Growing up in Littleton, CO!!!!!
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12/14/2009
I am one of many "Natives" who were born and raised in Colorado, but for whatever reason went to different areas of the U.S. to settle down, Marry and raise our Families. But there is something about Colorado and for me that is Littleton that I never seem to get out of my mind or memory.
I was actually raised in South Denver, but my family had a chance to move "further South" in 1960, to Littleton. Much to the chagrin of my parents friends. "Why are you moving out there?" "All they have "out there" are Jack Rabbits and rattle snakes". Yes there were wide open spaces, Jack Rabbits (I never saw any Rattle Snakes!), but there was a new neighborhood rising up known as Southglen. Downtown Littleton was about 4 miles to the West.
The Downtown area of Littleton has changed little in 49 years! The only thing about downtown that has changed is the RTD Light Rail running from Mineral Ave. to the South to LoDo and the Colorado Rockies Stadium to the North. During Western Welcome Week in August, they still parade Horses and Cattle down Main Street, and still have Community Pancake Breakfasts and Street Dances in the Downtown area. They used to have the "Little Britches Rodeo", the oldest youth rodeo in America in Littleton until the Mid-1970's when it was moved to Western Arapahoe County about 30 miles East of the Littleton Metro Area.
Ararpahoe Community College was established in 1966, has expanded to be one of the Top Community Colleges in the nation! Littleton High School moved from downtown to its present location in 1958. Arapahoe Hight Scholl came along in 1964, because of the growth taking place in the littleton metro area. While the High School was being built we had split session classes for the students. The Sophmores in the morning and the Freshmen in the afternoon!
In the Fall of 1965 the School was ready and the first Graduating class was 1966, and my class all 650 of us graduated in June, 1967 with Paul Harvey, the radio personality as our Commencement Speaker.
Things we at a slower pace growing up. Arapahoe Road which is now a major East/West Throughfare with up to 6 Lanes was a mere 2 Lanes often Gravel in 1960. University Blvd and Broadway, 2 major North/South streets only went as far as County Line Road. Today, they, along with County Line and Dry Creek Roads are as busy as a Major Highway. In the early 1960's they were also "Dirty Roads."
I was back in the Fall 2009, and every where I looked it was as if I was on a different place on Earth. Yes the Rocky Mountains, which I climbed and later skiied as a High School and College student are still their, as beautiful as ever. But in downtown Littleton, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe have elevated and lowered the tracks to allow 120 car trains loaded with coal the right of way without disturbing the mass of traffic to be effected in the Downtown Littleton area. Like other "Small Town America" towns, they have either been swallowed up by growth or have died off and deserted. Small town Littleton has really become a thing of the past,but it is one of the Quitest, Friendliest, cities of its size in the Denver metropolitan area to live. It has something for everyone. The Education System is "Top Notch" in the state. The neighbor are clean, safe, neighbors know neighbors type of environment. In fact in some areas of the Littleton area you can still leave your door open or unlocked during the day with out real fear of someone breaking in!!!
In April, 2010 I am moving back to continue being once again a "Native" and living out my years in Littleton/Centennial (the unincorporated area of Littleton). What a place, if you decide to go and live to get a feel for Colorado, you could do worse that chossing Littleton as your place to settle down!
BILL | Havertown, PA