Historical Commission Agenda and Packet 2017 09 14

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Louisville Interpretive Signs George Rand purchased the land now known as 10101 Dillion Road for $640 in 1877. Although now within city limits, Rand's property was originally farm land within unincorporated Boulder County. To water his crops and livestock, Rand bought water rights to the South Boulder and Rock Creek Ditches. In addition to farming, he and his family milled timber on the land and constructed a wagon road up Coal Creek, charging a toll for use. His farm was prosperous and by 1894, Rand was described as "the well- known Louisville Farmer" by the Boulder Daily Camera. Henry and Gladys Showalter purchased the land from Rand in 1912 and built a brick house. The Showalters profited from record high prices on farm products during World War I and struggled during the Great Depression. In 1946, the Showalters sold the property and the rights to ditch water for $14,000. With several subsequent owners, the plot decreased in size as it was sold off in sections. In 1962, Kenneth Hoyle purchased the property. Kenneth, like the property's first owner, was both a good farmer and a successful businessman. In the early 215T century, the property was annexed into the City of Louisville and zoned for industrial use similar to the surrounding Colorado Technology Center. A new owner, Etkin Johnson, demolished the farmhouse and farm buildings to construct three industrial buildings. 5. Hecla Mine Hoist Interpretive Sign 369 words Louisville lies within the Northern Coal Fields and many of its early inhabitants worked in one of the 23 mines that were once operational in this area. The Hecla Mine, one of Louisville's oldest mines, began operation in 1890 under the ownership of the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company. The cement and brick structure in front of you once held the chains to hoist the coal cars out of the mine shaft. The location of the main shaft is underneath the driveway to 1800 Plaza Drive. Miners, making an average of $3.10 per day, dug the shafts by hand and the work was hard, long, and dangerous. In April of 1910, following a year of failed negotiations with mining companies, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) organized of walkout of almost 3,000 men in the Northern Fields. Rocky Mountain Fuel Company, owners of the Hecla Mine, responded by hiring strike breakers, or "scabs", and building a fenced in compound, including a casino, for the remaining Hecla workers. The Hecla Casino was originally located off of South Boulder Road. The building was moved to 1800 Plaza Drive in 1991 and demolished in 2017 to make way for the expansion of the Balfour Senior Living campus. After 4 years of striking, there was no end in sight for Louisville's miners. Following the Ludlow Massacre in Southern Colorado, a violent conflict erupted in Louisville on April 28, 1914. In Louisville, 400 armed men attempted to rush the Hecla compound. Hecla guards and approaching strikers exchanged gunfire. Estimates at the time reported that more than 25 thousand rounds had been fired. One man in the Hecla compound, Pete Stanoff, was killed in the firefight and several others were injured. To prevent further violence, the Colorado State Militia were deployed to Louisville. They were replaced shortly after by the 12th U.S. Cavalry from Nebraska. Camping near Miner's Field on Highway 42, the