Blog
Angels in Black: Victorian Women in Mourning
The death of loved ones has always been a difficult subject throughout history. During the Victorian period, however, it took on new significance. After Prince Albert died in England in 1861, Queen Victoria, his devastated wife, lived the rest of her life publicly...
read more
The Beginnings of Bicycles in Greeley
During the 1870s the “high wheeled bicycle” was invented. It was also known as the “penny farthing” or the “ordinary”. While it had two-wheeled predecessors, the high wheel was the first all metal contraption to be dubbed a bicycle. Bicycles in the 1870s were rare in...
read more
Railroads: A Brief History of the Railroad in Northern Colorado
On September 15, 1869, the first railroad to enter this state to serve just Colorado Territory was the Denver Pacific. It covered the hundred miles between Cheyenne and Denver, routed through the railroad town of Evans. Track laying began in Cheyenne, crossing the...
read more50+ Years Ago, Greeley’s Teens Cruised a Bustling Downtown
What did teenagers do for fun in Greeley, CO, in 1959? Greeley’s downtown featured every type of retail business within a five-block radius of Lincoln Park, including three bakeries, five beauty shops, six men’s clothing stores, seven drug stores, eight grocery...
read more
Greeley’s Shattered History: Three Infamous Hail Storms
The June 19, 2018 hailstorm that damaged many homes, vehicles, trees, gardens and field crops was a reminder that hail, unfortunately, is a predictable part of Greeley’s and northeastern Colorado’s history. Greeley’s first hailstorm was in July 1871, but was eclipsed...
read more
Cool Off with this Brief Local History of Ice and Ice Cream
Did you know that ice cream was once considered a luxury? Or did you know that in early Greeley, it would have probably been enjoyed in the winter? Ice cream is such an iconic summertime treat, that it is hard to imagine someone would go to great effort and expense to...
read more
Severance Vigilantes Act Out Against Pro-German Sentiment
On April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany and America entered World War I. At this time, several thousand Germans-from-Russia lived in Weld County, many having arrived after 1902 to work as “stoop laborers” in the sugar beet fields. These immigrants were...
read more
Two Buildings, Two Churches, Many Stories
The building at 803 10th Ave. is quite important to Greeley’s religious history. Currently the home of Saint Patrick’s Presbyterian Church, the site underwent many changes throughout its history that can be traced back to the Union Colony. Old Park Church was one of...
read more
1920 City Improvement Plan
What did City of Greeley residents feel were important issues the city should focus on? Here's a snapshot of issues from Greeley's 1920 City Improvement Plan, a 10-year program endorsed by the Greeley Chamber of Commerce. Organize a campaign to do away with rats? Own...
read more
The Attack on Pearl Harbor: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
We probably should have timed this post with the anniversary of the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor which was December 7. But truly, it's never too late to write about an important topic, or to revisit its importance in American history. And you know that saying, "I...
read moreChildren of the past no doubt left their toys scattered about, but this photograph is likely a staged haphazard display of a candy machine, tennis racquet, baseball bats, dolls, toy trucks, and trains. 🍬🏸🚂