellow car. Mrs. Lewis witnesses. When the jury returned everything I could that he told said she had not come forth a guilty verdict of murder in the me,” Erickson said. Client- earlier because she was afraid if she first degree on March 30, 1961, attorney privilege prevented him exposed her knowledge, her life Judge Christian D. Stoner from saying more. would be in danger. She sentenced Corbett to life in Joseph Corbett Jr. came up for contacted Jefferson County prison, “at hard labor,” in Canon parole several times, Erickson District Attorney Ronald Hardesty City. Subsequent appeals by aiding in the hearings, but a flurry only after the trial began. Mrs. defense attorneys Mackay and of publicity resulted in turndowns. Lewis singled out Corbett in the Erickson were turned down, as was Corbett had become a qualified x- courtroom as one of the a 1967 request for Corbett’s ray technician in Canon City. combatants. parole. Judge Erickson related an At this point the judge told Defense attorney William H. interesting anecdote. “A respected the jury to disregard the charge Erickson went on to a stellar friend of mine, Dr. Charles of kidnapping. [A kidnapping career a decade after the trial and Gaylord, a Denver radiologist, conviction required an automatic was appointed to the Colorado occasionally served at the prison. death penalty in Colorado state Supreme Court, where he He told me that Corbett would be at the time.] served as Chief Justice from 1991 invaluable at a radiology firm on

-7- the guy who killed Coors.” Judge Erickson reported run- ning into Corbett on occasion. “He was fired from a job his parole officer had helped him land,” Erick- son said. “He had burned out a motor in a truck because he neglected to check the water level in the radiator. He was reduced to the outside. ‘Don’t you dare try Corbett stood in his doorway and driving for the Salvation Army.” to get him out,’ Gaylord quipped. talked to them. Stuff written “Then one day we were giving ‘His work is essential in prison!’” about him was bizarre fiction, he some furniture to charity, and who But he did get out, in 1980, after insisted. When asked why he left should come to our door but Joe 19 1/2 years of incarceration. Denver the day after Coors’ disap- Corbett. Imagine that. Joe Irony of ironies, he remained in pearance he said, “I was a fugitive Corbett a representative of Good- Colorado, in a southwest Denver from California, and I had been in will Industries. Goodwill.” apartment, first because his five- the area [west of Denver].” But he year parole term required that he denied ever seeing people who ABOUT THE AUTHOR not leave the state. He’s still here. claimed they spotted him. He Jerry Grunska is a retired English teacher, Two Denver Post reporters said he knows when he rambles sports referee and author of sports sought him out in 1996, and out that people say, “There goes officiating books.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Baum, Dan, Citizen Coors, pp. 56-66, Harper Harding, Del, The Rocky Mountain News, Queen, Ellery, “The Case of Colorado’s Collins, New York, 2000 Jan. 18, 1967 Millionaire Brewer Coors,” pp. 10-48, Official Detective Stories, Philadelphia, Boyd, Shaun, “Adolph Coors, III, Murder Hutchinson, Paul & Marilyn Robinson, November, 1960 Investigation Records 1960,” Douglas County “Coors Killer Breaks His Silence, The Denver Sheriff’s Office, Castle Rock, Colorado Post, Feb. 11, 1996 White, Sally, Curator, Morrison Natural [internet] McPhee, John, “The Gravel Page,” The New History Museum, exploratory outing to discover the Coors ranch house south of Crocker, Jim, March 8, 2004, phone interview Yorker, pp. 44-52, Vol. 71, Jan. 29, 1996 Morrison, March 11, 2004 Denver Post, The, [assorted news stories], Feb. Miller, Bill, The Rocky Mountain News, Jan. Wilcox, Pat, The Lakewood Sentinel, June 30 10-14, 1960 18, 1961 & July 6, 1978. Erickson, Judge William H., March 12, 2004, “People vs. Joseph Corbett, Jr.,” Trial Records phone interview (undated), Jefferson County Courthouse

-8- The White Ash Mine Disaster

Photo courtesy DAR Pioneer Museum, negative #465 The White Ash Mine (in the late 1800s) and its dump can be seen in the foreground. The Loveland Mine can be seen in the top left corner.The city of Golden is at right.

Through the perils near we must march, rampant through the town of slipped by, so did hope. Still, nor fear, Golden—whispers igniting into workers on the surface refused to Or how shall men’s work go on? Though the price of coal be the life–the soul, bleak hysteria as teary-eyed women give up and continued to pump No less must the coal be won’ and panicked men sprinted to the oxygen down the main shaft. The Ever and aye, though a million pay, White Ash Mine. Something had morning brought the despairing With blood for every ton. gone horribly wrong. Crowds truth. The mine had flooded; the —S. Gertrude Ford, “How Shall the Miner Know?” 1911 gathered in the lingering evening. ten men were lost; and, there was Second Prize Hundreds of people—possibly even nothing that anyone could do. Writer’s Award Contest upwards of one thousand— waited September 9, 1889, brought a black By Scott Bloemendaal during the night, some stoically, day to Jefferson County history. some prostrate and wracked with Mining in general was a he autumn sun slipped grief, for a word of hope, a sign dangerous job, and those coal behind the Rocky that the ten men still deep within miners who descended into the T Mountains, radiating its the earth were somehow alive. earth that day knew it. The men ruddy and smoldering sunset Minutes passed. Agonizing hours were faced each day with the very across the sky. Already, whispers crawled by for the relatives and real possibility of dying within the and rumors were spreading friends of the missing. But as time mine. Coalmines were subject to

-9- treacherous cave-ins, equipment Dr. L. W. Frary first discovered 22,500 tons of coal in one year. failures, deadly gases, and even coal in the Golden area in July of Closer to Golden, mines named explosions, as the fine coal dust 1860. This discovery helped extin- Loveland, the Boss, and the Pitts- would be churned into the air by guish doubts that Golden was to burg sprang to life. It is during machinery and footsteps. Then, all be a permanent settlement, and this period when we first encounter it took was a spark to send a por- not evaporate into history like the one of Golden’s deepest and high- tion of a mine into fiery ruin. In once prosperous Arapahoe City est producing coalmines, the White the White Ash Mine alone were that lay just three miles east of Ash Mine, which operated almost reports of Photo courtesy of DAR Pioneer Museum, negative #554 within the miners city limits. narrowly The escaping beginnings death as a of the full coal White Ash car, sud- Mine can denly be traced as freed far back as from a 1867, when, broken following a hoist, discovery of came coal in the crashing hogback down the made by shaft; an Edward unse- Berthoud Miners of the White Ash Mine in the late 1800s. cured in 1862, the chain falling from a rising elevator Golden. The discovery of coal Golden City Mineral & Land Co. almost striking the heads of two helped establish industry; and soon drilled holes into the hogback. miners, but instead barely missing Golden coal was even being hailed Then, in 1868, the first shaft was them causing less severe injury; and by blacksmiths as being superior to sunk. Today, that location can be a luckless man who was crushed any of that found in the rest of the found at the far west end of beneath tons of rock when a county. During this time, coal was Golden’s 12th Street. The mine narrow air shaft he was working even being sold on the Denver first started selling its superior coal in suddenly collapsed, killing him market for $40 and $50 per ton. to the local brick works, but soon instantly and injuring a nearby More and more mines opened began selling to the general public miner. In later years, even the coal during the 1860s and 1870s, follow- as well. The mine was then leased dust itself was determined to be ing the coal supply discovered on to the Hazelton Coal & Mine Co deadly. The dust scores and rav- Ralston Creek. By 1880, there in 1871, and under its direction, ages the lungs of those that were about ten coalmines in the the mine began to grow. More breathe it, causing a debilitating county, producing about 45,000 shafts were sunk; but, mostly these illness, similar to that caused by tons of coal a year, most of which were just satellites to the main asbestos, called Black Lung Disease. being used for domestic purposes shaft, whose high production Still, even in face of these perils, in Jefferson County. A giant dwarfed all other neighboring men went to work in the White among these coalmines was the mines. One such shaft was Ash Mine—named after the white Ralston Springs, which lay just productive enough to splinter from ash by-product created after burn- three miles north of Golden. Not the main shaft and be renamed the ing coal. This was the titan of only was the Ralston Springs one Black Diamond Coal Mine. the Golden coalmines, an industry of the most profitable mines in the However, water seepage ended the that once even overshadowed the county, it was one of the most life of this mine prematurely. famous Coors brewery. profitable in the state, producing Interestingly enough, one can visit -10- Photo by Scott Bloemendaal of the mine would persist for decades to come. Sure, the mine had seen its share of accidents, but the White Ash showed no signs of foreseeable disaster. The White Ash passed inspections, seemed stable, and didn’t show any signs of flooding, an occur- rence that had closed the nearby Loveland mine. Yet a glowing fire smoldered— slowly burning for at least a decade—within the walls of coal that shielded the White Ash from the flooded remains of the Loveland Mine; and no one knew that those walls were steadily weakening. On September 9, 1889, the miners disappeared beneath the earth as usual. The flickering of their carbide lamps, which were attached to their hats, barely illu- minated their cavernous and tim- bered world. With them, they also carried tin pails of thick-slabbed biscuit sandwiches or dinner buck- ets of cold-meat pasties. Who could guess that at the end of the day, ten men would never return? At about a quarter to four the The monument at the west end of Golden’s 12th Street and at the site of the White engineer, Charles Hoagland, was Ash Mine reads:“White Ash Mine Disaster: Dedicated to the Memory of Joseph the first to discover the disaster. Allen,William Bowden,William Collins, John Collins, Henry Huesman, David Lloyd, He tried to send the cage Joseph Hutter, John Morgan, John Murphy, Rich Rowe who lost their lives here on Sept. 9th, 1889, and are entombed in this plot. (elevator) down, but for some reason it wouldn’t go to the the location of this mine today finally reaching a depth of 730 bottom of the shaft. He then by visiting Golden’s Community feet. Combined with this abyssal tried raising the elevator, but, even Center—the center is built right depth, and the far-reaching net- with the full power of the engines, on top of the site. work of tunnels and various levels, the elevator would not budge. Three men took over the the White Ash became the deepest Hoagland tried to send signals to endeavor of the White Ash: R.D. and most extensive mine in Gold- the cage man, David Lloyd, who Hall, Al Jones, and later W.S. Wells en. During its heyday, the mine was stationed at the bottom of (who bought into the enterprise employed about 40 men, who the mine, but his communications after Mr. Hall retired). During worked in 15 teams, and produced went unanswered. Immediately their reign, from about 1877 to about 100 tons of coal a day. The the engineer, with suspicions that 1889, the White Ash saw the White Ash was outlasting its neigh- something might be wrong, majority of its growth. In pursuit bors, and showed no signs of slow- reported to the foreman, Evan of the precious vein of coal, the ing. Coal continued to be found, Jones. Concerned by the report, mine was sunk deeper and deeper, and it seemed as if the prosperity Jones rushed to the ladder that

-11- descended into the mine. Perhaps once again descended; this time breach of the 90-foot barrier a nagging dread tugged at the accompanied by Mine Inspector, between the two mines was caused foreman as he made the long John McNeil. Together they rode by the miners chipping away at descent, or perhaps he thought down in a heavy iron bucket, hung the black coal. The more there was simply a break in the from an iron rope secured from widespread and accepted theory is line of communication. When he another mine, to survey the disas- that the coal had been smoldering descended 280 feet his thoughts ter. With heavy hearts, they for many years, even decades, ever soured. He heard a tumultuous returned to deliver dire news: there so slowly eating away at the wall roaring beneath him. The mine was nothing that could be done to that shielded the White Ash from was flooding. If the miners at save the trapped men; they had disaster. Years earlier, mine the bottom were to be saved from died under 200 feet of water. inspector John McNeil, had the rapidly filling caverns, then As the anguish and shock sub- discovered such a smoldering fire time was of the essence. He sided, there was some thought of within the wall that separated the scrambled back up the ladder retrieving the bodies. But this Loveland and the White Ash. He and immediately reported the idea was discarded. Not only had ordered the section walled up disaster to the general manager, would they need large enough in order to smother the fire. After Paul Lanious. pumps to drain the level, but they numerous subsequent inspections, Mr. Jones then marshaled as would also need pumps to stem this proved to be a success. The many men as he could find for a the flow of water rushing into the fire had been snuffed out, but still rescue expedition, but he couldn’t mine. By the time this could be the wall had been weakened. get the mine lights lit. Plus, the achieved, the bodies themselves Unknowingly, a second fire had elevator was stuck within the mine- might be in such decay, because of also been burning. McNeil later shaft. The rescue was delayed as the water and harsh elements, that believed that the fire that had the men set electrical lights and they would be unrecoverable. caused the disaster originated from secured heavy ropes down the The White Ash Mine itself was the dump on the surface, then main shaft. By this time, word of to be their tomb. The shaft was traveled under ground, slowly the disaster had spread throughout closed, sealing the ten miners in burning its way through cracks Golden, and distraught families their watery grave. and crevices as it followed the and citizens were gathering outside After the tragedy there sounded lines of coal. Finally, the fire to watch the activity. As the men one predominant question: what slowly burned through the critical worked, reports state that they had caused the disaster? The fore- barrier between the two mines, occasionally heard a faint shout of man, Evan Jones, was the first to causing the wall to rupture. In a trapped miner far below, a brief find one of the major culprits, the an interview with the Colorado anguished cry that sounded for a nearby Loveland Mine. The Love- Transcript two days later, the couple of minutes before the rush- land Mine lay just about a third inspector stated that he had readily ing water devoured his cries for of a mile away and as the miners surveyed the mine and cleared it help. Spurred on, the foreman followed the vein of coal, the from any dangers. The mine once again made a descent, but tunnels between the two mines appeared to be in very good could only make it 300 feet down had been extending to each other. shape, but the hidden fire was an before being repulsed by a surge of About ten years before the disas- unfortunate calamity that no one bad, sulfurous air. ter, the Loveland had been closed could have foreseen. Nothing could be done. Evan because of flooding. But on The story of the White Ash Jones, the remaining miners, the September 9, 1889, the walls doesn’t quite end with the disaster families, and the citizens of Gold- separating the two mines had of September 9. The owners en waited throughout the night, suddenly been breached, draining looked to developing the northern hoping that the air being pumped the Loveland and sending torrents shaft and christened it the North into the shaft might rescue some of water and debris into the White Ash Coal Mine. In 1890, of the men trapped below. depths of the White Ash Mine. the Transcript reported that this The next morning, Mr. Jones There are some reports that the newer coal was even better than

-12- Photo by Steve Larson and the surrounding community to its knees in somber mourning. Standing at the site today, it’s difficult to imagine the bustling White Ash Mine. But the mine — that fateful and terrible tomb — remains to this day, forever White Ash Mine Monument today; the School of Mines Stadium and Table Mesa are visible at right. sealed within the earth, the coal from the original White that rocked Golden over a century eternally etched in Jefferson Ash. However, this mine had a ago. The monument, first erected County history, and never meteoric success, a quick on the 47th anniversary of the forgotten. burgeoning that dissolved under disaster, is situated at the very site two miner strikes. In 1895 the where the White Ash Mine once ABOUT THE AUTHOR machines finally stopped, and the stood, and silently proclaims the Scott Bloemendaal lives in Littleton, buildings were removed. The coal ten fallen miners. How simple it Colorado, and is a manufacturer’s had run out. The White Ash mine is to pass by that stone marker representative for various lines of restaurant equipment. He spends his free had closed again, this time forever. and not really understand the time writing short stories and singing Today, among houses and entire story of a mine that once with the Denver MountainAires playing fields at the far west end overshadowed the great Coors Barbershop Chorus. Highly interested in of 12th Street, a single, nearly brewery, or to comprehend that history, he was eager to research the past of the county that he grew up in. forgotten shard of granite stands as those ten names and the disaster a solemn reminder of the tragedy that befell them brought Golden

BIBLIOGRAPHY Dark, Ethel. History of Jefferson County: Hayes, John. Occupational Lung Disease. Boyd, Thomas. “Historical Coal Mining Master of Arts thesis. Colorado State College General Pathology Syllabus, Boston University Activity Near Golden, CO: Newspaper of Education, (University of Northern School of Medicine, 1995. p. 317. articles from the Golden Globe Provide an Colorado), Greeley, 1939. “Horrible Disaster: Ten Men Drown in the Account of Some of the Coal Mining “Eleven Men Drowned: Horrible Catastrophe White Ash Coal Mine.” Colorado Transcript, Activities that Occurred Between 1880 and at Golden by Which Eleven Lives Were Lost.” 11 September 1889. 1895.” Rocky Mountain News September 1889. http://www.mines.edu/fs_home/tboyd/Coal/ Korson, George. Coal Dust on the Fiddle. history (17 March 2004). Gardner, Richard. “Mine’s Sparse Remains Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, Yield Rich History.” Golden Transcript, 1 1943. Brown, Georgina. The Shining Mountains. February 1994. Gunnison, CO: B&B Printers, Gunnison, Mladnich, Carol. “On the Road, Historical Inc., 1976. Golden Pioneer Museum. “Golden-Area Golden, CO.” 16 May 2001. History Articles from The Golden Transcript: http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/frontrange/virtour “Buried Forever: The Bodies of the Miners Marker is Sole Reminder of White Ash Mine /golden2.htm (17 March 2004). Beyond Possibility of Recovery.” Denver Tragedy.” 2001. Republican 11 September 1889. Prouty, Dick. “Golden’s White Ash Mine http://www.goldenpioneermuseum.com/New_ Disaster Recalled.” Denver Post 20 April 1966. Folder/Article6.htm (17 March 2004). -13- Photo by Jim Peterson Miramonte fire of August, 1979 History of Coal Creek Canyon Volunteer Fire Department By Janis Brescia former Coal Creek Inn in 1946, non-profit corporation called the Writers’ Award Contest residents gathered to form the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Honorable Mention 2004 Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association (CCCIA). Any resident oal Creek Canyon, formed Association, whose first concern or property owner within the by the winding path of a was the establishment of a district’s boundaries was eligible for C once vigorous river that is volunteer fire department. The membership in the association. The now a meandering creek, lies in the closest fire department at that time district covered about 48 square northwest quadrant of Jefferson was in Arvada, 15 miles away. A miles in Jefferson (60%), Boulder County, Colorado. It was first community hall was constructed (30%), and Gilpin (10%) counties. developed as a toll road for using volunteer labor in 1947 On December 22, 1949 the first hauling supplies to the miners in about mid-way up the canyon on fire house was completed; the Black Hawk and Central City in Highway 72, on land donated by structure was built into the side of the 1860s. After mining declined Henry Zeller. Old stage coach a hill on the corner of Highway 72 and the Homestead Act made land stop buildings from the toll road and what is now Crescent Park available to settlers, Coal Creek were still standing in the meadow Road, directly west of the current Canyon was populated by near the site. Station #1. The land was donated immigrants from Germany, The first written record of the by A. G. Seaver, and volunteers Sweden, and England. Improvement Association is the helped in the construction. The After fire destroyed a home Articles of Association, signed on CCCIA thanked Ture Nelson in a along Highway 72 west of the August 31, 1948, establishing a letter for the use of his truck in -14- hauling timbers to construct the under construction. association in the future and serve “House for the Fire Truck,” and Although the CCCIA was a two-year term. One half of granted him a two year formed with the intention of CCCIA’s dues would be given to membership for 1949 and 1950, providing fire protection for the the Department. Fifteen men which cost $10.00. The first fire canyon, after the hall was reported to the first training truck was a surplus Army constructed, the main focus of the session on April 29, 1956, and by- command car. The State Forest group became social functions laws were adopted on June 12, Service provided fire equipment rather than fire fighting. The 1956. Training requirements were and members of the department community enjoyed pancake set at 20 hours for initial paid for insurance out of their breakfasts, box socials, square instruction and 36 hours of annual own pockets. A siren was placed dances, and men’s stag parties. A training thereafter. on top of the fire house in 1956 letter from Vernon Rouse dated On September 29, 1956 a Rio to alert members to calls. October 21, 1954 to the CCCIA Grande train sparked an estimated On December 12, 1951 an over- reported on a meeting of 50-60 600-800 acre brush fire that heated furnace caused a fire in the people to determine a reliable burned for several days east of the CCCIA community hall. A huge source of funding for the fire present Blue Mountain Estates hole was burned in the floor and department, which had been along the hogback where the the building sustained smoke operating under a deficit, and to tracks form an “S” curve. It was damage, but the structure was decide if the department should to be the largest fire fought in the saved and repairs were completed split from the Association. Rouse canyon in terms of acres burned. in a few months. In 1954 the hoped to keep the two groups Captain Donald Johnson of the Copperdale Inn, located next to together and proposed that all fire department said the railroad the present liquor store at 30550 members pay annual dues of had reneged on its promise to run Highway 72, burned to the $6.00, with $2.00 going to the fire diesel engines, not steam engines, ground. The fire was caused by a department. in the dry fall months. Coal waitress disposing of cigarette butts In April 1956 John Smethills, Creek fire fighters were aided by that were not completely President of the CCCIA, 300 volunteers from the Colorado extinguished. Fire fighters recall appointed a committee of six men School of Mines, University of seeing a bag of spare coins as a fire board to separate the fire Colorado, county road crews, completely melted in the rubble. department and to create a sound Denver & Rio Grande employees, The next blaze they battled was in financial footing apart from the and several community fire February of 1954 at Reservoir 22 association. The board would be departments. The fire was finally (now Gross Reservoir) as it was elected by members of the put out by cutting down trees in

Coal Creek Fire Station 1 Photo by Adam Jack

-15- its path. Later fire fighters successfully fought to get the railroad to pay property taxes on the distance it travels through the canyon to compensate for the damages it causes. The railroad also donated an 8,000 gallon water storage tank for the department’s use. Fund-raising was a constant struggle for the fledgling department. At a meeting on August 29, 1956, the fire fund balance was reported at $38.00. Members would often cover expenses out of their Red Truck – La France engine, 1931 own pockets to buy parts for the engines, and donate for the department, three off- structural fires, eight brush fires, their labor for repairs. The premises extensions and an alarm ten ambulance runs, one lost department raised funds through system. Each department member person search, and four false pancake breakfasts, socials, and was given a telephone, and the alarms. Excavation for the new voluntary contributions. alarm was to be audible to all fire fire house had begun, and fire Over five feet of heavy, wet fighters. The siren would sound at fighters began to investigate what spring snow fell on the canyon in the station, and a dispatcher would be required to create a Fire April 1957; it started at 2:30 PM would call members to respond to Protection District supported by on April 1 and finally stopped at emergencies. Fire fighters’ wives taxes. The department could no 6:00 PM on April 2. Cars were took turns on duty notifying longer rely on pancake dinners unable to enter for several days, members of emergencies by and voluntary donations to and some telephone and power telephone. A 1931 American survive. It had been hoped that lines were knocked out. Snow- LaFrance, used by the Boulder Fire all residents would voluntarily bound people brought supplies on Department, was purchased on contribute to the department, but snowshoes and skis. All that March 3, 1959 for $1,500. The only a few did so on a regular moisture had a devastating effect truck, a museum piece the basis. In May, 1959, the Coal on the fire house, which was built department still has today, is a Creek Volunteer Fire Department into a hill along Highway 72. Master Series Metropolitan, with a was incorporated as a non-profit Rather than renovate the structure, pump, hose body, chemical tanks, organization. The mill levy was the Board decided to build a new a 6 cylinder motor and brakes on set at 5, yielding about $4,000 in barn 200 feet east of the old one, all four wheels for stopping when annual revenue for the the site of the present Station 1. fully loaded. Department. On January 6, 1959 the The annual report dated June In a brutal incident at the Coal Mountain States Telephone and 27, 1959 listed 12 active members Creek Inn on Easter Sunday, April Telegraph Company agreed to and four in training. The 15, 1979, Bruce Abbott, 23, of provide a one party business line Department responded to three Denver was shot in the heart and

-16- Photo by Adam Jack followed by a 1956 Mercury station wagon and then a 1972 GMC Suburban and a 1982 GMC Modulance. In 1993 a Ford diesel Wheeled Coach was purchased with the aid of a state grant. After years of trying to cover ambulance expenses with voluntary contributions from patients, and after spending more than $20,000 in 1986 for ambulance service, the Board of Directors decided to charge patients based on the services they received. This would killed by Richard Wood, who lived ignited the blaze, and 150 fire also provide revenue from people in the canyon. Wood contended fighters were called to extinguish who received services but did not he shot Abbott in self-defense, but it. A slurry bomber was used and contribute taxes to the district. a jury decided that since no a helicopter brought water from Charges began on June 1, 1987. weapon was found near Abbott’s Gross Reservoir. Some water was MedTrans of the Rockies began body, Wood was found guilty of also hauled in by train. The fire to provide ambulance and billing second degree murder and was was contained about 300 yards services for the department in sentenced to 12-18 years in prison. from the Copperdale Inn, which 1994. The Coal Creek Inn had had recently been remodeled. The A Denver and Rio Grande train sponsored a $10 “All You Can Wallingers, owners of the collided with a five ton boulder Drink” night on Saturday, and two Copperdale, provided thirsty fire that fell onto the track from a groups of men began fighting in fighters with free drinks. Highway rain-soaked cliff on September 30, the parking lot outside the bar 72 was closed as fire fighters 1991. Two men, the conductor early Sunday morning. Wood fled battled the blaze. The summer and a brake man, were killed, and after shooting Abbott, hid the gun was hot and dry, with temperatures two sustained injuries after they in a drawer in his home, and of 94 degrees and humidity of 12 managed to climb off a car that returned to the bar where per cent. The fire roared up a was teetering over the track on the witnesses pointed him out to draw from the railroad tracks, and edge of the mountainside. The sheriff’s deputies. Several fire jumped a dirt road near eight crash occurred between a sheer fighters remember this incident as Miramonte homes. However, the wall on one side and a steep cliff the worst medical call they have Rio Grande Railroad said that on the other. Five thousand gal- ever experienced. there was no hard evidence linking lons of diesel fuel spilled into About 30-100 acres burned in a train to the fire. South Boulder Creek as the cars Miramonte near Highway 72 and The department’s first tumbled down a ravine, and a Copperdale Road on August 4, ambulance was a converted 1937 fire was sparked in the wreckage. 1979. Sparks from a freight train Oldsmobile hearse. This was More than 50 fire fighters and

-17- rescue workers worked all day and house and burned the cover of a BIBLIOGRAPHY through the night, using tractors, hot tub, but no property was lost. “Articles of Association.” Coal Creek Canyon cranes and bulldozers to extricate Coal Creek Canyon Volunteer Improvement Association, March 29, 1947. the bodies, while a helicopter Fire Department has changed its Bartels, Lynn. “Train sparks 200 acre blaze.” dropped water on the fire. name to Coal Creek Canyon Fire The Rocky Mountain News, Aug. 24, 1994: 5A. Sparks from a train being Protection District, and has grown Booth, Leavitt. Personal interview. May filmed by a movie crew, ignited from five initial members to 37 1989. 14 grass fires over 200 acres today. More changes By-Laws of the Coal Creek Volunteer Fire on August 23, 1994. The are certain as Department, privately published. movie, “Money Train,” Coal Creek Carnahan, Ann. “Freight train collides with starring Steven Seagal, copes with boulder.” Rocky Mountain News, Oct. 1, was filmed in the area, new state 1991: 8. “Coal Creek fire chief admits lying.” The when the train’s spark requirements, Daily Camera, Nov. 13, 1985. arrestors apparently an increas- “Coal Creek Gets New Fire House.” Arvada failed. Forty acres ing number Enterprise, Dec. 22, 1949. burned over 2-3 miles of calls, and “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, Aug. on both sides of High- more annex- 31, 1951. way 72. An air tanker ation of “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, Sept. dropped foam and a land into 27, 1951. helicopter made 25 water the district “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, Dec. drops to fight the blazes. of commercial 13, 1951. Coal Creek was assisted by 35 fire buildings. While the members “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, Feb. 21, 1952. departments and state and local are still volunteers, the Fire “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, agencies in fighting the fires. 1994 District Chief, Fire Marshall and March 4, 1954. had a record number of calls, with the Administrative Assistant now “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, April 112 fire calls and 158 medical calls. receive compensation. The fire 1, 1957. Canyon residents had another department has a long and proud “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, Aug. close call when a passing Union history of service, and Coal Creek 15, 1957. Pacific coal train sparked a blaze Canyon is a better place to live “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, June just below Eastridge Road of Blue because of the fire fighters’ 19, 1958. Mountain Estates on August 15, dedication. “Coal Creek News.” Arvada Enterprise, Aug. 21, 1958. 2002 around 5:30 A.M. Train crew Fischer, Ted. Personal interview. May 1989. members reported the fire, and a ABOUT THE AUTHOR reverse 911 call was sent out to Good, Owen S. and Able, Charley. “Close call Jan Brescia received her B.A. in English for mansions.” The Rocky Mountain News, evacuate residents. Deputies went literature from Northern Illinois Aug. 15, 2002: 1A, 5A. house to house, telling residents to University and her M.A. in English Ingold, John and Schrader, Ann. “Blaze gather their belongings and leave Renaissance literature from the University threatens ridge homes.” The Denver Post, Aug. 15, 2002: 1B. in case the fire crested the ridge of Illinois. She has lived in Coal Creek and began to threaten homes or Canyon since 1987. Her husband, “Never a dull moment in Coal Creek Chuck, is the captain of Fire Station 3. Canyon.” Empire Magazine, Denver Post, made evacuation impossible She wrote a history of the canyon for Sept. 15, 1957. through the only road leading out the Jefferson County North Mountains Rouse, Gene. Personal interview. March 1997. Community Plan in 1992. She became of the development. Fire crews Roberts, Gene. Personal interview. March sprayed foam and water on the interested in the history of the area after 1997. blaze from Eastridge, and a heli- learning that the great-grandfather of one of her neighbors homesteaded in copter dumped water from the the canyon and once owned all of Blue Arvada Reservoir. The flames Mountain Estates. threatened a rock wall of one

-18- Mountain View One ❶ ❷ Hundred Years Mountain View Elementary School Mountain View Town Hall and Counting ❷ ❹ In August of this year (2004) the town of Mountain View celebrated 100 years of ❶ ❸ incorporation with an old- fashioned parade, music, food and fun. It was designed to pay tribute to the founders; to those who raised families there through the years; and to those who ❸ ❹ assumed civic duties to insure the town’s survival into the twenty-first century. It was not always an easy road. The first house in Mountain View Berkeley United Methodist Church

By Dorothy Donovan and Lakeside, and has Denver Jerry Crisman as a neighbor across t takes less than an hour Sheridan Boulevard. to walk the mile and a half In 1904 the Mountain I perimeter of the town, View area had about 375 yet within its boundaries are residents with some businesses, a church, a town hall, estimates going higher. a school, a park and family A small group of leaders dwellings. The year 2000 census decided water and sewer shows the population as 569. The services were needed and felt the Store, 4301 Sheridan Boulevard. adage “many of the best things only way to obtain them was One hundred ten votes were cast come in small packages” could fit to incorporate. A petition for with the measure passing by ten the town of Mountain View. incorporation was filed in the votes. Thus, the town of Mountain Consisting of only twelve square Jefferson County Court on August View was officially established. The blocks, it is nestled on the eastern 5, 1904 signed by 58 property city limits were defined as six blocks edge of Jefferson County, is owners. The election was held on west from Sheridan Boulevard and adjacent to Wheat Ridge and September 6 at the L. Hanawald from 41st to 44th Avenues (there is

-19- no 42nd Avenue in this area). The inhabitants were governed by an elected mayor and six trustees, who where in charge of securing gas, water, electricity, and sewage disposal for the town. According to the first minutes on record at Mountain View Town Hall, a meeting was held October 19, 1904 at the home of L. Hanawald. Present were Mountain View’s first mayor R. J. Morlan, and trustees William Frobel, M. M. Brown, L. Hanawald, and E. C. Fuller with J.A. Dietrich and Dr. L.M. Kessler being absent. While the incorporation was This is an early picture of Mountain View Elementary School built in 1925 at 4165 Eaton Street. It replaced an earlier school held in a house a defining event in creating at 41st and Chase. Note the sidewalks, but no pavement or curbs. Mountain View as a town, the area had been a part of the McDonough. Ellis and the way for applying an history of Jefferson County for McDonough platted what alphabetical order to streets in a number of years. In 1879, John became Mountain View as the metro area. The names of Brisben Walker, a well-known Plat T3S, R69W in 1888. Mountain View streets were local entrepreneur, purchased The streets in Mountain View changed to Ames, Benton, Chase, 1,200 acres in the Berkeley area (Berkeley Annex) originally had Depew, Eaton, and Fenton, for $1000, acquired an additional colorful Spanish and Indian chosen to honor American 500 acres and called it Berkeley names. From Sheridan Boulevard political figures. As part of the Centennial Celebration this year, historic signs carrying the original names of the streets were installed. In 1889 a tent for church services was erected at 43rd Avenue near the county line separating Jefferson County and Denver. People came from both sides of the line and as the congregation grew, the tent quickly became too small. The building of Berkeley Methodist Church soon got underway with Mountain View Elementary School as it looks today with the 1949 and 1958 the recording of a deed for additions.The school was closed in 1972 and is now a private Catholic School. property on March 2, 1891. The Farm. Around 1888, John Walker west the six streets were named congregation was so eager to have donated 50 acres to the Jesuit Allita, Veta, Rietta, Bonita, Chipeta a church, it held services as soon College, now Regis University, (1) and Uintah. As the area grew, new as the roof was on, with only and sold the remainder for streets, names and numbers sprang planks for floors and carpeted $325,000. The area was developed up everywhere with seemingly no nail kegs as pews. The church as the Berkeley Annex by the logical order. In an effort to unify was completed in 1892 at a cost Denver investment firm of the system, Denver passed of $4000. Displayed in the church Carleton Ellis and John Ordinance 16 in 1887 which paved is a beautiful mural, “The Good

-20- Samaritan,” painted by Leo during the Thirties and Forties Lakeside Amusement Park which Tanguma, a church member was much the same as in a small opened on Memorial Day in 1908 and well-known Denver artist. rural town in Colorado. Resident was also important to the lives of Mountain View citizens hope this Courtney Chesnick remembers Mountain View residents in earlier church will eventually be placed the streets and alleys were dirt or years. However, early in their on the Colorado State Historic gravel, and many people had pens relationship, the two had a bit Register. of chickens. The only hard- of difficulty. Apparently in early In 1897 the first schoolhouse surfaced road was 48th Avenue, 1907, the Lakeside Realty and in Mountain View, still Berkeley which was always referred to as the Amusement Company applied to Annex at the time, was located in paved road. She says on summer the nearby incorporated town of a house on the corner of 41st and days on Ames Street you would Mountain View for two liquor Chase Street. licenses. It was Twenty-eight reported in the years later, Golden Globe of Mountain May 4, 1907 that View Mountain View Elementary “is not anxious School was to grant the two built at 4165 licenses needed.” Eaton Street. Although the Over the application is not years two recorded in the additions Mountain View were built, Council Minutes, one in 1949 it is true that and the other subsequently, in 1958. The Berkeley United Methodist Church, built in 1892, stands today at the corner Lakeside The school of 43rd and Sheridan Boulevard. For many years the main entrance faced onto incorporated Sheridan, but when the street was widened, the entrance was moved to 43rd was the Avenue. During the early years of Mountain View, many community meetings as a town in community were held at the church as it was the largest building in the town. November 1907, gathering and issued its place for student programs, see housewives hanging out own liquor licenses. Although not school carnivals, fund raisers, laundry, kids roller skating, an official part of Mountain View, Scout meetings and social pushing doll buggies, and playing Lakeside was just a short walk activities for many years. Students among the tall sunflowers in across 44th Avenue. It was a and parents were saddened when vacant lots. They would listen for friendly, cool and shady place to after many active years, the the popcorn man in his Model T have fun in the summer. School school was closed in 1972 by Ford with a steam whistle and wait picnics were held there; the Red Jefferson County Schools because for the ice delivery man to come Cross provided swimming lessons; of declining enrollment. In 1978 so they could enjoy chips of ice. there were soft ball games in the the property at 4165 Eaton Street In a 1930 “all school” photo, four evenings; and Big Bands played in was bought for the establishment teachers and 110 students are the ballroom. The Park boasted one of Our Lady of the Rosary shown in front of the school. of the best equipped miniature Academy, an independent During the hard times of the railroads in the country. It circled Catholic school. Public school thirties, Courtney remembers the Lake Rhoda, giving passengers a students in Mountain View PTA sponsoring monthly dances ride of more than a mile. In now attend Stevens Elementary, at the school to raise money for addition there were many thrilling Wheat Ridge Middle School, and classroom supplies. The admission rides, such as the Tumblebug, the Jefferson High School. was 25 cents which included free Cyclone roller coaster and the Growing up in Mountain View coffee and a slice of cake. Ferris wheel. Everyone liked the -21- slightly scary Fun personality which House, and enjoyed the matched the indoor swimming pool town: warm, and skating rinks. open, and affable. Lakeside also offered Mountain View the noisy but exciting became a home car races, first midget rule town in 1972, autos and then stock governed by a cars. Before the streets mayor and six were paved, one city council resident recalls folks members elected would sprinkle the at large. In streets to keep the dust addition, the down as patrons left town has a the Park in the evening. treasurer, city In the early years it 4177 Ames is the address of the first house of record in clerk, police almost seemed as if Mountain View, built in 1874. It is still a private residence today. department, Lakeside was a part of first mercury vapor street lights, accountant, public Mountain View. contracted with Denver for works department, building One of the most memorable sewage treatment, and paved inspector, city attorney, and a people of Mountain View was the streets and alleys. court clerk. A judge holds court Russell C. Lyon. Records show In addition to his mayoral once a month. The principal he served the town for more than duties, Mr. Lyon worked at Gates source of revenue for Mountain forty years, first as a Council Rubber Company until he retired View is a 4% sales tax, collected Member and then as the elected in 1972, twelve years before his largely by businesses along 44th Mayor from 1952 until 1984. retirement as Mayor. Upon Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. During his early years, Mountain retirement in 1984, Mayor Lyon Because the revenue base is small, View streets were unpaved, street was honored by the residents with the town must budget carefully; lights were dim, town sewage was a celebration in appreciation for however, no essential service is dumped into Clear Creek, and his years of service. When asked lacking. Mountain View is a street signs were, in some cases, about the reason for his longevity member of the Wheat Ridge Fire nailed to telephone poles. By the Lyon maintained “It wasn’t my District for fire protection, Denver time Lyon retired, he and town excellent leadership. Nobody else Water is made available through leaders had erected metal street wanted the job.” Some residents the Wheat Ridge Water District signs, convinced the Public Service thought otherwise, saying his long and the Wheat Ridge recreation Company to install Colorado’s tenure could be attributed to his facilities are available to Mountain

The present Town Hall, located at 4176 Benton, was built in 1948 at a cost of $4,800.The picnic tables, gazebo and play area were added in 1993. Visible at the right is the second oldest house in town built in 1879.

-22- View residents. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Mountain View Dorothy Donovan lives in Lakewood and planned from the is the author of several articles on the beginning to build a history of Jefferson County. She has Town Hall. While the first lived in Jefferson County since 1955. meetings were in officials’ Jerry Crisman is a retired R-I Media homes, in January 1905, a Specialist and has lived in Mountain View for 35 years. Special Tax of 15 mills on Carol Gilbert took all photos except the assessed evaluation of the early school picture which is from the Town ($37,000) was Mountain View town files. She is a proposed for public member of the present Mountain View works. A Town Hall Town Council. was soon built for approximately $400 on SOURCES leased land. The Town Berkeley United Methodist Church, A Hall of today, at 4176 composite History 1889 to 1990, Compiled Benton, is a small red by church members from historical records. brick building erected in Copy on file at Mountain View Town Hall Bailey, Karen, “Tears, Stories, Mark Last Day 1948. It also houses the of Mayor’s 40 Years in Politics.” Rocky Police Department. Mountain News , p. 10 , July 14, 1984 A small park was Chesnick, Courtney Nahring, “The Mountain constructed on the corner Mayor Betty Van Harte has been in office since View I Knew.” Lecture presented to Wheat 1989.The Mayor and the Council in recent north of the Town Hall Ridge Historical Society, June 14, 1988. years have presided over the development of a Copy on file at Mountain View Town Hall with funds from Jeffco Comprehensive Plan for the Town; received over Goodstein, Phil H., Denver Streets: Name, Open Space and $300,000 for improvements from the Jefferson County Community Development Block Grant Numbers, Location, Logic. Denver, CO: New Mountain View’s share of Program; improved services by converting to a Social Publications, 1994 lottery money. In 1993 a unified trash hauling system and transferring to Kelly, Guy, “Small, Maybe, But Efficient.” park area was made on the the Wheat Ridge Water District. Rocky Mountain News, p30, February 26, 1989. south side of the Town scale than their neighbors. Mountain View Incorporation Documents, Hall which includes picnic tables, It is refreshing to find so much Jefferson County, CO: 1904, on file at a gazebo and a play area. pride and enthusiasm in this Mountain View Town Hall In talking with present Mayor small island of a town surrounded Olson, Robert J. “Lakeside Amusement Betty Van Harte, one recognizes by larger cities. With residential Park.” Historically Jeffco, Vol. 3, No. 2, p. 2- 13, Winter 1990 someone who is enthusiastic and development and the growth of Robbins, Sara, Jefferson County, Colorado, proud of Mountain View. She has trees over the years the “mountain The Colorful Past of a Great Community. been a resident since 1957 and view” to the west is not as Lakewood, CO: Jefferson County Bank, 1962 raised her family only a short panoramic as it once was. Shaffer, Ray, A Guide to Places in Colorado: distance from the Town Hall. She However, this has not diminished Jefferson County. Denver, CO: 1989 ran for Mayor and won in 1989, the spirit of the town. As Guy Shulruff, Lawrence, “32 Years Enough for Mountain View Mayor.” Denver Post, p 4-E. and has done so each subsequent Kelley summarized in a Rocky April 15, 1984 election. The Mayor is in her Mountain News article about Van Harte, Betty, Mayor of Mountain View, office on Monday through Friday, Mountain View, “What a town!” Personal Interviews, April 11, 1996, February - and readily takes all phone calls, If the past is any indication of the March, 2004 often answering the phone herself. future, Mountain View residents Documents and Minutes of Council Meetings Working together, the Mayor and from October 1904 until the present. On file can look forward to many more in the Mountain View Town Hall. Council members set the budget, successful years. develop city government policy, (1) See story by Sally White, “Jesuits in Jefferson County. A Story of Regis College” and attend to the affairs of (Page 30). running a city, albeit on a smaller

-23- JEFFERSON COUNTY Barbara & Eugene Sternberg Historical Authors, Community Advocates

arbara and Eugene met in also became a Jungian therapist. Open Space for shelters in Elk her homeland of England In 1972 the Sternbergs moved to Meadows, scholarships for the B during World War II. Evergreen and became an integral Children’s Advocacy Center, Eugene had come from part of the fabric of Evergreen. Operation Bootstraps and Czechoslovakia before the war to the Evergreen Middle School study architecture at Cambridge Builders Club. University. Barbara graduated Barbara became one of the from the London School of “Founding Mothers” of the Open Economics with a degree in High School and started the Sociology. They became Friends of the Evergreen Library. engaged just before he was Eugene served as a member of offered a professorship at the Jefferson County Planning Cornell University in 1945. Commission for 10 years. He Barbara obtained a job with created the Evergreen Design the British Embassy in New Task Force which served as a York. They were married in model for the present day Ithaca, New York in 1946 Evergreen North Balanced and shortly thereafter, Land Use Effort. Eugene moved to Colorado where volunteered his expertise to Eugene could be a member design projects for the Senior of the faculty at Denver Resource Center, the Evergreen University and open his own Ambulance Facility, the architectural firm. He was a Evergreen Recreation Center, firm believer that to be a good and new county administration teacher of architecture, one buildings on Jefferson County needed to be a practicing architect. Parkway. Some of the landmark buildings he The Sternbergs helped with designed are the Denver General the formation of the Art for the and National Jewish hospitals and Mountain Community, a non- the Arapahoe Community College. profit organization. The group He was interested in buildings with Through their combined talents has commissioned statues for a social purpose and designed they published the book: Evergreen the library, lake house, Hiwan many schools, churches and city Mountain Community. The first Homestead, and has developed a halls in addition to medical and printing of the book was dedicated program where artists are invited housing complexes. Barbara to the people of Evergreen and to display sculptures in the obtained a Masters Degree in offered at cost. In 1993 an updated community. Barbara and Eugene Urban Sociology from DU and version was printed and offered to Sternberg were elected to the taught there as well as at Colorado the Evergreen Kiwanis Foundation. Jefferson County Historical Women’s College and Emily Funds from the books have been Commission Hall of Fame Griffith Opportunity School. She donated to the Jefferson County October 16, 2004

-24- HALL OF FAME Robert Boyles Bradford Pioneer & Rancher

n 1859 Robert Boyles destroyed by fire in 1878. The title of Major was an Bradford purchased the first Major Bradford was a well honorary one. However in 1859, I acreage at what is now Ken- known rancher and raised then Governor Robert W. Steele Caryl Ranch, a site with a appointed Bradford to his staff sandstone cabin on it. His legacy with the title of Brigadier lives today with the Bradford General, aide. Perley House on Ken Caryl Bradford attached a front Ranch and Bradford Junction stone mansion to the stone in Conifer. He started the cabin, which he completed in Bradford Road in 1860. 1872. This building, The road ran from Denver although a ruin, was listed to Bradford, over the hill in the State Register of behind the stone cabin, over Historic Properties in part of present day West 1997. In 2002 Colorado Ranch, over Goddard Preservation, Inc., named Ranch to Bradford the house one of Junction, then on to Colorado’s Most Hamilton, Tarryall, Oro Endangered Places. City, today’s Leadville, and Col. John M. Chivington Breckenridge. The road recruited soldiers for the followed the old Ute Trail Civil War at Bradford in used by the families and 1863, which makes the miners traveling to the mines. building the only remaining A toll road operated from 1860 Civil war site still standing in to 1867, made about $500 a Jefferson County. week. Bradford changed the road Bradford died December 30, later to run over present day 1876, and was buried at Riverside Morrison Road. He owned Cemetery. He left an adult and built the Bradford Junction potatoes and turnips as well. daughter, Mattie, and his wife facilities - a ranch, tollgate, He entertained his friends at Fanny. Robert Bradford was and stagecoach stop, which a nearby cave called Mother elected to the Jefferson County he sold in 1873 to Col. James Nature’s Hall, which we now Historical Commission Hall of McNasser. The structures were know as Colorow’s Cave. Fame October 16, 2004.

-25- Steamboats on Clear Creek

Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library Western History Collection, Call # X-60125 Hydraulic placer gold mining dredge northeast of Golden

By Richard Gardner when he saw what was being built mechanical mining boats invented on the river 100 years ago this not long before, being built by ell, I like Golden all year. West was witnessing the the National Dredging Company right, but you might construction of two great river to get the long promising gold “W stay here twenty years barges just east of the Table from the historic Arapahoe Bar and never see a steamboat coming Mountains, which bore a fair of Clear Creek. up Clear Creek!” were the words resemblance to the steamboats his Mining was nothing new to this of pioneer Italian immigrant friend from St. Louis yearned for gold placer bar of Clear Creek. Charles Garbareno, which came when he died 19 years before. Gold was discovered there in 1834 to the mind of friend George West These were gold dredges, great by the Estes Party, who 170 years -26- Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library Western History Collection, Call # X-6669

View of wooden gates on Clear Creek at Arapahoe City, named for the Arapaho Indians; a pioneer placer mining camp considered the earliest town in Jefferson County, Colorado, organized in 1858; dredge used in 1904-1905. ago this year laid out claims and of pipe from 30 inches in barge with mining machinery on used a Georgia rocker to get it diameter, 500 feet of 11 inch pipe, top housed within a wooden shell, out, until the rising spring waters and 350 feet of sluices. In 1892 using great bucket lines to scoop of Clear Creek drove them away. the McQuade Company spent the gravel from the river bed to In the fall of 1858 gold rushers $60,000 to build a stationary bedrock, bring it to the surface, rediscovered the placer, noticing dredge type mining apparatus, dump it on the barge where a the stone claim markers now half while further down the Electric sequence of treatments using buried by the sand which they Gold Placer Mining Company set amalgam plates would separate the aligned their own claim markers up a similar plant. gold from the gravel, dumping the with. The mining of this bar gave In 1904 Herman J. Reiling, gravel in great cobblestone dunes rise to Jefferson County’s first leader of the Wyoming-based behind the dredge. Each dredge town, Arapahoe City, formed National Dredging Company, floated in its own pond in the alongside the claims on November came here to live and try his hand river, scooping out the riverbed in 29, 1858. As the placer played at this new form of mining already front and depositing the tailings out Arapahoe City dwellers being tried in Summit County. behind, with the dredge and pond George Andrew Jackson and John Reiling had operated earlier moving forward as mining went Hamilton Gregory looked to the dredges at Elizabethtown, New on. Each boat had two “legs” to hills for where the gold came Mexico and acquired Clear Creek anchor it from moving freely in from, and made two of the great lands stretching from the northeast the water. The new mine workers discoveries that confirmed the alcove of South Table Mountain took up residence in nearby faith of the first gold rushers and east to today’s Eldridge Street. remaining abandoned buildings got many more coming here. Here Reiling worked with great of their predecessor miners of 115 years ago in 1889 a company dispatch, paying carpenters top Arapahoe City. including C.M. Kittridge was money to build the twin dredge Each dredge measured 118 x 42 started to mine the 40 foot deep boats, one on the north side of feet, weighing 375,000 pounds. gravels with No. 2 Giant hydraulic the river, the other on the south Their lines included 75 buckets hoses, a Martin elevator, 5,300 feet side. Each was a floating wooden with razor sharp edges, with a -27- capacity of 7 cubic feet per gobbling up everything in front of But the sands had a curse: much bucket, weighing 1,200 pounds them on their journey westward. of the gold was too fine for the each, capable of dredging 3,000 They became a boon to the area machinery to save, machinery cubic yards of earth per 24 hours. economy at a time when it needed that was complex enough to The estimated yield was $3 to $5 it, giving silver-crashed workers occasionally break down itself. per cubic yard in a day’s work. employment. But these things Nevertheless, the dredging The dredges’ machinery came came at a price. The dredges were company persevered in its from the Bucyrus Company of designed to literally turn the river endeavors. In 1905 Eleanor #2 South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with upside-down, as Golden Globe reported a yield of 40 cents per power strung out from Denver. editor Oscar Webb Garrison cubic yard, with its sister reporting Each dredge cost $80,000 to build. told folks, “The dredges down at considerably larger profits. The They were not, however, just Placer are at work gobbling up dredges each turned up many nameless mechanical miners; everything in front and spoiling acres of Clear Creek bottom going they were identical twins named everything behind, like a goose.” westward. This dismayed Paris Eleanor, the north one Eleanor Charles A. Finding, the Lewis, upon whose land (now #1, and the south one Eleanor #2. previous owner of Arapahoe Bar, the site of the Colorado Railroad The new tramway line built to the was the dredge superintendent, Museum) the company had a north nearby named a stop of its and he placed one of the dredges $16,000 option. When it expired own after the twin ladies. in charge of William H. Gay, an he refused to renew it, earning the On August 4, 1904 Mayme experienced Blue River miner who praise of the Globe editor, who Forbes smashed a bottle of earlier managed the Church Brick said “We believe he is correct as champagne against the prow of Works at Golden. Millions of the soil is rich and will produce Eleanor #2, launching the first dollars worth of fine flour gold good crops for a century while large vessel ever to float on Clear beckoned them from Clear Creek, one month’s dredging would Creek. On the 9th Eleanor #1 where the black sands were “lousy make it a howling wilderness.” was similarly launched, and soon with gold” as editor Garrison put In the end, the dredges were the twin monsters were eagerly it, assaying for $400 to the ton. not meant to break even; they

Hydraulic dredge Eleanor #2 Photo courtesy of the Gardner Collection

-28- Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library Western History Collection Photo # X60124 One of twin hydraulic dredges, of which dredge Eleanor #2 was launched with a smashed bottle of champagne on August 4, 1904 as the first large vessel ever to float on Clear Creek. were meant to make their owners known in Summit County, finally Today the Reiling Dredge a fortune, and the time had not shut down in 1929 after it holds a unique place in Colorado yet come where technology encountered worthless gravels, history, not only being among became advanced enough to save and the company took out its the few remaining dredges in the flour gold. So, Reiling machinery. Since then it has Colorado, but also the only one dismantled the dredges, sending rested where it stopped among important to the history of Eleanor #2 to Sacramento, the cobblestone dunes it churned counties on both sides of the California, while he took Eleanor up, in its pond on the south side Continental Divide. This year, as #1 to promising new bars of of French Gulch three miles it turns 100 years old, the Town coarser gold in French Gulch north of Breckenridge up of Breckenridge is considering the near Breckenridge. Reiling hired Colorado 9, five miles southeast purchase of the Reiling Dredge Golden carpenters to reassemble up French Gulch Road. It has and its dunes for open space. In the dredge, in a slightly modified partially sunk, and deteriorated to the future, it is their plan to form, and the heavy fir timbers a ruin, with many pieces of its preserve and partially restore this came back together in 1909. hull scattered underwater around old “steamboat” of Clear Creek, Both Eleanors found lucrative it. Its tall tailframe stood until where Jeffco people may once new careers, each digging up the turn of the 21st Century, again come aboard and into the millions in their respective places. when it finally was felled by a past, on the largest vessel that The Reiling Dredge, as it became lightning strike. ever voyaged Clear Creek.

-29- Jesuits in Jefferson County: A Story of Regis College

Photo courtesy of

Photo courtesy of Golden Pioneer Museum “Swiss Cottage,” at far right center, was Morrison’s largest building and dominated views of the town from 1874 to 1982, when it was demolished.

By Sally L. White establish a college in Colorado. a cottage. Machebeuf obtained ne day in 1883, Joseph Father Dominic Pantanella, the property, then deeded it over Machebeuf, Vicar newly designated President of Las to the Jesuits. O Apostolic of Colorado, Vegas College, immediately “Machebeuf negotiated for the attended term-closing exercises at undertook travels to Colorado in sum of ten thousand dollars, a Las Vegas College in New Mexico. the interests of the proposed new neat amount in those days, the After six years in operation, this institution. In fact, he was away the purchase of a Mountain-Hotel Jesuit institution was becoming majority of his nineteen months as and Summer Resort, styled ‘Swiss established, having a seven-year President of the New Mexico Cottage,’ and another much program to take its resident school. (1) smaller building for menial students through basic instruction, Bishop Machebeuf had already servants,” reported Francis Kowald, as well as courses in humanities, purchased a hotel in Morrison to one of the fathers at Morrison poetry, and rhetoric, and a five- become the home of this new College, in his reminiscences on year commercial course (sciences Colorado college. This imposing those years. (2) The building, he and mathematics) that could structure, built in 1874 by George noted, was “still well preserved;” it lead to a degree of Bachelor of Morrison for former Colorado was just ten years old at the time. Science. Bishop Machebeuf was Governor John Evans, had When Father Pantanella returned impressed; sufficiently so that originally been known as the from Europe in August 1884, his he asked Aloysius Gentile, Evergreen Hotel, sometimes also as superior, Gentile, sent him to Superior of the New Mexico the “Swiss Cottage,” though, with Denver to tell Machebeuf there was Mission, to send Jesuits to more than 45 rooms, it was hardly no time to prepare the school for

-30- opening that fall. But Machebeuf students to commute there. excitement reached them from was persistent. On August 10, “There is something intriguing the town, when murders or 1884, Pantanella was appointed about such a gathering of Jesuits floods generated distractions. Vice Rector of the new college, in a small mountain town at the But isolation was the rule, as while his successor at Las Vegas foot of the Rockies in 1884; it is the students remained at school College launched a remodeling also amazing when one reflects throughout the year, without even and expansion program there. that this faculty was to expend the usual holiday vacation as relief. By mid-September, just its efforts for some twenty-four One student initiated a plan to five weeks later, the required students,” wrote Regis historian burn the school down, just to renovations at Morrison were Harold Stansell in 1977 (1). We provide an “extended holiday.” completed, and a faculty of eight have no record of the frontier The attempt was unsuccessful; assembled. Fr. Pantanella named town’s reaction to the collection the student expelled. his new school the College of of educated and cosmopolitan Stansell credits the students the Sacred Heart, and as such the clerics who arrived to maintain of Sacred Heart College, on facility opened its doors. The the school and conduct classes one of their foothills explorations legendary John Brisben Walker was in French, elocution, painting, in the nearby red rocks, with an early supporter: his two oldest penmanship, and diverse the discovery of the acoustic sons arrived on September 13th. other disciplines. properties of the natural John B. Walker, Jr., was 14 years And the students? Stansell amphitheatre between the two old at the time; his brother David reports that the “horizons of the largest sandstone monoliths. only 10. (3) Board and tuition for students were definitely limited,” (These two, Ship Rock and a five-month session cost $120. in this rustic environment so far Creation Rock, now flank the All 24 original students lived at from Denver. Sports and games modern amphitheatre, built the college, which, as a former were improvised and hiking and between 1936 and 1941. Other hotel, had ample residential exploring in the foothills under sources name J.B. Walker himself space. Morrison was too far the watchful eye of the Jesuits as the origin — and exploiter — of from Denver to allow day were common pursuits. Occasional this revelation (4), although one

“Swiss Cottage” at the height of its life as a resort hotel, circa 1910-20. (The Town was renamed Mt. Morrison in 1908.) From a 1910 historic postcard. Photo courtesy of Jan McKinney Photo from U.S. Geological Survey collection. Aerial view in 1934 shows layout of the grounds around Swiss Cottage, center left of photo. The main business section of Morrison is to the right.

suspects that early inhabitants selections of elocutionary contests place began to wane before were well aware of this natural and exclamations they could call examinations.” (2, p. 92-93) In wonder long before its historically to mind. It was after some all, Kowald seems to take a more recorded discovery by settlers from practices of this kind, that they lit charitable view of Morrison as the eastern states.) Kowald reports upon a certain position which a setting for the college than this important discovery in greater returned an echo, whose last two Stansell did later, remarking on its detail: syllables were very distinct. … natural beauties and fine climate. “During the first ramblings in Visits to the Red-Rocks on days of He also cites the high quality of the vicinity of Morrison, the prolonged walks became a the school, as noted in letters identical scholastics [two especially frequent pastime among the from relatives of students, one adventurous students] accidentally students, as soon as they became from a notable, Senator A. A. discovered a grand nature-made aware of the existence of the Salazar (Feb. 17, 1885). amphitheater. It consisted of an “Echo-amphitheatre,” and the “My dear Friend: In a visit paid extensive stretch of almost level amusement was great when they the other day to some of my ground, shut in on three sides by vied with one another in young relatives who are studying huge Red-Rocks with high abrupt improvising sentences, pious, in the Jesuit College at Morrison, walls, having the sloping foothills serious and otherwise that would I had an opportunity to inspect to the west as a background and quickly re-echo some solemn, the workings of the institution, accommodating entrances or exits cheering, witty ending or some and I am surprised to hear that so to the north and south. The weird frivolous or ridiculous notable a place is not as widely magnificent space was well saying.” known as it deserves. … The adapted for exercising their lung This amusement, Kowald says, locality of the College is so power in loud-speaking, for which lasted for weeks, but ultimately near Denver that it is well known: they frequent[ly] repeated parts of the “Novelty wore away and the no better spot could be selected oratorical speeches, sermons, and magic power of attraction to the for a boarding-school, picturesque -32- and unsurpassed for healthiness.” from the date the Jesuit institution sixty feet in height, and to contain (2, p. 46) arrived in Colorado and estab- at least four floors, the walls of The location at Morrison, with lished its first school at Morrison. which shall be built of stone.” We its challenges, was destined to be In transferring the school from can only hope they brought the only a temporary home for the Morrison to Denver, the Jesuits stone from the stone quarries of college. By 1885, within a year again enlisted the help of their old Morrison, active at the time. of opening, discussions were friend, John Brisben Walker. Walk- Alas, we learn from Kowald that already underway to find a more er just happened to own 1,600 the stone was imported. The walls permanent Photo by Lorene Horton were of “light location, grey, rocky and in its mountain third year, lava stone,” the dormito- possibly ries were Castle Rock already rhyolite, with crowded. “Connecticut When Red Sand Pantanella Stone trim- looked to mings.” (2) Colorado Perhaps the Springs, output of the Bishop Morrison Machebeuf building again stone quarries intervened, was fully insisting committed that the elsewhere. college stay The within his Jesuits were own This close view of the end of the building in 1976 shows details of its construction. not quite “Episcopal With its structure already declining, it was demolished in 1982 despite efforts to save it. done with see,” that is, Morrison in the Denver area. acres in a very auspicious location and Jefferson County, however. In 1887, the college’s catalogue on the northwestern outskirts of They retained ownership of the explicitly (and with significant the city. The property was his first property, all of Block 15 on the foresight) stated: “The College of acquisition upon moving to Den- Morrison plat, for most of the the Sacred Heart… is not a new ver in 1879, and he had developed next 20 years. Stansell reports that college in any sense but that of a very successful farm, known as the Jesuits used the facility as a location and building. It is the Berkley Farm, where he pioneered “villa, that is, a place of rest and consolidation of the Jesuit College the growing of alfalfa and demon- recreation” for their community. of Las Vegas, New Mexico, found- strated its value as a cash crop. He The property ultimately was ed, Nov. 7th, 1877, and that of donated 40 acres to the Jesuits for purchased by the Colorado Resort Morrison, Colo., founded, Sept. a new school site, and the reloca- Co., one of J. B. Walker’s 15th, 1884.” Establishing the con- tion began. In typical fashion, enterprises, to become the “Mt. tinuity of the two—soon to be Walker stipulated that the Jesuits Morrison Casino,” a major feature three—school sites clarified the “erect and maintain a College of Walker’s schemes for foothills basis for the celebration of the designed for the education of tourism. Stansell records the date 125th anniversary of Sacred Heart youths and young men,… the of sale as 1909 (with transfer College, now known as Regis building thereof to be not less complete by 1915), but other University, in 2003, only 119 years than 297 feet long, no less than records in the Regis archives -33- indicate the transaction began building that once housed the amid the more formal plantings several years earlier. An agreement Jesuits and their students fell into on campus. A statue donated in dated 1906 outlined the terms and hard times and disrepair; it was 1890 by “the parents of J. Brisben schedule; by November 1907, demolished in 1982. Walker” also still stands in front of Walker had already asked for an Today, the Denver campus of Main Hall, providing a continuing extension on the first payment. what is now Regis University link between the Jesuits and one No longer a seat of higher retains the stamp of Walker’s of Morrison’s — and Jefferson learning, Morrison embarked earlier ownership. According to County’s — most visionary on its active role as a scenic Jan Loechell, research librarian at citizens. destination and foothills resort the University, descendants of the under the guidance of its new alfalfa planted by the “Alfalfa ABOUT THE AUTHOR citizen, J.B. Walker. In the 1960s- King” himself in the 1880s still Sally White is Museums Coordinator 70s, the imposing three-story thrive in casual or neglected areas for the Town of Morrison.

NOTES Regis: On the Crest of the West is a thorough Typewritten manuscript on file at the archives In Jefferson County Colorado: The Colorful history of the school in all of its locations of Regis University, made available courtesy of Past of a Great Community (1962), Sarah during its first hundred years. Written by Elizabeth Cooke, archivist. Obvious typos in Robbins recounts in detail Walker’s hike with Harold L. Stansell, S.J., it includes an extensive the manuscript have been corrected, as we friends in “the 1880s,” during which he chapter on the years 1884-1888 when the trust they would have been were it a realized and exclaimed upon the superb school was known as Sacred Heart College completed text. acoustics of the natural amphitheatre; in 1911 and was housed in the original Evergreen he brought the distinguished singer, Mary Genealogical records and other information Hotel in Morrison. Regis Educational Garden, there to experience the phenomenon. on the Walker family were generously Corporation, 1977, 238 p. In History of Red Rocks Park (1962), Nolie provided by Margaret E. (Peggy) Walker, Mumey recounts the Mary Garden tale, but “A Brief Historical Sketch and Some granddaughter of Gerald Walker, the youngest notes that Walker had brought another singer, Reminiscences of Sacred Heart College son of John Brisben Walker and Emily Nellie Melba, “the first to bring music to the conducted by the Jesuit Fathers at Morrison, Strother Walker. Peggy also, in 1985, compiled Red Rocks,” there earlier in the 1900s. near Denver, Colorado, from October 1884 to a 12-page unpublished history entitled “John June 1888,” by Francis Kowald, S.J. Brisben Walker.”

Regis Main Hall 1922. Photo by S. L.White. All Arvada photos courtesy of Arvada Historical Society Grand View Avenue Arvada Colorado, circa 1904 HISTORIC ARVADA 1850-2004 By Lois Cunniff Lindstrom Kennedy rvada celebrated its 100th Platte River/Cherry Creek cabin Barragar had built. birthday on August 24, confluence. They wrote a charter The Colorado Central Railroad’s A 2004. Two other for the Town of Auraria, which track was laid from Denver to anniversaries are equally later was to become Denver City. Golden in the summer of l870. important: June 22, l850, when The next year, the gold rush to Wadsworth’s town would serve Lewis Ralston found gold in the Rocky Mountains began with the more than thirty families who a stream named for him; and large strikes in the Clear Creek had followed their dreams of gold December 1, 1870, when canyon. This would not have to Ralston Creek, and who had Benjamin Franklin Wadsworth’s happened without Lewis Ralston. learned that gold could be found town of Arvada was born. During Wadsworth and his family had in the cultivation of the fertile soil. 154 years since, Arvada grew from traveled to Colorado in a covered The plat for the Town of Arvada a small settlement of 100 people wagon and reached Empire in was published on December 1, to today’s city of 102,000. 1859. He journeyed to Ralston l879, named by Mary Ann to The golden grains Lewis Creek in 1863, where he honor her brother-in-law, Hiram Ralston panned on that day in purchased the gold/land claim Arvada Haskin. June in 1850, eight years later of William Barragar, one of the In the following years, inspired the Willliam Greeneberry four men who dug a ditch they Wadsworth was deeply involved Russell prospecting party to named Ralston Point Mining in the improvement of the new return with Ralston to his creek. Ditch. In 1869, Benjamin, his town. He platted nine square Thirteen members of this group wife Mary Ann and their blocks on one acre of land; made a paying strike at Little Dry children John and Mary applied for a post office and Creek and built a log cabin at the Emma, settled into the primitive was named postmaster; he built

-35- a frame schoolhouse on his Town leaders began talking of population of 600, which grew to property and then a strong brick incorporation in 1903. It took two l,000 by l910. Space was leased in house for his family. Postal affairs failed elections, a town meeting at a building on Grand View Avenue were conducted from the log the Methodist Church and Dr. for $15 per month. In l910 pipes cabin until 1882 when Wadsworth Henry Buchtel, Chancellor of the were laid to convey clean water to loaded the wooden boxes, labeled University of Denver, to inspire residents, and to improve water A-Z into his buggy and drove the the group to try again. pressure, a large water tower was “post office” to the home of Eli constructed. A sewer system was Allen on Ralston Road. not implemented until l914 and Wadsworth was very active to residents depended on septic improve the town, although his tanks. Telephones were installed effort to secure a pickle factory, a at the depot and Moffit’s feed cannery or a creamery for Arvada store. A few street lights were failed. He was not successful installed and electric lines either in his attempt to lead were extended to stores and town leaders to incorporate the homes. The volunteer fire town or secure state funding department was organized for a Normal School, a college in l911, the nucleus of the for teachers. In funding and Arvada Fire District that building a bridge over Clear would be created in Creek and getting the road l949. The Arvada Police extended up the hill to Arvada Department replaced a (Centre Street), Wadsworth was town marshall in l950. more fortunate. He lured store Arvada’s population owners to the growing business included workers at the brick district and in 1889 was a founder yard on Carr Hill, and some of the Arvada Cemetery. Benjamin of the miners’ families working and Mary Ann gave land for the at the Leyden mine which had Arvada Methodist Church and been reorganized in l903. Most helped fund the building. He Benjamin Franklin Wadsworth (1827-1893) important to the town were the helped organize Ceres Grange No. Denver Tramway tracks which 1, the first grange in the state, and The election on July 26, l904, reached Arvada in l903. This Clear Creek Valley Grange No. 4. succeeded by a vote of 159 to 62. electric system was powered by At his death on April 12, 1893 Arvada was now an autonomous huge generators in Denver, fueled Centre Street, which divided the town. Dr. Richard Russell was by the coal from the Leyden mine. Reno and Wadsworth properties, elected Mayor backed by Trustees Residents had economical, was re-named Wadsworth Avenue Morton Alexander, H. P. Benson, dependable transportation both in his honor. Frank S. Bobb, W. T. Jeffryes, John on the tramway (Arvadans called it Louis A. Reno had established a F. White and Gibbs West. “the trolley”), and the passenger homestead in l863. In 1890, twenty Franchises were granted for cars of the Colorado & Southern years after Arvada’s birth, Reno electric, gas and telephone service, railroad (formerly Colorado filed a town plat, which increased and ordinances were passed to Central). Automobiles appeared the area of the town by forty insure a safe clean town. The tax on Arvada streets and by l916 the acres, and worked with Wadsworth levy was set at 6 mills. To round town had an automobile on town improvements, joined by out the affair, a town clerk and a dealership and a tire factory. the women of the town, who, with marshall were hired. Agricultural endeavors boomed the women of Colorado, were Articles of Incorporation for in the years prior to World War I granted the right to vote in 1893. Arvada were posted on August 24, as the United States supplied mili- Ironically, they would not be 1904 – the date named as Arvada’s tary forces in Europe. According called for jury service until l945. birthday. The town had a to Business Directories, Arvada’s

-36- population dipped below 900. radios, part of the living room crash on October 29, l932 was not However, the Brick School which furniture in many Arvada homes. as worrisome to Arvada’s farmers replaced the frame building on Arvada population grew to l,215 as the increasingly dry climatic Wadsworth’s property in l882 was this same year, in spite of the conditions, which worsened year crowded. In l900 the imposing shocking campaign of the Ku after year. Arvada with a popula- Arvada School (Lawrence Elemen- Klux Klan (organized in Denver in tion of l,215, was the trading tary) on Williams (Zephyr) Street l915). After a solidarity march to center of an area with a popula- opened, serving students grades 1 the Shrine of St. Anne, the Klan’s tion of l,866. Streams and wells to 8, and a few high school stu- activities in Arvada terminated. carried little water, and Standley dents, the first Seniors graduating Great bunches of Pascal celery Lake dried to a green puddle sur- in l904. rounded The by frame cracked, North sun-baked School on mud. Ben Boldt Foreclo- Lane (72nd sures Avenue) around averaged 20 Arvada students and each year. county- Arvada wide High mounted. School Taxes were not opened in Arvada Flour Mill and old time cars l920. It later paid and was named a junior high school were sent to the President in the salaries of teachers and town and was sold and razed for the Washington D. C. by Arvada employees were halved then Cornerstone Shopping Center farmers beginning in l924 – a reduced again. The Great Depres- in 1992. tradition that continued for many sion spread across the nation. Arvada’s first five churches, years. Clemency McIlvoy, in l922, In l933 newly elected President Arvada Methodist, 1870, Seventh gave her house and gardens to Franklin Roosevelt closed all the Day Adventist, l901, Saint the town for use as a public banks in the nation for a period Matthew Episcopal, l902, First park. The library was moved of accounting. First National Baptist, l904, and Arvada from Town Hall to the McIlvoy Bank, chartered first in l896 and Presbyterian, l904, were joined by House. The “noon whistle” blew again in l903 was the only bank in Denver View Baptist in l914 and every day from a siren installed Jefferson County allowed to open First Church of Christ Scientist in at Town Hall. when the moratorium was lifted. l919. A nucleus of Arvada October l7, l925 was the year of Young men and women were Catholics began meeting in Bank the first Arvada Harvest Festival called to military service again Hall (First National Bank) in l908. which was held to celebrate during World War II (1941-1945). On June 25, 1922 they dedicated connection of Grand View Avenue Those at home struggled with the Shrine of St. Anne Catholic to the paved road from Denver. “black out” drills and ration Church. Church members Exciting events celebrated this true stamps. By l945 Arvada had a attended each other’s concerts, town fair. Eugene Emory population of l,500. In l941 the and participated in each other’s Benjamin began building the first traffic light in all of Jefferson fund raising banquets. Arvada Flour Mill in l925, selling County was installed at the Denver radio station KLZ the first sack of Arva-Pride flour corner of Grandview Avenue began broadcasting in l922 and April 12, l926. and Wadsworth Boulevard. programs were received on bulky The Wall Street Stock Market The Moffat Tunnel had been -37- Arvada Town Hall 1904-1950, City Hall 1950-1971 at 7622 Grandview Avenue, now a parking lot. completed in l927 which would Arvada schools. New areas of the climbed from 2,359 in l950 to play a major role in Arvada’s future city were interested in their home 20,010 in l960! The old City Hall water supply. The Denver school only, one of the many in on Grandview Avenue was Ordnance Plant, Remington Rand, the county system. remodeled over and over again, (Denver Federal Center) opened in In l951 the national Atomic and city departments were “farmed l941 with 6,000 employees. Before Energy Commission began out” to a variety of locations. it closed in l945 the number of constructing the top-secret Rocky Arvada telephones were switched employees had reached 20,000, Flats plant, operated by Dow to a dial system in l953. The many of whom lived in Arvada. Chemical Company. The work Korean peace-keeping military Builders began erecting houses force of 6,000 moved into new operation ended, although the outside Arvada’s boundaries on Arvada subdivisions. The plant Vietnam war continued until property that soon would be made triggers for nuclear weapons, l975. Wadsworth By-Pass was annexed. The first of many such a fact unknown by most Arvada constructed in l958 to circumvent building additions and annexations residents. The plant closed in l989, the Arvada business district, which to come. but in 2004 the clean-up of could not handle the increase in By l950 Arvada’s population had atomic waste material is still traffic. Shopping Centers were reached 2,350, and Arvada was underway. born: Arvada Square, l958, Arvada named a second class city on A very quiet celebration was Plaza, l959, Northridge, 1961. In October 31, l951. New residents did held in Town/City Hall on l963 Arvada citizens voted to not think of “our town” only “our September 13, l954. Mrs. Estelle become a Home Rule city, which neighborhood” and demanded Russell, age 86, wife of Arvada’s would make Arvada a first class shopping centers near their homes, first mayor, cut the birthday cake. city and a City Charter was and good streets for their The 50th anniversary of Arvada’s adopted. automobiles. The Denver Tramway incorporation was seemingly not Efforts were made to form an ceased operations on June 25 of very important. Postage for a first Urban Renewal District in old this year, the last car carrying a class letter increased to 3 cents. Arvada, which would revitalize sign, “Good-bye old friends.” The The North Jeffco Metropolitan commercial efforts in the old part Colorado Legislature in l947 had Park and Recreation District was of town and which would include mandated consolidation of school formed on November 13, 1956. a new City Hall building. This districts in the state. On May 31, Through the next fifty years they effort polarized voters and the 1950 a county-wide election was would construct swimming pools, effort was sharply rejected in the held voting for a proposal to playing fields and parks. Apex November l963 election. All combine the 39 districts of Center, at the time said to be the incumbent City Council members Jefferson County into one re- largest recreation center in the were defeated. organized school district, “R-l.” nation, opened May 5, l998. On March 14, l960 the City of The proposal passed. No longer In the next ten years the City Arvada signed an agreement with were Arvada residents bound of Arvada would change beyond the Denver Water Board to together with a common interest in all recognition. City population purchase water at favorable water

-38- rates. This included Arvada’s share of this group from June l973 to the Olde Town Historic Walk of water that had been flowing May l974 resulted in a favorable panels and other civic committees. through the Moffat Tunnel water vote of 273 ballots to pass a bond The society has published six bore since l927. Arvada’s water issue of $3.6 million to build the books (see Sources). The site of supply had been a thorny Arvada Center (Arvada Center for Lewis Ralston’s gold discovery was problem for 56 years and wells, the Arts & Humanities). A park admitted to the State Historical pumps and filtration plants issue of $3.4 million also passed. Register of Historic Places on (treating water from Clear Creek) The Arvada Historical Society December 1, l995 through society had proved inadequate. The published its first book (see efforts. agreement allowed further Sources) in l973, under the Arvada’s traffic became a annexations and growth. inspired leadership of Marcetta concern as population grew to In October of l960 Arvada took 89,724 in l980, fostering a leadership role in the formation discussions of light rail and the of a Metropolitan Denver Sewer completion of a beltway. After District, and helped pass a $32.5 three elections, 72nd Avenue in million bond issue in l962 to 2004 is under construction as an build a sewer treatment plant at east-west corridor. Arvada the confluence of Sand Creek and Chamber of Commerce moved the Platte River. The District into a modernized farmhouse in solved a problem that had plagued l978. An Urban Renewal District Arvada since incorporation. was formed in l981 followed in A new Arvada Public Library l991 by the Historic Olde Town was built in l966 and a year later Association which successfully was absorbed into the new county- promotes events attracting visitors wide Jefferson County Library to the area. system. In the years l966-68 In l997 Arvada City Interstate Highway 70 (I-70), Councilwoman Shelley Cook opened from Sheridan Boulevard organized a group to promote to Colfax Avenue. In l967 the city Arvada’s history. She and members again tried to find ways to build of the Arvada Historical Society a new City Hall. Elections to received a grant to conduct an Arvada City Hall 1971 – present. establish a location and price tag historic survey. The Olde Town failed in l967 and l968. In l969 Rhoades Lutz, achieved placement business district was placed on the voters said “yes” and the new of the Arvada Flour Mill on the the State Register of Historic City Hall at 8101 Ralston Road National Register of Historic Properties and the National opened December 11, l97l. The Places, l975, coordinated a dig for Register of Historic Places in l998. attached Police Department dinosaur bones with the University In l999 the residential areas east opened the following year, and the of Colorado the same year, and and west of the old business Arvada Post Office at the same dedicated a portion of city owned district were added to the above location in l972. By l971 Arvada’s land as the Lewis Ralston Gold mentioned historic districts. population had grown to 60,577, Site on June 22, l975. The society In 2004, Arvada, population an increase of more than 40,000 funded and mounted the first 102,000, includes an area of almost over that of l960. Museum exhibit at the Arvada 32 square miles. Arvada citizens The Arvada Historical Society Center. In l978 the society received expect the best of this truly was founded in l972. A year later a grant to restore the Arvada Flour modern city while retaining a the founder, Lois C. Lindstrom, Mill which opened as a Museum “home place” respect for the was asked by City Council to in l980. Members of the society priceless Olde Town area where chair the Arvada Cultural Center have taken leadership in many it all began. Arvada looks forward Committee. The dedicated work Arvada activities: Pro Arvada, l991, to the future.

-39- Historic Site Designations in Jefferson County

Designations to The National Register of Historic Places and National Landmarks

Constructed from 1963 to 1966, the Deaton Sculptured House at 24501 Ski Hill Drive was designed by self-taught architect and engineer Charles Deaton.

The National Park Service honored the The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Caboose 1973 designated Morrison Fossil Area as a No. 0578 ran in freight service over all of Rio Grande’s National Natural Landmark on May 8, 2004. narrow gauge network between 1886 and 1951.

-40- Golden Historic Site Designations 2003

A pebble stone cabin in Golden Tourist Park which was created in 1924

The Borton-Loveland house at 717 12th The William I. Prout house at 900 Fayette Street in Golden was built from 1859 to 1860. (6th) Street in Golden was built in 1897. Jefferson County Landmark Designations Oct. 27, 2003

Residence at 4982 White House Trail, Earl Cooper Family Residence, Evergreen, built 1939 Golden, built 1930

Haines Cabin, Indian Hills, built 1924 -41- Jefferson County Landmark Designations Mar. 9, 2004

The Mountain Bistro Restaurant, historic Marshdale Lodge and Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra Camp, Evergreen, built ca. 1924

The Blakeslee Ranch has remained The Conley Coffee shop on U.S. The Lubin-Blakeslee Place on in the same family since 1868 Highway 285, Conifer, built in 1927 Meyer Ranch, U.S.Highway 285, Conifer, built in 1870

Jefferson Elk Creek Fire House, County U. S. Highway 285, Landmark Conifer, built in 1948 Designations May 2, 2004

Clifton House Inn, U.S.Highway 285, Conifer, built late 1880s -42- Jefferson County Landmark Designations May 2, 2004

Hiwan Homestead Museum, Evergreen, built 1886-1896

Right: McIlvaine House, Pine Grove, built c. 1886 Far right: Pine Community Center, Pine Grove, built in late 1880s

Right: Pine Emporium, Pine Grove, built in 1905 Far Right: Lankston’s Heaven, Indian Hills, built between 1924 and 1930

Pine Gables, The Old Schoolhouse, Pine Grove, Golden, built in 1896 built in 1931

-43- JEFFCO HISTORICAL COMMISSION MEMBERS (Year Appointed, 2004 Committees and Bio)

Deborah Andrews, Lucy Bambrey, 2002 Viona “Vi” Hader, Max Haug, 1997 – Lee Heideman, 2002 – Erlene Hulsey-Lutz, George Hurst, 2003 2000 – Chair Historic – Historic Preserva- 1985 – Hall of Fame, Administrative and Secretary, Hall of 1986– Chair – Chair Education/ Preservation, Land- tion, Publications. Publication Distribu- Publication com- Fame,Writers Award, Publication, Historic History Committee, mark Designation. Teaches Anthropol- tion, past member mittees. Liaison to Publication and Land- Preservation, Landmark Director, Habitat for Founder Andrews & ogy,Archeology, Golden Chamber of Rocky Flat Hist. mark Designation Designation.Wheat Humanity, Real Estate Anderson Architec- Earth Sciences, Commerce, Curator Group. President committees. Former Ridge Historical Society. Developer; lives in ture. Historic restora- Environmental Law, Astor House & Olde Town Arvada writer/editor at NPS, 4th generation Evergreen tion specialist since and Property Law; Foothills Art Center; Assoc. & Arvada taught history in JR/SR Coloradoan. Real Estate 1983 lives on Lookout lives in Conifer lives in Golden Historical Society; high, writes history Broker.Active in Mountain. lives in Arvada column in “Mountain numerous civic Connection,” author; organizations; lives in lives in Conifer Wheat Ridge

JCHC HIGHLIGHTS 2004 JCHC is proud to look back this year at 30 years of Resource Survey (CRS).We were awarded a grant of raising awareness of Jefferson County’s unique history. $75,000 from the State Historical Fund to begin Phase It was created in 1974 in anticipation of Colorado’s III, our $100,000 project of documentation and amend- centennial and the Nation’s bicentennial in 1976.The ment of the 1974 National Register nomination of the citizens of Jefferson County learned about the Coun- North Fork Historic District.The Jeffco Planning and ty’s history through a regular newsletter the Commis- Zoning Division and SCFD provided matching funds. sion began publishing at that time. In 1988, diligent In 1998, Historically Jeffco focused on the North Fork Editor Dennis L. Potter developed the Historically Jeffco Historic area.The major concern then and today is the magazine.To attract writers to submit articles on stabilization and preservation of the area, which was Jefferson County history, Chairman Marcetta R. Lutz attacked by fire and flooding in recent years. Important announced the Robert F. Clement Writers’ Award buildings, like the Foxton Post Office and the South Jefferson Contest in the summer 1989 edition of Historically Jeff- Platte Hotel are threatened by deterioration and co. Since then, interesting articles by prize winning vandalism. Phase III of the CRS will be documenting County writers have been and will continue to appear annually 300 properties within the district with more historic Historical in this magazine, as will other fascinating writings.The background and photographs. Commission Place Names Directory, Historic Preservation, Cultural The Historic Preservation Committee of the JCHC Resource Survey and Landmark Designation Program is excited to begin its first project with the National are inspiring efforts to keep the County’s history alive. Register of Historic Places.We have hired our historic During 2003-04, the Historic Preservation Commit- and educational consultants to survey and record the tee of the JCHC completed Phase II of the Cultural area.They will map, document and photograph all loca-

JCHC MEMBERS (continued) COMMISSION STAFF

Milly Roeder, 1995 – Richard Simmons, Burdette “Bud” Sally L.White, Duncan McCol- Susan Casteleneto, Jean Reince Editor Historically 1997 – Chair Weare, 2003 – 2004 – Education lum, Jefferson Archives & Schwartz Jeffco 2004, JCHC, Ex officio Historic Committee, County Archives & Records Manage- Planning and Zon- Publication, Historic of all committees, Preservation, Museums Records Manage- ment secretary ing Division Preservation and Pilot, flight Education/History Coordinator ment Director since 1995. Landmark instructor, committees; 3rd for the Town of since 1993. Designation Manager & generation native Morrison since committees. Cultural Principal of Jeffco; retired 1996; lives Anthropologist, Sunamerica Prof. of U of W; near Morrison/ Urban Planner, grant Securities; lives near Evergreen writer; lives in lives in Arvada Evergreen Lakewood -44- Carole Lomond Mark McGoff, 2003 – Norman Meyer, 1986 Tim Montgomery, 2001 Stanley A. Moore, Rita Peterson, 1981 – Jack Raven, 1997 – 1997 – Treasurer, chair – Publication, Hall of – Administrative 2004 – Interests: chair Hall of chair Education/History, Administrative and Fame and Writers Committee.Active in western Military Fame/Writers Awards Education/History liaison Lariat Loop, Publication Awards committees. many Arvada charitable history,Winston and Landmark Committee, Publisher/Editor, committees. Retired, Pilot, rancher, & public organizations, Churchill.Affiliations: Designation Publication, Past “City & Mountain Colorado Department journalist, developer. including Arvada City Denver Posse of committees. Secretary President Arvada Views” magazine, of Corrections; Past Much of Meyer family Planning & Zoning Westerners American Cancer Historical Society, and guidebook Chair Colorado ranch now Jeffco Commission. Public International, Civil Society Rocky Arvada Lions Club, “Lariat Loop Endowment for the Open Space Park. Accountant and War Round Table, Mountain Division, Arvada Cemetery Historic Scenic Humanities; Past Colorado native; lives Management International and Chair Senior Association. Retired Circle; lives in Mt. President Arvada near Conifer consultant; lives in Churchill Society, co- Resource Center Safeway Manager; Vernon Canyon Historical Society; Arvada owner of commercial Board; lives in lives in Arvada lives in Arvada brokerage; lives in Lakewood Morrison

DISCLAIMER The information in this magazine is solely tions and buildings in the area of the North received enthusiastic response provided by the authors. JCHC, the Board Fork Historic District.A second exciting from residents. 18 properties were of County Commissioners and the Historically part of the project is an education aspect designated to the Jefferson County Jeffco committee are not responsible for for the schools. The education consultant Register of Historic Places. Currently the opinions of authors and the content will develop a program for Jeffco schools we have 14 more under review for of their articles. to teach about the North Fork area. This landmark status. Certificates of pilot project will be taught at the Conifer Designation are given to recipients OBTAINING COPIES Elementary School. at the annual Hall of Fame Awards Copies can be purchased for $5 at the The third aspect to Phase III is the ceremony. Owners of historic Department of Archives and Records community involvement. On May 1st we buildings are encouraged to seek this Management.The magazine is available free held a community meeting at the Buffalo designation of honor and recognition of charge to members of Jefferson County Creek Community Center.A traditional of their historic properties. Historical Societies. Saturday night pot luck dinner was attended Not to be overlooked are FOR MORE INFORMATION by many residents and members of the the efforts by Denver Water and The Archives and Records Management JCHC. During the evening, we shared Colorado Preservation., Inc. to Department has further information for information about our work, encouraged preserve the Foxton Post Office. those interested in history and historic participation and assistance from area In July and August, a historic structure preservation in Jefferson County, plus residents, and had a great dinner! assessment was conducted to applications for Commission membership. The Jefferson County Landmark determine the condition and the Call Duncan McCollum at 303-271-8446. Program was introduced in 2003 and future of the post office

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CORRECTIONS TO HISTORICALLY JEFFCO 2003 JEFFCO WRITERS The publications committee regrets that several errors occurred in last year’s edition of Historically Jeffco. Here AWARD CONTEST follow the corrections with our apology and assurance to be more careful in the future. Page 2: the caption to the photo of the locomotive Jefferson County Historical should read:“Union Pacific Denver & Golf #585, Dec. 1878.” On page 22, Hall of Fame, the correct Commission invites writers of all spelling is: Lewis Ralston.A better caption to the photo ages to participate in its Writers’ on page 37 would read,“When Clyde L.Ashworth and Award Contest.All topics must his son bought the Avenue Hotel at 1211 Washington Avenue (at center) in 1906. They also acquired the relate directly to the factual history The Jefferson County Historical Commission adjacent saloon at 1213 Washington Avenue (at right), of Jefferson County. For new tore down the one-story building of 1873 and members are appointed by the Board of County constructed a two-story frame structure instead, the contest rules and application forms, Commissioners.The current County Commis- present Ashworth Building Saloon.The Avenue Hotel please contact Duncan McCollum at was designated a historic structure by the City of sioners are (from left): Richard Sheehan, Golden on September 10, 2001.The Ashworth Building Archives and Records Management Michelle Lawrence and Pat Holloway. Saloon followed on October 10, 2001 and now awaits Department at 303-271-8446. restoration.” Finally to page 38: the captions to the photos of the sites on the upper right and below belong to alternate pictures, i.e., the structure at upper right is the Arthur D. Quaintance home and the structure below is in the Golden Tourist Park. -45- The smallest i n c o r p o rated town in the Denver Metro are a . . .

Mountain View has a total of 12 square blocks, a perimeter of one and a half miles, and a population under 600 people. The town has historic street signs that show the original names, before a Denver ordinance in 1887 created the current alphabetical system of streets. The northeast end of the town is at 44th Avenue and Sheridan. (See story page 19.)

Jefferson County Historical Commission Archives & Records Management, Rm 1500 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage 100 Jefferson County Parkway PAID Golden, CO 80419 Permit #148 Golden, CO

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