Left Hand Grange building renamed Niwot Hall

A big change is coming to an historic building in downtown Niwot. What has been known as "The Grange" for nearly 80 years will now be known as "Niwot Hall."

It's not the first time the building has been renamed. Originally, the building at 195 Second Ave. was known as Nelson Hall, named after John Nelson, who built it and ran a mercantile business at the location. It is believed to be the first commercial building in Niwot and was home to several different businesses and meeting rooms.

Left Hand Grange No. 9, a fraternal organization, received its charter on Jan. 24, 1874, and was initially based out of the Batchelder School House southwest of Niwot at 63rd Street and Monarch Road. The organization met at several different locations until 1945, when a group of Grange members formed a corporation known as Left Hand Grange, Incorporated, and acquired the building.

At that point, Left Hand Grange No. 9 began meeting in the building, where the organization provided opportunities for social interaction and education, as well as political advocacy for farm and ranch issues. The building has remained the home of what is now the oldest active Grange in Colorado and the building has been referred to as "The Grange" ever since the fraternal organization began meeting there in 1945.

Over the years, the structure, which has two floors with large halls, two bathrooms, and a commercial kitchen, has come to be used for more non-Grange community events than it has for Grange related events.

President of the Niwot Historical Society Kathy Koehler mentioned some of the past events that took place in the building. "Hot Rize held many concerts at the Grange in the 80s," she said. "Judlyn's [Maupin] dance classes were a regular in the 80s. In the 40's and 50's, a competitive square dance group was sponsored by the Grange, and the Niwot Garden Club held flower shows in the Grange."

Vice president and former president of Left Hand Grange No. 9, Kellie Beran, said, "Since my involvement with the Grange, they've always rented the space for other events. I'm not sure when this practice started, but it's been going on at least since the '70s."

Today, community organizations, individuals, and various groups rent the building to hold a diverse array of meetings, celebrations, art and cultural events, and presentations, making this versatile venue a resource considered to be of great value to the community.

Niwot Hall President Jim Dorvee said, "Current income, which comes from rentals, barely covers expenses, let alone allows for any improvements. In order to keep the building viable as a community asset and to increase income, we needed to rethink our business model."

Built in 1907, the aging building has required ongoing maintenance and upgrades which were a financial challenge for Left Hand Grange, Incorporated. So, at the end of 2023, the property was transferred to Niwot Hall, a newly formed 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. With this designation, the entity is now able to raise funds from tax-deductible donations, and it also makes the building eligible for various grants.

"The mission of Niwot Hall is to be a community resource, a cultural arts venue and an event space," Dorvee said. "There is a need for smaller, affordable wedding venues, so micro-weddings are a focus for future Niwot Hall events. Not only does this tack benefit the Hall, but it will also benefit the ecosystem of other local businesses that will be vendors for these weddings." Dorvee added, "The demographic that have a need to rent wedding spaces are millennials, Gen Y, and Gen Z. They don't relate to the Grange name."

Over the past year, with the assistance of funds from the Niwot Local Improvement District and Niwot community organizations, the main hall of the building has added a much requested audio-visual system, installed new lighting, flooring, and a new ceiling, all in keeping with a style that honors the history of the building.

Introducing the new organization to the area has resulted in revamping the website and new signage on two sides of the building. The old Left Hand Grange No. 9 sign will be mounted on the west side of the building, in addition to a plaque on the front acknowledging that the building is still the home of Left Hand Grange No. 9.

Future projects in the works are events to raise funds for a community-friendly outdoor space behind the building, updated windows, and other improvements to the building, such as an ADA approved elevator to make the upstairs hall accessible to those with disabilities.

In addition to re-marketing the newly dubbed Niwot Hall to the Front Range and Boulder County region as a multipurpose event venue, the Left Hand Grange No. 9 will carry on the legacy of holding meetings at the Hall.

"We must continue to value the contribution that the Left Hand Grange No. 9 has made to our town," Beran said. "This 150-year-old organization is a treasure, but the building itself is now branching out to be more inviting to the evolving Niwot community. The renaming of the Niwot Hall was carefully considered and it's sure to be here for decades to come."

Watch for all of the changes taking place, including the new building signage and the website at NiwotHall.org going live in the next few weeks.