Western Welcome Week Parade 2022

Wow, it feels like it was only a year ago that we posted about the Western Welcome Week parade in Littleton. That's probably because it was only a year ago. It's an annual event, after all. The truth of the matter is, this is an event that my family and I always try to hit. It's been a tradition for us for over twenty years, so of course, I'm going to do another post about it.

The Western Welcome Week parade is one of the biggest parades in the Denver area. As usual, there were tons of community organizations, floats, classic cars, equestrians, and marching bands making their way down Littleton Blvd. One of the things that makes this parade unique each year is the sheer number of marching bands that take part.

Usually, things get pretty toasty sitting out on the street watching a parade in the middle of August. However, this year we had an unseasonably cool morning for the parade, with high temperatures in the mid 70's. It was a very comfortable morning. Next year, I'm sure we'll be sweating buckets again.

Enjoy a few shots from this year's parade.

War Memorial Rose Garden

I do not have a green thumb. To be completely honest, it is hard to make things grow in Colorado, even if you're an expert in that sort of stuff. Needless to say, I need to step outside of my own yard if I want to admire flowers. Luckily, there are all sorts of spots around the metro area to do just that. One is located just east of downtown Littleton at the War Memorial Rose Garden.

The land purchased by the city of Littleton in 1964 was once known as Knob Hill. The park is now dedicated to veterans who served in any US war. Today it features over 1800 roses of all types.

At the south end of the garden there is a sundial that was purchased by the city of Littleton in 1969 for $4,000. There is also a gazebo just north of the sundial.

In the center of the rose garden is the Orian Sterne Fountain. Orian was the daughter of WC "Billy "Sterne, one of early influential residents of Littleton. Sterne Parkway and Sterne Park (right across the street from the Rose Garden) are named for him. Orian Sterne passed away at the age of 19, on December 31st 1923. A few months later, on what would've been her 20th birthday, the family erected a memorial fountain in front of the Carnegie Library, which is now the Melting Pot restaurant at the west end of Main Street in downtown Littleton. The fountain went into storage at the Littleton Historical Museum when the intersection of Santa Fe and Bowles needed to be expanded. It was moved to the rose garden in 1988.

The War Memorial Rose Garden is located at 5804 S Bemis St in Littleton. 

Western Welcome Week Parade 2021

I love parades! The Chicago suburb where I grew up always had a huge 4th of July Parade. In fact, every town in our area had their own big 4th of July parade. When I moved to Colorado, though, I was surprised that most towns didn't have such a celebration. I later found that was because they would have other summer parades instead. One of the biggest parades in the Denver area takes place each August in Littleton at the end of Western Welcome Week. 

The event dates back to 1929 and originally was intended to mark the 100th birthday of Littleton's founder, Richard Little. Over the years, the event has become an annual week-long celebration of the community and its western history.

The parade goes right down Main Street, through downtown Littleton, and always features a wide range of representatives from the Littleton community. You'll see police and fire departments, cub scouts, karate schools, theater groups, churches, and many more community organizations represented. There are also always plenty of equestrian entries in the parade; very appropriate considering our region's western heritage. Then there are the marching bands! All of the Littleton high schools bring out their bands and are joined by bands from neighboring communities like Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Aurora and Elizabeth. This year the long-distance travel award went to a band that came all the way from Pueblo.

Of course, last year the Western Welcome Week Parade didn't happen. I admit to having had a bit of an emotional swell as I watched this year. Seeing everybody back smiling and clapping and cheering was kind of magical. I took a ton of pictures, but I'm just going to share a handful here. It was an awesome celebration and it felt so good to be back!

Littleton World War II Memorial

Littleton's Ketring Park is a quaint spot not far from downtown Littleton. It features a small lake and a nice little path that goes around it. The park is also home to the Littleton Museum. Just to the north of the museum parking lot, you will find a large memorial, dedicated to those who served during World War II.

The memorial grew out of a special gathering for World War II vets and their families in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. It was dedicated on November 11, 2000. The memorial features several monoliths representing the various theaters of the war. The text on each was written by the history departments at various Littleton high schools, and Arapahoe Community College.

You can visit the memorial at Ketring Park, 6000 S Gallup St in Littleton.

Littleton Blvd, Between Greenwood St and Hickory St, Mid-century Modern Architecture

It's been a little while since we looked at some of the mid-mod architecture on Littleton Boulevard. More recent posts have moved us further west, toward downtown Littleton. However, today we're going to venture back a few blocks east to a section of the road between Greenwood and Hickory Streets.

Our first stop is the Nickels-Hill Chapel of Peace designed by Raymond Heyl in 1958. Today it is known as the Drinkwine Family Mortuary. This is an intriguing building, featuring stone walls and dramatic glass windows. Yet, the location still has a peaceful, park-like feel. 

It's interesting to see photos from when this building was new, and the trees were much smaller. Today, however, the greenery seems to envelop the building. You can find this building at 999 W Littleton Blvd.

Across the street and down the block are two more interesting buildings, that I, unfortunately, don't have any background information on. The first building is located at 1060 W Littleton Blvd. It's large windows and unique slanted roof definitely draw the eye. Today the building houses a non-profit organization the assists adults with special needs.

Right next door is a small strip mall that also has unique mid-mod features. Like its next-door neighbor, this building also has a unique angled roof. Today the building houses two offices, including a medical dispensary. We are in Colorado, after all.

I find the brickwork on the west wall of the building to be quite interesting, as well. This building is located at 1080 W Littleton Blvd.

Downtown Littleton - Mid-Century Modern Architecture

Littleton Boulevard is the main drag through downtown Littleton, and the hot spot for finding examples of mid-century modern architecture in the area. However, there are also a few great examples if you wander a few blocks to the north or south.

At the corner of Powers Avenue and Prince Street you will find the building that originally housed the Circle Savings and Loan. This brick structure is unique for its curved features and for the fact that it sits diagonally on the lot, facing the corner. The southwest side of the building also features a sunken garden. The structure was built in 1970 and designed by Laramey and Butts. The building currently houses an accounting office. You'll find it at 5583 S Prince St in Littleton.

Head south on Prince Street a few blocks and you'll find the Littleton National Bank building, which is now a Chase Bank location. Designed by Barker Rinker Seacat, it is one of downtown Littleton's most imposing structures. The hooded windows are one of the most notable features of the building. The impressive structure stands tall at 5734 S Prince St, on the corner or Prince and Alamo.

Coming Home

Sometimes there are pieces of art that folks drive by all the time and never have the opportunity to really take in. Such is the case with this piece called Coming Home. It stands overlooking the Platte River at the intersection of Santa Fe and Prince St in Littleton. I've driven by this location many times, but to get more than a fleeting glimpse at the sculpture I had to park at a nearby shopping center and walk a block. 

The life-sized sculpture was created in 1987 by Susan Grant Raymond. It depicts a farmer walking with two horses. His son sits atop one of the horses and foal grazes in the grass behind them. Scenes like this probably played out many times along the Platte River a century or so ago. Nowadays, the same journey is made by joggers and bikers utilizing the Platte River Trail on a daily basis. It's worth taking a diversion off the trail to get a close-up look at this impressive sculpture.