Broomfield History

A Hundred Years Ago in Broomfield

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A Hundred Years Ago in Broomfield…


Clyde Brunner was a baby. (Today, the Brunner Farmhouse is on Main and Midway in Broomfield. Photo below shows Les and baby Clyde Brunner.)

Les and Clyde Brunner, 1926, courtesy Broomfield History Collections

The Mosher family moved to Broomfield and Glenn Mosher started working for Joseph Huddart at the legendary Broomfield Lumber Company. (Image at top shows Glen Mosher in front of the Broomfield Lumber Company, c. 1930.)

The Boulder-Denver Interurban train was shut down. Read more about it here.

Boulder-Denver Interurban Train, courtesy Broomfield History Collections

Colorado was the first state to hold a referendum to repeal Prohibition. It failed. (Here’s the full story.) Eventually, of course, the 18th Amendment was repealed. Read more about “Broomfield in the Bad Old Days” on the BHS website.

In 1926, people in Broomfield worked hard, but they also knew how to have a good time! The Crescent Grange (photo below) and the pool hall offered central locations for people to gather, both formally and informally.

The Crescent Grange, courtesy Broomfield History Collections

Grandma Kozisek’s Chickens

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Some of the land for Broomfield’s First Filing development came from the Kozisek family farm. We have some evidence from oral histories that the changing character and land use of Broomfield required some adjustments on both sides. In the Dell Morr oral history recordings, we learn:

“They bought Grandma Kozisek’s farm, which was east of Main Street. And she was very colorful lady who didn’t let the town interrupt her way of life at home . . . she had never penned in her chickens. And she saw no reason, just because that foolish town was there, that she should start penning in her chickens. And so our little Beagle would visit the farm at regular intervals and bring home a chicken. He was kind enough to bring them home alive. And so I would return them. And Grandma Kozisek and I became really good friends through me returning her chickens.”

A transcript of Del Morr’s oral history interview can be found in the Broomfield History collections here:

https://hub.catalogit.app/9352/folder/entry/3c1b5790-473f-11ed-ab8a-bf49b1a63c01

Images of the Kozisek farm are from the Broomfield History Collection.

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Broomfield history!