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Our Big Small Town
It’s here! It’s here! It’s here! It’s time for Broomfield Days again. If you follow this column at all, you know that Broomfield Days is one of my favorite days of the year; steeped in memory, nostalgia, and tradition. It is the quintessential celebration of everything that is wonderful and amazing about our beloved town. Our Big Small Town. I have to thank this year’s Parade Marshall and fellow Broomfield High School Eagle Mike Lutz for that phrase. He uses it in his interview on page 46.
I like it. It is a very good descriptor of what Broomfield is now. Broomfield’s growth trajectory over more than 65 years has been swift and steep. But despite its (sometimes bumpy) growth, somehow at least in character, Broomfield has maintained a “small town” feel.
I am working on a personal project right now finding details on my family’s own history here. My whole life I have known from family stories about my grandfather’s business endeavors in the early days of Broomfield, most notably as the operator of Broomfield’s first hotel and Italian restaurant in the late 1950s and early 1960s - The Broomfield Manor and DiCino’s Restaurant. Through historic newspapers, talks with my mom and uncle, and old family papers and photos, I am working on a timeline. And I am finding some very interesting things!
For one, the first Broomfield Heights Center sign “with letters 8 feet high” was erected on May 8, 1958, “at the turnpike-highway junction near the booming suburban community.” And my grandpa was there!
"This new shopping center is for your convenience," John DiCino, temporary chairman of the Broomfield Heights Shopping Center association, said. He urged all residents to take advantage of modern facilities, new equipment, and fine displays of merchandise in the new center. "Shop at home where your dollars come back to you," he said.
I guess you could say I have followed in his footsteps - promoting local business.
And I found an article that recorded the 4th Annual Broomfield Boom on July 7, 1960, at which my Grandpa John was a parade judge! Back then Broomfield Days was called the Boom, and it seems the first event was in 1957. 68 years ago. No wonder Broomfield Days brings me nostalgia.
Even as I study the early days, my personal memories are abundant and each year I just can’t wait to create more! I have a lifetime of Broomfield Days stories, with recent years filled with fun with my husband, daughters, sister, and parents, but also with the lady in the photo with me above - Miss Tammy! You can find us again this year, in the “traditional” Our Broomfield spot, near the Broomfield Area Chamber beer tents. Stop by and see us and pick-up your Our Broomfield bracelet. We can’t wait to see you on our favorite day of the year. Read all about it throughout this special issue.
Thanks for reading and see you soon,
