Bill Holland lived in Englewood from 1946 through the mid-1970s. He had submitted some great photos of Englewood for YourHub.com's Then and Now contest back in 2005, and he agreed to write about how he felt upon seeing the Englewood library's photo collection for the first time.
Where to begin? So far, in scanning through only a few hundred of these memorable photos, I start remembering so many wonderful things about my years in Englewood. I was astonished when I entered search for "Holland" that my brother Darrell's 1958 photo came up when he was 15 yrs.old. He had been promoted to "chief" of the Englewood Junior Police Band. He is long deceased, passing away at the early age of 43. Also it showed me and my "comrades" in the US Navy Reserve at Buckley field. (1954)
It has definitely given me the incentive to dig out my old albums from the late 1940's through the mid 1960's to see what I can deliver to the library for possible additions to this collection. Maybe other folks will see something that triggers memories ... I hope good!
I start my nostalgia trip by telling you my years in Englewood began in about 1946 when I was 11 years old and in the 6th grade. My parents bought a home on Oxford and Elati street. My photos show Oxford looking west. It was a dirt street, no sidewalk, curbs or gutters. I attended Hawthorne school on Oxford and Bannock and continued on to Flood Jr. High school on Broadway. I see several photos of these schools already in the library site. The new Englewood High School was being built on So. Logan and my class of 1953 was the first to graduate from it. Pictures of it taken then and the huge complex today are not similar.
I want to mention two very dedicated and memorable high school teachers that I will never forget! My math teacher was
Lillian Sullivan. I had her for three years taking algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc. And, never to be forgotten, was my English and Journalism teacher,
Mamie Roarke. Again I had classes for 3 years with her. She also oversaw the publishing of our "High Times" school newspaper. I was on the paper staff doing some writing, but serving mainly as the school photographer. Also many of the photos in our high school annuals can be "blamed" on me. My photos and remembrances of this time are extra special!
I started my love of cameras and photography early on, probably 5th or 6th grade. Thanks to my wonderful Dad who built my own darkroom in our basement. It was then I was really able to pursue my hobby. I gained additional knowledge and experience from my after school job at the local camera and record store. (Home Hobby at 3360 So. Broadway) This business was owned by one of Englewood's well respected and recognized men,
Griggs Dayton. A couple years later he re-named it Dayton's Cameras . The camera and record store were very busy and we also stocked stereos and early model TV's that were coming to Colorado.
Remember the 78 rpm records, and then along came the more durable and smaller 45 rpm's? There were also 33 rpm's for long play. These advancements caused customers to continue to upgrade their electronic systems just like today's HDTV; CD; DVD; computers; and on and on! Where were you when we had 8-track tapes? .I still have dozens of them in boxes, which if you played them, they would come "unglued". More names that I will never forget from working at Dayton's.
Connie Marrs who was the on-site manager, and her daughter
Kay, who also worked after school. Other local businessmen and leaders I was familiar with:
Ozzie Miller and
Truman Davis who owned the M&D drug store.
John Maxwell and the Maxwell Photo Studio next door to Dayton's. Recognition goes to the Englewood Lion's club, and the "Rotary Club" where I was a "Jr. Rotarian". Today it is socially and politically incorrect, but the yearly Lion's Club Minstrel Show performed to a filled auditorium with excellent music and banter performances by our local folks.
1953 was Englewood's 50th year Golden Jubilee and the town activities were non-stop, exciting events! . In keeping with the town celebration most of the men grew beards. I was only 17, but I could certainly do that! Since I worked at Dayton's, I was right in with all the local men growing their beards.
Bob Hope came to town and provided an outdoor performance for the city at the Denny Miller Memorial park. I have many photos of that memorable evening. High school graduation was another unique time. My best friend,
Don Harrach, and I graduated with our full beards. My mother was not happy with that, but as it turns out, it was one of the memories of my graduation I still remember.
If anyone can add additional info and updates to any of my old memories, please send to me at
billrh1@msn.com.
More memories...The 1953 Colorado Day Parade on Broadway. Can you ever forget the Gothic theater and the Saturday matinees, how about Rockybilt 15 cent hamburgers next door?
There were Old Timer baseball leagues for us young guys. I played for Hanwell Electric Co. in my early years and later for Harry Groussman Ford. Don't omit Burt Chevrolet who sponsored teams.
One more very memorable event that was not happy for so many folks! That was the 1965 horrendous flood of the South Platte River. I can remember people rushing down to the Oxford and Santa Fe bridge to watch "the flood go by".? Of course this was just one of the many bridges washed away. I lost my job in far NW Denver (I couldn't get there) due to this storm, but that was no big deal. I was trying to help friends who lived in the flood plain recover what they could of their home and property.
In the mid 1960's my wife and I had an in home business (Archer's Spot) selling archery supplies. We provided instruction and products for folks interested in bows and arrows. We both were able to experience being local, state, and regional champions at tournaments held in the 1960's. We belonged at the time to an archery club named Thunderbirds. Our biggest competitors were archers from "Mile High Archers"
Individual names that I would love to hear more about from both clubs? How about
Ledford;
Ungerman;
Sticha;
Johnson;
Woodend;
Walker;
Peters;
Richie.....oh my....who else?
Thanks....it has been fun to remember all this earlier stuff in my life!
To see Bill's photos from the Then and Now contest, click here.
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