Niwot celebrates 150th birthday

A steady stream of Niwotians, past and present, visited Niwot Hall on Sunday, March 30, 2025, for an open house celebrating Niwot's Sesquicentennial. The town plat was recorded with Boulder County 150 years earlier, on March 30, 1875.

Niwot resident Laura Skaggs, who chaired the organizing committee, was more than pleased with the turnout. Young and old were mesmerized by the slide show which paired photos of buildings past with current photos of the same property.

Pete Wernick on banjo, his wife Joan Wernick on guitar, and Justin Hoffenberg and Maggie Taverna on banjo provided a musical backdrop to the festivities, while Love Ice Cream provided treats, including Coke floats and root beer floats.

Anne Dyni, former president of the Niwot Historical Society, was on hand to reminisce with old acquaintances. One photo sequence showed a Niwot building Dyni owned in multiple phases, from "Niwot Blacksmith," to "Niwot Wheel Works" bicycle shop, to current occupant "Few of a Kind Vintage & Mercantile."

Angie Miltersen, who owns Few of a Kind and served on the 150th committee, also provided the pine box for the time capsule. Miltersen also worked with Kathy Koehler, president of the Niwot Historical Society to create the historic banners which now fly from the light poles in Niwot.

Miltersen was assisted by Kristin Alger in providing Prosecco to the adult guests, while cookies provided by Janet Gates and Pastor Emily Kintzel of the Niwot United Methodist Church complemented the "birthday cupcakes."

Those who attended also had an opportunity to create photos with various props, thanks to 303 Photo Booth and Alex Martinez. A pine box provided by Milterson was available for visitors to deposit artifacts, letters, messages and mementos in a time capsule, to be opened March 30, 2050. The pine box will be available at various other events in Niwot throughout the year for Niwotians to send messages to future Niwotians. Already the box includes a container of Niwot's Meadow Lake Honey, a Flanagan's Restaurant memento, colorful drawings by youngsters, and many messages to future generations.

Guests included Niwot natives Donlyn Arbuthnot, who showed off her bloomers and her great grandmother's apron, and her brother, Darold Arbuthnot, who now lives in Johnstown. Darold Arbuthnot recalled moving to Boulder when he was very young, then riding the steam train to Niwot as a 5-year-old to visit friends.

Joann Sampson Bell of Longmont also attended. "We lived near the old church that burned," Bell recalled When asked about changes she has seen in Niwot, she said, "The change came when IBM came, not bad, just different."

John Montoya of Westminster, who was born in Niwot but moved to Denver when he was nine years old, also attended with his daughter, LeAnn Robero. "I was born in a house on Murray Street, across the street from the beet dump, that Sue Wilson now owns," he said. Wilson was also on hand to visit with Montoya. Montoya also remembered Juan Apodaca, who lived in the section house near the railroad. "He took care of the tracks," Montoya said.

Four generations of Knaus family members joined in the fun, including Gladys Knaus, her children Mike Knaus and Julie Steele, Julie's daughter Alison Steele, and Alison's daughter Elizabeth. Kevin Dooley was on hand to perform a song he wrote, "Be More Like Bert," about the late Bert Steele, Alison's father. Many audience members joined in on the familiar chorus.

Pat Murphy, another member of the organizing committee, hosted a luncheon at her home for "old time families" and was pleased with the turnout. "We had almost 20 attend, and they enjoyed the pancakes," Murphy said. Most of them also attended the open house, sharing their stories of Niwot history with current residents.

Committee members Mary Coonce, Deb Fowler, Liz Tobiason, Phil Yates and Chris Crandell helped with the event, and recruited other family members to assist as well.

Jim Dorvee, president of Niwot Hall, the non-profit organization which now owns what was formerly known as "the Grange" building, spoke briefly about the changes to the building, which is now more suitable as an event venue, and thanked the many Niwot organizations which contributed to the celebration, including the Niwot Business Association, the Niwot Community Association, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and the Niwot Historical Society.

The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation also participated, with Gunbarrel resident and Parks and Open Space Director Therese Glowacki handing out literature and providing information.