Bank building noted for history

Elizabeth landmark gets national designation

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e 1907 First National Bank building in Elizabeth was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places — the rst of Elizabeth’s historic structures to receive the prestigious designation. e bank was added to the Town of Elizabeth local register of historic places on August 12, 2003. e historic Elizabeth structure joins a group of over 1,600 Colorado properties listed on the national register and over 2,100 listed on the state register.

e National Register of Historic Places is the o cial federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects signi cant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture. ese contribute to an understanding of the historical and cultural foundations of the nation.

Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private e orts to identify, evaluate and protect our historic and archeological resources. e National Park Service provides overall program administration and

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Learning the skills to make weeds into tasty treats the O ce of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) in History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society, administers the register in Colorado. e Town of Elizabeth is holding a celebration of the building’s historic designation. A presentation of the National Register of Historic Places plaque will be held on Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. at 188 S. Main St. in Elizabeth. e event is free and open to all who wish to attend. e 1907 First National Bank building is owned by John and Janet Taylor, both of whom had expressed interest in registering the building for the past several years. In 2022, the Town of Elizabeth Historic Advisory Board (HAB) started to work on the rst phase of the application.

“Aimee Woodall, a preservation architect who we are very fortunate to have on our HAB, did the bulk of the work on the application,” said Zach Higgins, the Elizabeth community development director in an email correspondence from Apr. 25. “Sta and the remainder of the Historic Advisory Board assisted throughout the process.” e o cial historical designation of the 1907 First National Bank building will likely pave the way for more designation and preservation of Elizabeth’s historic structures in the future.

“ e town now has a property on the National Register of Historic Places. is means that all levels of government including local, state, and national, believe that this prop- erty is signi cant and is in a near original state of existence from when it was built,” explained Higgins. “I believe that the bank building’s registration is part of a larger movement in Elizabeth of appreciation and protection of its historic character. is building, and now the Town of Elizabeth, is part of a national network of historic properties that people will want to visit in the future.” e Historic Advisory Board is currently trying to get more property owners interested in applying to be on the Town of Elizabeth Local Historic Register. Also, the HAB is in the early stages of developing the Town’s rst Historic District and updating the Town’s Historic Design

“ is designation will increase the momentum of preservation in the town. is historic property, and many others in town, many of which are on Main Street, represent the heart and soul of Elizabeth and the HAB is doing what it can to preserve the cultural heritage of Elizabeth,” said Higgins. “ e Historic Advisory Board currently has three open seats that we are actively trying to ll. e HAB is preparing to start the collection of oral histories from residents in the coming months and continue to improve on our annual Walk and Talk event on September 30th.”

For more information on the National Register of Historic Places, visit nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/ consider is converting the building into a multi-use facility that could include district o ces and a community space. Snowberger is working with the Colorado Department of Local A airs, known as DOLA, to explore possible funding options for overhauling the space. DOLA is an organization that works with government entities and provides support including funding and resources to help old buildings usable for entities in the state of Colorado. e district has been put in contact with the University of Colorado, Denver University Technical Assistance Program through the Department of Architecture and Planning. is is the same group working with the Town of Elizabeth to design a new community activity and senior center building. DOLA funding would help support this partnership. “ ey would actually come in, look at the building, look at the structural issues involved, and help us develop some potential plans for the use of the building,” explained Snowberger. “I think there’s some excitement in bringing the community in. e

UCD team would host some community meetings, probably in the gym at the building. ey would invite community members in to look at some options and opportunities for use of that building.” ere are million-dollar grants in the state,” said Snowberger. “ ere are grants to cover anyone here in Elizabeth who has an infant/toddler and needs care so they can engage in work.”

If converting the space into a multi-use facility, the building could potentially serve many di erent functions. Snowberger said the district could sell the current administrative o ces at 634 S. Elbert St. and move everyone into the old Frontier High School. Part of the building could also serve as a district daycare facility.

“ ere are some grants available for workforce infant toddler care.

Snowberger shared his experience with a similar project in the past. “In my last district we had an old middle school that became a hub of the community because it was renovated into rooms that could be used for nonpro ts, rooms that could be used for community classes, for adults, for childcare. A variety of di erent things.”

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Need for preschool

A very pointed topic of discussion during the meeting was a need for more preschool space in the district, particularly at Running Creek Elementary.

“We also wanted to look at preschool. ere is a point at which we will continue to grow at both elementary schools, and we may nd we may not have room to continue a preschool program in our elementary schools as we continue to take in more and more students from our community,” explained Snowberger. “I think the reality of a preschool is that it’s a year onboarding. ere’s not a way we could turn that building around and occupy it next year. It’s not realistic.”

Director Heather Booth asked Snowberger if the preschool playgrounds could be moved to a potential new space at the old Frontier High School. He con rmed that they could be moved at a cost to the district.

Board thoughts

After hearing Snowberger’s presentation, the school board generally expressed their interest in renovation and conversion rather than selling the building.

“I think we need to consider the preschool issue and whatever else we can put in there. I would love to see some community-based training or di erent things,” said board member Mary Powell. “I do think we would lose community goodwill if we sold it. We do need preschool. We do need more room at Running Creek.”

Snowberger ended his presentation, explaining that he would move forward with the path to convert, rather than sell. He had a meeting with representatives from the UCD University Technical Assistance Program on Apr. 26 to tour the building and discuss future plans.

To watch the April 24 meeting, visit elizabethschooldistrict.org/ domain/124.

To learn more about the 2020 closure of Frontier High School, please read tinyurl.com/elizfrontierclosure.