Mar. 26, 2007 - 18:24 MDT

COMPARISONS

In my lifetime I have always thought Denver is an old, old town.

But compared to places like Rhode Island, New York and such, it isn't dry behind the ears yet.

It was somewhere around 1815 that Auguste P. Chouteau hosted a trading camp on Cherry Creek near the Platte to trade with the Araphoe Indians. According to what I read in Dr. Colorado's writings, and he is the resident historian of note here. Dr. Colorado, by name Thomas J. Noel.

Thirty nine-years before that was 1776 and our Eastern Seaboard had been settled for years and years. Yet. the life was rough out here then and survival of the fittest was often survival of the smartest and swiftest.

According to Dr. Noel's writing, the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty gave the Arapahoe's the land from the base of the Rockies between the South Platte River and the Arkansas River.

Then according to Dr. Noel pale faces known to the Arapahoe as Spider People because of the network of roads, fences and survey lines reminded them of spider webs, came seeking gold.

To continue on November 1, 1858 the Russell party discovered gold near the confluence of Cherry Creek and the Platte River (South Platte) and set up Auraria as a town. Later on November 22,1858 General Larimer founded the "upstart " city by crossing cottonwood sticks at the center of a square mile town plat.

And that is what "old" is to me.

I came along after the frantic horde of riches seekers had moved on, the gold was "rushed out" here, but Denver survived.

Some businesses were established supplying the mines in Central City and vicinity. Hendrie and Bolthoff for one - - everything from pots and pans to dynamite, Mine and Smelter Supply Co. for another -- heavy mining machinery and rock drills. Then foodstuff supplier Morey Mercantile fed the miners and Denverites with Solitaire brand canned goods, staples and spices.

Meat packing became established along the Platte River, truck farms (wagon in the beginning) grew fresh vegetables along the river and supplied Denver grocers. Griffen Wheel Works (not sure of the company name) made wheels for rolling stock such as rail roads, whether mining or other, was there and in production when I was a kid.

Solitaire brand food had a radio program I used to listen to, mostly music and their theme song had words to the effect, "We're sending over a four leaf clover - - - - - - to a very catchy tune.

Then another thing that helped Denver to a great extent were the tubercular folks from the east coming out here to try to regain their health.

The National Jewish Hospital at Colorado Boulevard and Colfax Avenue was originally a tubercular hospital, since then has become world known for lung ailments from allergy to whatever. The original building is still there and still used by National Jewish. JCRS out West Colfax Avenue was still going when I was a kid. Not too well seen from Colfax, it was extensive, Jewish Consumptive Relief Society was its name.

I think that the sweat shop conditions of the northeast part of our country was where people in crowded living conditions contracted the dread disease.

The railroad went north of Denver in the early days, but finally a line was brought down to our town. During World War Two there were five railroads serving Denver, behind the Union Station (our depot) to the Platte River was a lacing of railroad tracks, spurs and so forth.

Market, Blake and Wazee streets were commercial streets and each street had rails on each side of the street. In the night the rail cars were pulled out on each street, the set up for the next day switched in before the work day started.

One end of the depot was The American Express Company building. In those days they handled expensive, insured stuff such as gold, jewelry and I think explosives as well. The building at the other end of the depot was the Terminal Station of the Post Office. Back then mail coming into town and going out went through that place. The big, main post office handled the business parts but incoming and outgoing mail went by train.

I don't know when, but Gates Rubber Company came into being along the Platte River, tires, garden hose, and V-belts were manufactured there.

Denver had a network of street car lines that pretty well served the town as it was. Trolley cars had their own romance for me. But after World War Two was over real estate developments sprung up all over the area and the trolley tracks didn't extend. Then the streets became crowded with automobiles because mass transit couldn't serve the masses.

When I was a kid most of the business was done down town, banking, department stores, city and state offices, police department headquarters, dime stores and specialty shops, our "Great White Way" was Curtis Street where all the Movies were. Other than The Tabor Grand Operal House on 16th Street. Later came the Denham theater and while I was young the Paramount and Denver Theater on upper 16th Street were booming.

I guess I sort of oozed in between eras but I grew up valuing the past and looking forward to the future, realizing the good parts of each.

One thing good for me was being able to read back and look forward and make COMPARISONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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