All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The Niwot Historical Society's first lecture in its annual Now & Then Lecture Series, Aug. 23, featured Daryl Mercer and the history of coins, particularly in Colorado. The Now & Then Lectures were started in 2011 by Laura Skaggs and have continued for 12 years, bringing interesting new historical insights to the history lovers in Niwot. The Now & Then Lectures are now organized by Kathy Koehler, who has been the president of the Niwot Historical Society for several years. The lecture series...
The beginning of autumn is a time of celebration at The Grange. The community will come together to revel in the season's harvest and the joy of dancing, singing, and learning together. Community Dance Lessons Tuesdays, September 5 through December 12, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Teacher-choreographer Lindy Bartruff invites all ages and levels to the Lindybdance Fall Celebration featuring line dance classes and social dance workshops for $10/person or $15/couple. Join in fun and free dance samplers and be...
Starting this August, the Niwot Historical Society will resume its annual series of "Now & Then Lectures" covering various aspects of Colorado's history. Kathy Koehler began the series 22 years ago and they have continued even during the pandemic. Koehler is now President of the Niwot Historical Society, and has kept the series going. According to Koehler, the long history of the lectures has been successful, and the wide variety of topics are available online. "Since 2011, we have hosted four...
August's cultural events at The Grange feature enriching experiences centered on art, history, and education. Each of these events offers an opportunity for the public to enjoy historic Niwot in a community setting. Bondi Art Show Friday, August 4, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 5, 11 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Michael Bondi's annual art show returns to The Grange. Both original watercolors and prints will be available for purchase in a variety of sizes. You'll be enthralled by Bondi's evocative,...
The June meeting of the Niwot Business Association, held Tuesday, June 13 outside of the former feed store at 291 Second Avenue in Niwot, was sponsored by Osmosis Art & Architecture. Owner and architect Anne Postle greeted members and introduced Tucker Huey of her staff. Postle has been instrumental in working with John Fischer, owner of the former feed store, and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, to arrange for Open Studios artists to use the space until early July to display art by local...
Given the weather over the last month, it seemed inevitable that rain would eventually crash a Thursday Rock & Rails party. And rain it did on Thursday night, June 15, halfway through the headline act. But that didn't stop the appreciative crowd from enjoying a country-themed evening, nor did it end the evening. Taylor Shae, a Colorado native who recently released the single, "Small Town America," started the music and happy hour off at 5:00 p.m. Shae, a singer and songwriter, has been...
Three classmates who attended the Niwot School, which included grades 1-8, located where the Diagonal Highway now runs, met at the Left Hand Grange No.9 in Niwot on May 31. The gathering was coordinated by the Niwot Historical Society with photos and images collected to be added to the Niwot historical records. John Montoya, who lives in Wheat Ridge, planned a stop in Niwot during a road trip to visit the Niwot Cemetery and the area where he grew up, and was excited to arrange a visit with two...
On May 1, the Niwot Design Review Committee held a virtual meeting to discuss the proposed new sign to be placed in front of the former Bank of the West at 97 2nd Avenue in Niwot. BMO, a subsidiary of Bank of Montreal, recently completed the acquisition of Bank of the West, and proposed new BMO signage. Andrea Vaughn, the staff liaison from Boulder County for the committee, opened the hearing and Denise Grimm of Boulder County Long Range Planning also attended. The proposed colors for a sign...
Niwot’s Local Improvement Advisory Committee (LID) approved two funding requests from the Niwot Business Association that represent major shifts in the NBA’s administrative and marketing plans. Niwot Administrative Coordinator The NBA presented a request for funding for a new Niwot Administrative Coordinator position, asking for $14,400 through the end of the year. “This part-time contract position is responsible for coordinating and executing various activities and tasks required to properly develop, maintain and promote the Niwot busin...
Did you know that Niwot had a live nude dancing venue in the 1980s? The Ace of Hearts was located at 112 2nd Avenue, now occupied by Little Bird. The show was apparently short-lived. Kathy Koehler said she contacted the Boulder County Sheriff's Office to see if anyone recalled the business. "One former deputy remembers this location," Koehler said. "She remembers that the business was open for about three weeks. The closure was related to liquor license issues rather than an eviction closure."...
Was your house at one time in the middle of a cornfield? Some of Niwot's most interesting history happened as recently as the 1980's and 90's when the downtown streets were just dirt. Shopping meant you were headed to the feed store, and Rev. Taylor's was the place to go for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And yes, many of our houses were just starting to be built on what was once had been farmland. Niwot Historical Society president, Kathy Koehler said, "There were very few trees except for the...
Some of us remember when television audiences watched spellbound as pageant host Bert Parks whittled down a row of finalists to reveal the identity of our new Miss America. The year's reigning beauty would hear her name as the last one called, then half-laughing, half-sobbing, she'd parade across the stage, one shaking hand steadying her new tiara, the other wrapped around an enormous bouquet of fresh flowers. She was the very vision of disbelief that her lifelong dream had come true. This...
Open Stage - a musical community event Sunday, April 16, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Performer sign up begins at 1:15 p.m. This free heartwarming, foot tapping, hum-along entertainment is certain to touch your heart and soul all courtesy of our community's abundant homegrown talent. Enjoy Open Stage as an audience member or perform for the community. Everyone is welcome. Play a cover piece or an original – folk, bluegrass, rock, pop or jazz. Bring a musical instrument; a harmonica, guitar, banjo and y...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LIDAC or LID) held its annual meeting with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on Monday, March 27 in the Left Hand Grange. The members of the LID are a mix of people from businesses and community plus representatives of the Niwot Business Association (NBA) and Niwot Community Association (NCA). The commissioners serve as directors of the LID while the LIDAC advises the commissioners on ways to benefit the district through...
The Left Hand Grange is all about April showers bringing flowers, music, nostalgia, and dancing. Niwot Community Connection Monthly Meeting Thursday, April 13, 10- 11:30 a.m. Local gardener extraordinaire Cathy McCall will give a presentation during April's Niwot Community Connection monthly meeting on how to beautify our area with water-wise pocket gardens on small plots around town. Join the group for this special presentation as well as updates on what the many other NCC groups are up to....
The Niwot Historical Society (NHS) held its first lecture before a full in-person audience since the COVID-19 pandemic began with Niwot's Laurie Algar Adams speaking about her father's career at Disney. The event was held at the Left Hand Grange on Wednesday, March 8, before an audience of 40. It was the first opportunity for the public to experience the new wood laminate flooring which replaced the old linoleum floor and has improved the acoustics in the building. The title of the lecture was,...
Niwot Historical Society's "Now and Then" lecture Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. Laura Algar Adams, daughter of Disney legend James Algar, will display her inherited talent for telling stories during her presentation, "Growing up Disney." Algar will narrate her father's passage from being an animator at Disney to becoming the director of "Bambi," "Fantasia," and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," as well as other Disney favorites. James Algar also produced, wrote, and directed the acclaimed Disney nature...
The new flooring at the Grange will be unveiled in March to enhance folks' opportunities to enjoy many forms of entertainment and education. Niwot Historical Society’s “Now and Then” lecture Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. Laura Algar Adams, daughter of Disney legend James Algar, will display her inherited talent for telling stories during her presentation, “Growing up Disney.” Algar will narrate her father’s passage from being an animator at Disney to becoming the director of “Bambi,” “Fantasia,” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” as well as...
Curtis Johnson, who was elected Boulder County Sheriff in the November 2022 election, was sworn in as the top law enforcement officer in Boulder County on Jan. 10. Johnson succeeds Joe Pelle, who served an unprecedented five 4-year terms as Boulder County Sheriff. Pelle is a former Niwot resident whose wife Stephanie worked at the Niwot Post Office for many years, and as a result, was very familiar with the community. Johnson, a Boulder native whose father, Clayton "Swede" Johnson, was a...
The oldest bank in the Gunbarrel-Niwot area is closing in March. FirstBank announced that the Gunbarrel branch, which opened in June, 1975, will be closing March 7, 2023, due to lack of foot traffic at the location. Kevin Classen, a Niwot resident who is president of Firstbank Holding Company, cited the changing nature of banking brought on by online banking, and Covid concerns. Customers are now able to deposit checks with their phones, and almost all merchants now accept credit cards with the...
Grange funding approved The Left Hand Grange is on a mission to make the iconic building in the center of Niwot's downtown business district even more of a community center. Jim Dorvee, president of Left Hand Grange, Inc., which owns the building on the southwest corner of the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Franklin Street, presented a funding request to the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) at the LID's regular meeting Dec. 6. Dorvee asked for a contribution of $15,000...
This is the final piece in a series of stories on the four artists who painted murals as part of the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center-Jerry Sinor Building mural project. "Arapaho Family," painted by George Curtis Levi, is the newest mural to enrich the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center. The ledger art mural can be found on the east end of the breezeway that cuts through the center. Levi is a member of the Cheyenne Arapaho tribe and grew up in northwestern Oklahoma. Art was a constant component...
Niwot Historical Society President Kathy Koehler presented the second lecture in the current season of the "Niwot Now & Then" series at the Left Hand Grange on Oct. 2. The presentation, "The History & Story of the Haystack Mountain Golf Course," was created by Koehler through a massive effort to gather interviews, photographs, drone video, documents and artifacts related to the well-known local golf course, which closed last year. Asked why she did this work, Koehler responded in a way...
Upcoming Events at the Grange Niwot Historical Society Documentary on Haystack Mountain Golf Course The Niwot Historical Society will present its second Then & Now fall lecture titled, "Haystack Mountain Golf Course," on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. This documentary shares the history of the property, the golf course, and events that were hosted by the Ebel family over their 55 years of ownership. The film was created by the Niwot Historical Society and marks the anniversary of the...
Niwot’s Left Hand Grange No. 9 was founded in 1873 and is now the oldest active Grange in Colorado. In 1945, Left Hand Grange, Inc., a non-profit corporation, purchased the present building at 195 Second Avenue, formerly Nelson Hall, for $750, and it has served as the home of Left Hand Grange No. 9 ever since. While initially providing an outlet for farmers and country folks to interact socially, to share ideas and resources, and to stay in touch with local politics, these days Left Hand G...
The Niwot Historical Society (NHS) held its first public lecture with a live audience since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sept. 18 in the Left Hand Grange No. 9. The lecturer was Larry Dorsey, well-known railroad historian, trustee of the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and past chair of the Superior Historical Commission. Dorsey gave one of the first lectures to the Society in 2011. In total, he has given six lectures about Colorado railroading. Two are presently viewable on the...
Railroads are like the veins going to and from the heart of the country. In years past, they were numerous, a near constant; today, they almost seem like something from the past. Similarly, as there are increasingly more talks about sustainable energy, conversations about the use of coal seem to be on the decline. Local historian Larry Dorsey is coming to Niwot’s Left Hand Grange on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the rich history of the area, especially as it relates to coal mining and railroads. His upcoming lecture, entitled “Black...
It's a busy time for alumni behind the planning of the Niwot High School 50-Year anniversary celebration. While still in the planning stages, there is a tentative schedule of events (posted below). A group of alumni created a page on Facebook dedicated to planning events leading up to the Sept. 9 celebration. The Facebook group is keeping the history alive, posting newspaper clippings and articles from the first years of the school. People commenting are making connections after many years and t...
On Monday, July 4, the Niwot Historical Society welcomed Fourth of July parade-goers to take a self-guided tour of the Niwot Fire House Museum as part of their patriotic revels. The Niwot Fire House, which was built in 1910 to house the Niwot area firefighting equipment, now is a tiny museum packed with local historic items, including classic school desks, an old anvil, old post office boxes, and other Niwot artifacts. Attendees young and old enjoyed a stop-off at the museum for a self-paced...
With the Fourth of July fast approaching, it seems a fortuitous time to talk about the history of the Niwot firehouse. In 1910, concern about fire protection prompted Niwot citizens to acquire a firehose handcart and build a simple frame shed to house it. The firehouse was erected close to the street, on an undeveloped lot between the Niwot State Bank (now Porchfront Homes) and the Livingston Hotel (now Wise Buys Antiques) on Second Avenue. It was a simple 8' x 14' wooden frame structure with...
Not unlike other local businesses and attractions, Chief Niwot is the namesake for the Left Hand Grange as the Arapaho word for "left-hand" is Ni-wot. What is interesting about the building known as the Left Hand Grange Hall is its rich history. The local Grange organization, known as Left Hand Grange No. 9, initially operated out of the Batchelder School House southwest of Niwot, and received its charter on January 24, 1874. It is currently the oldest active Grange in Colorado. The Granger...
Rock & Rails is a well-loved, much-attended community event in Niwot's very own Whistle Stop Park. As the recipient of the 2006 Governor's Award for Downtown Excellence for Best Promotional Event, Rock & Rails benefits many who volunteer to make all the magic happen. The free summer concert series takes the stage at Niwot's Whistle Stop Park at 1st Avenue and Murray Street in historic downtown Niwot, Colorado, and is produced by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association in conjunction with the Niwot...
When The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop moved into its downtown Niwot home last year, it breathed new life into one of Niwot's most iconic spaces. Owners Carissa Mina and Jerilyn Patterson brought their colorful, curated selection of books, toys and gifts to the northwest corner of 2nd Avenue and Franklin Street, and now laugh together about ways their building's history keeps making itself known. "So many people come in here and are like, 'I used to have a business in this building,' said...
We regularly celebrate our town's namesake, Chief Niwot (Left-Hand in Arapaho), for his peace-oriented beliefs and actions. In fact, the stories of his leadership and subsequent betrayal by Col. John Chivington and his troops at Sand Creek have been documented in many books, including Boulder author Margaret Coel's "Chief Left Hand." Chief Niwot banded together with other tribal leaders in a commitment to finding peaceful relationships with white settlers. They included Niwot's brother, Neva,...
The area around in and around Niwot, known as the Left Hand Valley, has deep agricultural roots dating back to the late 1800s in the early settlement days of Colorado Pioneer families such as the Caywoods, Williamses and the Goulds turned the prairie land into productive soils, producing wheat, sugar beets, and alfalfa. Many farms started alongside the nearby railroads and Niwot became a farming town, even having it;s own dairy and creamery. Many homes were built on farmland in the early 1900s,...
Residents of Boulder County have long endured the volatile moods of Mother Nature, including the Blizzard of 1913 that dropped four feet of snow in just two days. There were years when swarms of grasshoppers descended, devouring everything from crops to window curtains to paint on the walls. Today, we no longer experience swarms of locusts, and the deep snows of the last century have diminished as Colorado's climate continues to change. Yet like our predecessors, we still suffer from Colorado's...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) approved five funding requests at its regular meeting May 3, including funding for three popular community events. Scott Firle chaired the meeting, with advisory board members Lisa Rivard, Cornelia Sawle, Bruce Rabeler, Jeff Knight, Heidi Storz and Keith Waters also in attendance, along with Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin. The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), co-managers of the Rock & Rails summer...
Niwot resident Leonard Sitongia was selected as one of seven volunteers to be recognized by Boulder County during National Volunteer Week. Sitongia, who serves on the board of directors of the Niwot Community Association and the Niwot Historical Society, was recognized for his work with the Community Planning and Permitting Department’s Mobility for All Technology Ambassador Program. He has donated over 200 hours to the M4A program. For his efforts, Sitongia received a grant of $900 to support his continued work on the M4A program. Sitongia r...
In this modern world of telephones, faxes and emails, the joy of letter writing has almost disappeared. We've become too reliant on the instant feedback of the internet. In the 1800s, however, residents of Boulder County anxiously awaited the stagecoach, afternoon train, or the rural mail wagon to bring letters from their families back east. Establishing a postal system to serve homesteaders along the Front Range was an impressive accomplishment by the U.S. Post Office Department. New...
The desire for a little spending money is universal among today's adolescents, and youngsters growing up in the nineteenth century were no exception. Wildlife was abundant in Boulder County. Rabbits, coyotes, skunks, and muskrats were plentiful along Boulder and St. Vrain creeks. While their parents hunted deer and elk to augment food supplies, young boys set traps for small animals and shot waterfowl to send to market. Alonzo Allen and Walter Emery often hunted together on Lake Park in...
Editor's Note: Historian Anne Dyni wrote a series of articles for the Left Hand Valley Courier. The series will be reprinted from time to time. Left Hand Men's Club First published February 2005 In 1960, Niwot was functioning much as it had for decades, except that the town newspaper had ceased publication and the train no longer stopped for passengers and freight. Real estate activity was slow, however, and the few businesses remaining in town were barely getting by. Niwot was still very much...
Turning fear into hope was a gift long-time Niwot resident Judy Seaborn drew from her experience of the Marshall fire. For her efforts to assist fire victims and her commitment to provide food to those in need, Seaborn is the recipient of the February Left Hand Laurel. Co-owner with Curtis Jones of Botanical Interests, a large Colorado seed and garden company whose goal for the past 27 years has been "to inspire and educate the gardener in you" by supplying garden centers nationally and home...
The popular weekly concert series Rock & Rails is returning to Niwot's Whistle Stop Park for 13 shows in 2022, and organizers are gearing up for another great summer of live music and family fun on Thursday nights. "We're looking forward to another successful season," co-manager Bruce Warren of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association said. "We're adding some new local talent for opening acts along with the return of popular favorites." Along with Warren, Dan Hawk of Edward Jones and Vicki Maurer of...
Like it or not, 2022 is just around the corner, and if your plans for the new year involve bettering the world, there's no better place to start than your own community. The Left Hand Valley is home to dozens of non-profit organizations that are making a difference, and they need engaged volunteers to help them do it. No experience is necessary; there's a position for you. By volunteering, not only are you helping your community, you'll also reap the benefits from connecting with others, learnin...
Boulder County is seeking applications for one opening on the Niwot Business Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee, a nine-member independent board that "prioritizes expenditures of the LID sales tax revenue," and makes recommendations to the county commissioners, who serve as the board of directors for the district. The Niwot LID was formed in 1992 and was authorized to collect a half-percent sales tax to pay for street, drainage and other improvements in Old Town, beginning in...
Grief is a difficult thing. On one hand, we're often told to go through the stages, heal and move on. But on the other hand, it's not clear how long those stages "should" last, and we can be pressured to feel as though the healing is complete before we're ready. What I love about Niwot resident Ellen Haswell's book, "A Little Book of Words for Those Who Grieve,'' is that the whole book takes you through the process, and while it's a short read, it feels like you can take your time. With only 59...
In 2020, charitable giving rose to an all-time high in the U.S., even as many Americans struggled with uncertainty and disruptions. While that is good news for the nation's non-profit organizations, the unfortunate reality is that much of the bounty went to high profile causes and groups, leaving small and locally-focused charities scrambling to make up for lost fundraising opportunities. As 2021 comes to a close, many of those groups could still use some help to balance the scales. "There are a...
Since 1993, the Niwot Historical Society has been on a mission to collect, preserve, and share memories from the town's rich and storied past, which stretches back nearly 150 years. Starting Saturday, Nov. 27, you can help support that mission and check an item off of your holiday to-do list with the purchase of a limited edition Niwot greeting card, featuring original artwork and a short lesson in local history. "The original watercolor paintings of a Niwot location have been donated for our...
Hundreds of Canada geese take off from the mowed fields around Dodd Reservoir where they have spent the day browsing for food. The evening sky is going purple after a clear day. Some of these geese make a fuss, honking as they take off. Others silently glide away, the turmoil of a disordered flock resolving into a giant V-formation that disappears into the distance. But where are they going? According to the Audubon Society, in North America, seven out of 10 bird species participate in either a...
As part of the effort to update the town's five-year strategic plan, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee invited leaders from more than a dozen local community organizations to a round table discussion at the Left Hand Grange on Nov. 2 to discuss how to prioritize tax revenues over the coming years and encourage cooperation among the groups on community projects. Among the groups represented were the Niwot Business Association, Niwot Community Association, the Rotary Club of...
