Our May 2007 WWPNA History Committee discussion is going to be extra special. We'll be graced with the presence of not one but two honored citizens, Ed and Dave Garland. Born in West Wash Park in 1923 and 1922, respectively, these brothers have a lot of stories to tell and a few photos to show as well.

Their father, Dave Garland, owned a grocery store at 295 South Pearl. Garland Grocery was the place people could count on during the Depression, when they needed a little extra credit to get them by. The grocery went bankrupt in 1937 because of it, but Garland didn't stop giving. He developed many of the youth sports programs in Denver, earning him the nickname "The Saint of Denver Sports." In 1952, the Denver Bears gave him a lifetime pass to their games, and in 1956, he was named the University of Denver's "Man of the Year." Garland Park is named in his honor.

The Garland boys played football and baseball at the old Byers sandlot, and both became pitchers of some renown at South High. Dave Jr played for a while with the St Louis Browns, but he left professional baseball to become a doctor. His younger brother Ed continues to live in the neighborhood, and works in the insurance industry, continuing the work his father began upon closure of the grocery.

Come join us for this dual history on Tuesday, May 15th at 242 South Lincoln Street at 7:00. We'll also have about 15 minutes of updates on the oral histories, new historic homes, Country Club Gardens, and other historic happenings.

Should West Washington Park work towards the development of a police museum on its western border? That's the idea of Officer Dean Christopherson, who sees a tremendous opportunity in the planned sale of a 1931 Denver Police station at 20 East Center Avenue. Details below:

The location at #20 E. Center Avenue is an original Denver Police Station, put into service in 1931. This building would make an excellent location to house a moderate sized Police Museum. The geographic location is right off the Interstate #25 exits, and on the busy Broadway corridor. The building is currently being utilized by the Denver Fire Department for storage of supplies. It is anticipated that the building will be vacated by the DFD in the coming months.

The building is in generally good shape, although some cosmetic work would be required, such as interior paint and minor repairs. The roof has been repaired recently, and new heating unit installed in the basement. Since the building has been in active service, there has been general upkeep of the property, minimizing the need for extensive renovation.

The station is roughly 50' x 35', with a small furnace/basement area. The construction is brick, with classic art-deco style design, popular in the 1930s. Incorporated into the design is the Seal of the City & County of Denver over the main entrance. There are also two garage stalls attached, with overhead doors, which could easily house vintage vehicles for display.

Few things sound more boring than a highway history. However, few things impact a city as dramatically as a highway, and folks interested in the development of the city should take note.

Attached is a 65-page historical survey of the Southwest Corridor, including I-25 south from Broadway to Lincoln Avenue and I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road. The story begins in the 1930s, when plans to build a Platte Valley thoroughfare first originated and continues through much of the planning and discussion phase in the 1940s.

You'll enjoy reading about the 10-year project to build what became I-25, starting in 1948 and wrapping up in 1958. You'll see that what was built could have been done much differently, and that fights over the nature of the highway reached biblical proportions (e.g., city council candidate Ernest Marranzino huffed that highway supporters would never be admitted to heaven unless they reversed course!). You'll also enjoy hearing about the difficulty early motorists had with the highway, as the dizzying speeds and strange new terminology caused endless headaches.

The maps are a bit hard to read, but draft depictions of bridges and birds-eye views of interchanges give perspective to the land. Reading this 1999 report from Hermsen Consultants and Fraser Design heightens appreciation for the difficulty of laying out a new highway, but also its importance in the shaping of modern Denver.

History buffs will enjoy these three articles revealing the lived history of the Gates Rubber Company.

The first is from 1951, and is a company showcase of its "40 Years Of Progress."

The second article, from 1981, was written by Joan McCarthy at the Washington Park Profile, giving a short overview of company developments.

The third (and shortest) is from 1995, detailing the decisive efforts of the company during World War II and their commitment to historic preservation thereafter.