Ever drive by 10950 Fox Run Parkway and wonder what that beautiful old circa 1890s home is sitting in the middle of a small acreage in the city of Northglenn? Many people have and here's your answer.About ten years back, a group of volunteers found out that the city fathers were about to donate this beautiful old home to the Fire Department for fire practice. What? That can't be. But it was, and it took lots of meetings and support from enough city council members to get the city to hold off.

Thankfully, even with a great deal of reluctance over the years from many city representatives, the city has helped set up a Northglenn Historic Commission to preserve this one remaining historic building along with about 12 acres which is slowly being made into an historic farmstead.

Over those 10 years, there have been many supporters (one anonymous donor gave $20,000), and there was at least one grant received in the neighborhood of $150,000, but there continues to be a need for much more. Both money and volunteers will be needed for years to come, although the farmstead is gearing up to where they will be able to have more moneymaking small meetings, activities, etc.

One of the thoughts being given consideration now is renting out the home (which is close to being restored and furnished in period) for retail on a one to two-day-a-month basis to small businesses such as artist's, beaders, crafters, quilters etc. just getting started.Signage would bring customers to the sight and a set schedule would continue to bring them back.

There is also a railroad boxcar, which came onto the property in the 1940s or 50s when the railroads were selling them at a low price and the boxcars were used by farmers for storage and workshops. This boxcar will eventually be painted as it was originally and is intended to be rented out as an antique or gift shop on a lease basis. It could be opened up for tenant finish to suit the tenant of choice. In the summer there will be perhaps a farmer's market, square dances, movies for families bounced off the pole barn walls, weddings and anything else that comes to mind and fits.

To find this information, the home was researched by an historical preservation service and we know that the original owner/builder was a fairly well-to-do gentleman because of the quality of the build.Double brick walls, Queen Anne styling, beautiful yellow-pine flooring, decorative woodwork, a Delco electric system and running water by virtue of a large tank in the upper level of the garage-these all indicate some money.

The home's abstract is still in existence and copies are in possession of the Historic Foundation with hopes of receiving the original Abstract (a handwritten book form record of all owners which superceded Title Commitments) at some time in the future.

Grants and Landscaping

Landscaping is next in line for the farmstead so that surrounding homes can look upon a beautiful area rather than mowed weeds. Two landscapers have been contacted for plans and the whole 12 acres will eventually be covered in native grasses, clover, alfalfa and goldenrod. Buffalo grass and blue grama would be in the center areas with the on hand antique farm equipment placed artfully around the yard. Some alfalfa might even be harvested by a local farmer for additional income if that seems feasible and we understand it is. Old-fashioned perennials, fruit trees and bushes plus rhubarb, horseradish etc. will be planted for eventual first come-first served harvesting. Chokecherries, elderberries, gooseberries-all these wonderful jelly makers should be part of the layered perimeter living fencing along with the native (but now seedless) cottonwoods.

A grant ($150,000) is in the works, hopefully for spring, and that would be applied toward the landscaping (more concentrated around the house itself). A pole barn to allow small dances, wedding parties, etc. would take most of the grant, though. The pole barn would also provide separated storage for some of the more valuable machinery such as the thresher and a restored tractor that the farmstead has as well.

Wonderful, Cultural Center

A home and farm area the size of this complex is and should be a treasured part of a small city the size of Northglenn. It could grow in importance over the years as a cultural learning center when the children of today no longer have a "grandma's" to go to that has the historical significance of this farmstead. We have many vocal supporters but now we need to get a long list of individual and corporate supporters on line that we can turn to when a special project like landscaping is under way. It fits in well with the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District and should soon be part of that distribution.