Letter to the Editor

Niwot Fire House Restoration Project by the Niwot Historical Society needs help from the Niwot community, friends and neighbors!

The Niwot Fire House is a symbol of Niwot heritage and is located in the Niwot Historic District. There are historic educational displays inside the building and the Niwot Historical Society hosts open house evenings, giving tours of the displays along with period story-telling by volunteers.

The Niwot Historical Society is working with Porch Front Homes as our contractor on the restoration project.

Fire House Museum Restoration Project of over $10,000 includes:

Add vertical corner siding trim on all corners where it was originally

Replace and add skirt boards around the bottom perimeter

Clean and stain external siding

Remove, clean and paint window frames

Refinish / condition / patch the front door

Patch holes in siding

Glue together splits in siding

Replace and repair fascia boards

Clean and condition the shake shingle roof

Use reclaimed material from similarly aged buildings throughout the project

Use square nails, like those made by blacksmiths in the early 1900s

History of the Fire House:

The Niwot Fire House Museum was built in 1910 and was located on the lot east of Niwot State Bank on Second Avenue.

Before 1927 it was moved to the northwest corner of the Livingston Hotel property and used as a laundry shed.

In the early 1970s through 1997 it was inside the Niwot Auction House and used as an office.

In 1997 it was donated to the Niwot Historical Society. Volunteers dismantled it and reconstructed it on a new foundation on the west side of the Left Hand Grange No.9, where it is located today.

During its 107 years of life it has lost some pieces and parts and needs some maintenance on other areas.

Because it is a Boulder County Landmark and in the Niwot Historic District all renovation work will be approved by the Boulder County Land Use, Historic Preservation Department and the Commissioners.

Please be a part of Niwot’s future by helping the Niwot Historical Society preserve our past on our 107 year old structure.

Your tax deductible donation can be mailed to: Niwot Historical Society, Attn: Fire House Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 354, Niwot, CO 80544 or you can donate via PayPal on our website at niwothistoricalsociety.org The Niwot Historical Society is a Colorado non-profit organization and recognized by the IRS as a Charitable Organization under the IRC, Section 501 (C)(3).

The Niwot Fire House Museum will be open on Friday, August 4th from 5-7pm. Please come see and learn about the restoration that needs to be completed.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Kathy Koehler, President

Niwot Historical Society