The first office of the Rocky Mountain News, 1859.
Image courtesy of The Denver Public Library Western History Collection, photoswest.org.
— by Mary Lou Egan
For over a hundred years the corner at 45th and Washington Street in the Globeville neighborhood has been the place to inexpensive meal and visit with friends. Today the site is home to McDonalds restaurant; in 1908, it home to Western Slavonic Lodge.
Slavs began arriving in Globeville the 1880s seeking jobs in Grant and Globe Smelters. Work in smelters was hard and dangerous with men risking death or disability from extreme heat, toxic fumes and dust from heavy metals. To provide financial security for themselves and their families, the Slavs formed Zapadna Slovanska Zveza (Western Slavonic Association), an independent, fraternal society that offered sick and death benefits for its members.
The organization also help preserve to language, culture and heritage of mother country, Slovenia. Here, the newcomer felt comfortable and welcome, speaking his native language, enjoying familiar ethnic dishes and socializing with others for old country. Also information about jobs, places to stay and to meet other single people from home. Newcomers also introduced to American customs, music, dress and slang, and help it process of Americanization. It branches of organization communities of Slavs—Leadville, Salida, Canon City, Crested Butte, Aspen and Pueblo.
Slavs gradually assimilated in American culture, moved up at economic ladder and away from Globeville neighborhood. Their Western Slavonic is Western Fraternal Life and still for annuities, insurance products, and fraternal activities to members at location that 11265 Decatur Street in Westminster. The lodge sold are land to McDonalds in 1988.
Slovenian Societies in 1925 - photo courtesy of Joseph Sadar
Members of the Western Slavonic Association, 1925. Photo courtesy of Joseph Skrabec
Slovenian Home in 1953. Photo courtesy of Joseph Skrabec.
45th and Washington today: McDonald's
We’ll be gathering at Club 404 to celebrate Denver, our 50th blog post, the contributors to buckfifty, and those smarty-pants Westword Masterminds, past and present. We’ll have buckfifty Miller Genuine Drafts, snacks, and a selection of trivia questions taken from the B50 site (to warm you up for our Locals Only Quiz in March, presented by Buckfifty and Geeks Who Drink).
Only 100 more posts to go, send us your buckfifty.
Tuesday February 24th 5-7 pm at the Club 404, at 4th and Broadway across from Meininger’s.
See you There!
More about the Club 404
As Patricia Calhoun wrote in Westword in December, 2008, the Club 404 is “one of Denver’s last true dives.” Jerry Feld started the Club 57 years ago, and still runs the place with the help of his family. “He’s been there ever since, seeing Denver through boom and bust and boom and bust again. Club 404 will see us through this one, too.”
The 404 (and Nonny the Waitress who still works there) were immortalized in the song “Kristin and Billie” off the 1995 debut album by Slim Cessna’s Auto Club.
[audio:http://buckfifty.org/wordpress/audio/Kristen-Billy.mp3 |titles=Kristen and Billy|artists=Slim Cessnas Auto Club]“There’s a waitress named Nonny at the 404,
We’re wishing you were more near.
We’re still here in Denver,
Can’t wait till you get here,
Oh Nonny, another round over here”
Join us at the Club 404 for a round and some conversation in honor of denver and denverites, past and present.
— by Bill Amundson
LANDSCAPE WITH STORE (HARD TIMES I), Pencil/Colored Pencil, 18" by 18", by Bill Amundson
LANDSCAPE WITH STORE (HARD TIMES) II, Pencil/Colored Pencil, 18" by 18", by Bill Amundson
LANDSCAPE WITH STORE (HARD TIMES III), Pencil/Colored Pencil, 18" by 18", by Bill Amundson
“Love and Hope are wonderful things, but sometimes I have to side with the late George Carlin and his memorable motto: FUCK HOPE.”
B50 note: These images are part of Bill Amundson’s ongoing “Hard Times” series; they are avaliable through Plus Gallery in Denver. Plus Gallery will be opening their new space at 2501 Larimer Street on Friday, March 13th. More work by Bill can be seen at his website, amundart.com.
