The Road of Remembrance Gateway built to honor those who served in World War I by the Lions Club of Boulder, located near the intersection of Highway 287/107th and Arapahoe Road near Erie.

Before the Boulder-Denver turnpike (U.S. 36) was opened in 1952, Boulder-bound motorists from Denver drove north on U.S. 287, then turned west on Arapahoe Road. After World War I, the veterans’ group, the American Legion, came up with the idea of beautifying Arapahoe as a “Road of Remembrance,” complete with a stone gateway. Today, all that’s left are the two stone pillars at Nine-Mile Corner, the intersection of Arapahoe Road and U.S. 287.

The Lions Club assisted in the project by erecting the gateway pillars. On the east side of the northern of the two stone pillars, club members placed a plaque which still reads, “Road of Remembrance Gateway, In Honor of Those Who Served in the World War, Erected by the Lions Club of Boulder.” A speaker at the gateway’s dedication extended the tribute to “the mothers and fathers who carried on the fight at home.”

A group of approximately 250 public officials, businessmen, and citizens gathered with Lions Club members when they laid their cornerstone in April 1928. Under the stone was placed a metal box with documents, newspapers, and names of club members.

Dedication of the pillars, which cost $1,600, was a big deal. Lions Club members decorated the stone gateway with wreaths and hung an American flag over the plaque prior to its unveiling. A pastor invoked a blessing, a band played some tunes, and the club’s president gave the history of the Lions Club. The president then formally presented the pillars to the American Legion which set up a flagpole and a captured 100 mm German field gun on a triangular plot at the highways’ intersection.

Legion representatives stated that the gateway was an indication that Boulder had not forgotten the war. Legion club members also spoke of their plans to beautify the whole nine-mile stretch of Arapahoe Road into Boulder. A journalist wrote, “(Boulder) is going to extend its hand that distance to greet the motorist, bid him welcome and assure him that he is entering a community that wants him to stay as long as possible.”

The beautification project was to include the planting along the route of one thousand trees, one for each veteran. Arapahoe Road was expected to become a “lane of foliage,” with small parks at every crossroads.

Unfortunately, the Arapahoe Road beautification project never materialized. The wrecked remains of the cannon, along with the flagpole, was removed after being hit by a car. But the stone gateway is still there. In 1983, the north pillar collapsed when a contractor tried to move it in order to widen the road. The pillar then was rebuilt 40 feet from its original site.

When the cornerstone was set 79 years ago, Lions Club member Louis Herman stated, “We pray to the Almighty Father of the universe that His blessing may descend upon these foundations and pillars and upon all hearts here assembled… and upon the strangers who sojourn among us and upon the graves of the lost and loved heroes, wherever they may be.”

Silvia Pettem’s history column appears every Sunday in the Camera. Write her at the Camera, P. O. Box 591, Boulder 80306, or e-mail pettem@earthlink.net

This article was originally published in the Camera 12/23/2007.

Read more: Pettem: Road of Remembrance is nearly forgotten – Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13094585

Do you know more about this historic site? Share your information below in the comments area.

Nash has extensive experience in mountaineering and technical climbing. He has participated in over 100 search and rescue missions. His book “Colorado 14er Disasters: Victims of the Game” was published in 2009.

June 17 at 7:00pm
Erie Community Library
400 Powers Street, Erie, CO
720-685-5224

http://www.mylibrary.us

Erie Community Library and the Erie Historical Society invite you to five exciting programs exploring the history of Erie and beyond.

Local History Series 2010

*note: This was our first attempt at live streaming our historic talks and plan to do more in the future. We would love to know what you think.  Thank you.

Historic Railroads of Erie

Join us for an exciting trip back in time, when trains ran in out of Erie transporting coal. Expert Jason Midyette, president of the Boulder County Railway Historical Society, will present a slid show about historic railroads of the Erie area.

May 13 at 7:00pm
Erie Community Library
400 Powers Street, Erie
720-685-5224
www.mylibrary.us

Local History Series 2010: Erie Community Library and the Erie Historical Society invite you to five exciting programs exploring the history of Erie and beyond.

The museum needs your help. We are looking for the following items for the Wise Museum. Please contact Sarah or Alan Wise at 303-828-4561 to help or if you have any additional questions.

Boy’s Room – Upstairs
Washstand.

Wash Bowl and Pitcher/Set – Prefer Graniteware or Plain White Ironstone.

Frame for Print in Museum Collection – (11” x11” print size).
Iron Double Bed – Head and foot pieces plus side rails.

Parlor
Caning repair – two dining chairs.

Kitchen
Cooking utensils, ladles and spoons.

General

Mannequins – Cloth or wire preferred.

Funds to restore school chairs for the barn.

Picture frames for prints in museum collection. Ask for size and requirements.

Exterior

Funds donation to replicate willow porch furniture shown in a Wise photograph.

Three picnic tables and benches.

Trees, landscaping materials, and irrigation system.

Long Term Fund

Funds to restore a two-piece parlor set donated by the Leyner family. The two-piece set consists of a unique, upholstered settee hide-a-bed and an armchair.

Estimated cost of this restoration is $4500. The restoration will not be undertaken until all the funds are raised.

Someone's Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe

Someone’s Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe

Join us for the final event in our series. Who was Jane Doe? Historian Silvia Pettem will share highlights from her fascinating 10-year pursuit to resolve a 1954 Boulder County cold case homicide.

When: The event starts at 7:00pm, Thursday, November 12,2009
Contact: Carol
Contact Number: 720-685-5224

Where: Erie Community Library

400 Powers Street, Erie, CO 80516

Speakers include:

• Dan Corson, Office of Archaeological and Historic Preservation for the State of Colorado
• Louis and Chuck Wanneka, Long time area residents who worked in the Erie schools
• Anne Dyni,  A Boulder County Historian who has written 4 books, one about Erie
• Dave Sullivan, a 27 year resident of Erie and history buff
• Sarah Wise, President of the Erie Historical Society and born and raised in Erie
• Bill Pedrick, Former history teacher and administrator in Erie schools

Refreshments will be provided.  For more information.
Erie Historic Fair – Come Learn about Erie’s History – Saturday, Oct 3

Here are some of the Biscuit Day hightlights!!

Stew Contest Results

Congratulations to Lui’s Chinese Restaurant for their winning stew entry.
Thank you to all the other participants..  Rose Cafe, Miner’s Tavern, Zupa and KABBU
All the stews were fantastic!

Raffle Winners

1st Prize Handmade Quilt:  Kim West
2nd Prize $100 Savings Bond: Kathy Edgerton
3rd Prize $50 Savings Bond:  Jane Yamada

Thank you to al of our Sponsors and Supporters

Town of Erie, Encana, United Power and Republic Services for your generous cash donations to the Erie Historical Society.

Our Media Sponsors – How could we get the word out without with out them?! Camera – dailycamera.com, Yellow Scene, Carbon Valley Consumer Reporter

Food! What would Erie Biscuit Day be without Food and Drink?! Thank you Miner’s Tavern, Rose’s Cafe & Coffe Bar, Zupa Euromerican Café, KABBU, Colorado Coal Company, The Western Dairy Association, Costco, Intricate Icings, Indulge Bakery and Royal Crest Dairy

THANK YOU supporters and local businesses for helping to make this day a success for the community! Nite Ize, A Grand Finale, Town & Country, Couper Electric, Event Construction, The Flower Nook, Jeannie Hulse State Farm, A Grand Finale, Elevations CU, Safeway, Great Western Bank

Thank you Erie Historical Society, volunteers and all of you that shared Biscuit Day with us.

They are truly amazing. Be sure to remember Intricate Icings and Indulge Bakery the next time you need a specialty cake or baked good. Let them know that you heard about them from Erie Biscuit Day.

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Come join us for Biscuits and Gravy on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon for the 7th annual Erie Biscuit Day. We will be holding the festivities in Historic Downtown Erie, CO on Briggs Street.

The day will feature Biscuits and Gravy, Homemade Stew, Live music, cake walk, raffle drawing, craft booths, historic photos and more.