Historical Society Lecture Series

The Niwot Historical Society is continuing its lecture series, and the newest could knock it out of the park.

A panel of speakers will discuss the history of the sport of baseball in the area, each with their own bank of knowledge and insight to provide.

“We’re putting together a panel of people or their families who have been involved in baseball in the Niwot area from the very early 1900’s to the present,” organizer Biff Warren said.

The speakers include:

John Conilogue: His ancestors go way back in the Niwot area, he has a lot of artifacts from early days of Niwot baseball, and played in 1970’s and 1980’s.

John Dageenakis: One of the founders of the youth baseball program, incorporated in 1972. He will talk about getting the program started, building fields and borrowing land for fields. Dageenakis was president of Gunbarrel Left Hand Valley Recreation Association (now Niwot Youth Sports).

Gregg Hangge: He has been very involved with the program and was instrumental in building permanent fields in Niwot. There are now 10 fields for youth baseball and softball, and he spent time as a coach and administrator as well.

Tim Rudden: Current executive director of Niwot Youth Sports and has been for over a decade. He will talk about the current state of the program and its facilities.

Biff Warren: Started involvement with the program in 1977. Warren will talk about history, and when the softball program started. Warren will also talk about former players who went on to play professionally.

The oldest field, dating back to the early 1900’s is where the new Niwot Children’s Park is located.

Another topic of discussion will be Royce Johnson, who provided some of the land for what came to be known as Johnson Fields at the southwest corner of Neva Road and 83rd Street.

“(Johnson) was a farmer in the area and wanted to support the youth program,” Warren said. “He was one of the early developers of residential land around Niwot on his farm. He agreed to let the program use one corner for ballfields on a temporary basis. What was originally expected to be a few years turned into about 20 years before they were eventually lost to development.

“A lot of people remember those fields. They were bare dirt — snow fence in the outfield, chicken wire held up by used oil well pipes for backstops. Every year trying to stay ahead of the goat head sand burrs was a challenge, people like Mark Ponsor invented rollers to try and pick them up.”

The event will be held at Left Hand Grange on October 5. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a meet and greet, and the program begins at 7 p.m.

There will be artifacts and photos on display. Each speaker will have five to 10 minutes with plenty of time for questions. Refreshments will be available.