Thanks for reading Lost Fort Collins. Want more?
Terence Hoaglund and others are keeping the Lost Fort Collins community and stories alive at http://www.lostfortcollins.net
I’m now blogging in my new community of Bismarck, North Dakota. You can find me at http://www.bismarckstories.com.
You know, Fort Collins didn’t just plop a cannon in the middle of the playground at City Park. It was the other way around. The playground was west of there, and migrated to the cannon.
In a way, it didn’t matter because kids in the 1950s climbed all over the cannon and considered it an extension of the playground, Norm says.
In another way, it mattered very much because over the years many residents thought it inappropriate to keep the artillery where the children play.
Norm with cannon at playground
The story of how the cannon came to City Park, and how hawks and doves resolved their differences, is interesting. But it’s too long for me to tell now.
But that’s not the most interesting thing about the cannon to me anyway. I think the most interesting thing is the kids’ initials carved in the hard rubber wheels. Norm says he remembers kids carving those glyphs going back to when he was a kid in the 1940s.
When the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced earlier this week that Fort Collins had landed on its list of Distinctive Destinations, I had some regrets.
That’s because I always meant to write a series of posts about the group of women who made this town worthy of the National Trust. Women who I have always wished I could be more like. Women with vision, courage, and persistence.
This was no ladies social club for dressing up and having Victorian tea parties. They didn’t play status games based on whose pioneer ancestry made them most authentic.
Rather, these were women who fought like hell and struck fear in the heart of any politician that got in the way. At least that’s how I always imagined them.
Each Heroine deserves her own post, including a photo and a list of accomplishments. But that would take more research than I have time for now. So here’s the short list:
Karen McWilliams probably belongs on this list too, but I never got to meet her. And an earlier group of women, like Charlene Tresner and June Bennett, might belong here too.
If only I had a little more time….
Nonetheless, without these awe-inspiring women living in our town, I think the National Trust would have looked right past Fort Collins. Without them, our town would be so much less than it is today.
Hoffman house, from history.fc.gov
You may have read recently that the old Armory building on East Mountain Avenue is being refurbished again. This time, says owner Paul Jenson, he wants to return it to its 1907 roots as a public event hall.
Last week, one of the contractors on the project, Jeff Down, took me on a tour of the building:
Here’s the front of the building (above). Those who take historic surveys would have you note the crenelated roof line, which gives it a fortress-like appearance appropriate for National Guard Armory.
They would also tell you the architect was a Mr. Garbutt. And when you get over that, they would tell you that Garbutt (stop it) also designed the Commercial Bank and Trust (which would later become The Vault–that bar on North College with the safe still in it).
But let’s go inside the Armory…
When Jensen says he wants to return the hall to its public use roots, he means banquets, weddings. Probably dances and concerts.
I do not think he means boxing and roller skating. That’s how our predecessors used the space. Before it became a laundry. Look at that floor!
Now look up.
Now go to the balcony and look down. Jeff’s company (Down Zankey) built this staircase to the basement when Jensen first moved in. Jensen had his OneTribe Creative here for the past several years. That’s why the newer details are all so hip and cool. I mean, thick-rimmed glasses neoMadMen I-wish-I-were-that-cosmopolitan, black-haired cool.
Here’s the back room. Jeff’s biggest concern that day was getting enough air into the hall for a crowd to breath adequately. He’ll do that by pumping it in through the roof back here.
Cool details in the basement include old stone work and wavy bricks. Originally, National Guard practiced target shooting down here.
And apparently they kept the livestock here as well. Jeff says these are the original livery doors. Down Zankey moved them to complete a stone conference room in the basement.
The hall is available for rent starting in March. This couple was here exploring the space for an April wedding.
You can read more about it in the Coloradoan article (for as long as the paper keeps the article available).
You can call Amy or Paul to talk about booking the Armory Event Hall at 223-4012.
You can have Down Zankey put more air or light in your house, build you a bitchen industrial staircase, or fix up just about anything else construction related by contacting them through their web site at: http://www.downzankey.com.
As for me, I’m still leaving, and I’m still waiting to meet with Lost Fort Collins new guy to hand it all off. Very soon…
16-year-old Norm’s first car wreck, in 1955, takes a shocking turn when his Mom takes him to the police station to report the fender bender.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUEQxcHT0b4]
I’m still moving away, but I thought you might like this video from last summer. This is one of my favorite of all of Norm’s many, many stories.
Writing Lost Fort Collins has been a load of fun. In fact, it’s been an obsession. But lately, just about every part of my life has changed. My work is drying up, my family is transitioning, and I’m ready for some change.
So, I’m moving on. To Bismarck, North Dakota, of all places.
But before I go, let me say this: It is an honor to be read, and especially to have others participate in my enthusiasm. Many of you told stories, asked questions, sent photos, or offered up ideas. Lately, you’re not even talking to me anymore, but to each other. I love that. Many of you contributed history of Fort Collins that otherwise had never been captured.
I’m prouder of Lost Fort Collins than almost anything else I’ve ever done. Thanks for being part of it.
Cat
P.S. If you want to stay in touch, feel free to friend me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/catmcc) or write cat at lostfortcollins.com
A couple months ago, Lost Fort Collins posted a story about 1970s band Cunningham Corner. That article sparked “a lot of e-mails and phone numbers … exchanged from countless friends of the band,” says Kevin Donnelly.
Now, the band plans a reunion! Probably in Los Angeles, probably Spring or Summer, says Donnelly.
According to Doug White, the following members are already on board:
Kevin Donnally
David Fuog
Scott Galbraith
Jimmy Davenport
Craig Karp
Jim Thompson
Tom Buckman
Pete Wasner
Don Kuhli
Lee Rabacheck
But that’s not everybody. The band is looking for anyone who ever played with the group. If you know any former members, White says contact any of the members, or write Doug directly at imdoug at comcast.net.
That’s right, I said CHRISTMAS. Colored lights, Stars, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus. In the 1950s, the whole town celebrated Christmas unapologetically. And Ruth B. Dermody took pictures to prove it. Click through to see holiday details. Is that a nativity in front of the courthouse?
City Hall. It doesn't look much different now.
College Avenue. Even without holiday lights, downtown was brighter with neon signs.
Our unloved mid-century courthouse. 1957-1999
All photos by Ruth B. Dermody.
Thanks to Jim Burrill for letting me use them. Jim has lots more family photos in and around Fort Collins at his blog http://lapoudre.multiply.com/journal
If you’re new in town, you might not know about Louis Armstrong. He was a life-size statue on the stage in Old Town Square. Rocked off his foundation, he disappeared one night in 2001.
What became of him? Still missing. I’m only bringing him up now because he came up in a conversation a year ago, and I couldn’t find a single picture of him online. Then the other day I found this in my photos:
Have you seen this? Maybe in the attic of your frat house?
Until we get Satchmo back, only statues that are too big or too ugly to be stolen will be allowed in Old Town Square….
My long-lost friend Ute came to visit today, and caught this while we were dining downtown. Ute said I could use her photo, but not say the name of the restaurant because that’s unkind to the business.
Okay, I won’t say where we were. But use a disinfectant wipe on your Parmesan dispenser if you eat outside anywhere in the next few days, okay?
