Press Release

History Colorado State Historical Fund emergency grants help historic properties live another day in flood-stricken communities

DENVER— Since the catastrophic Sept. 2013 floods that destroyed infrastructure, ravaged businesses and damaged historic properties in Boulder and Larimer counties, History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF) emergency grants have helped ease the burden for at least five historic property owners, awarding more than $51,000 to assist with stabilizing their damaged historic buildings until they are able to restore them.

The SHF awarded emergency grants to the historic Baldpate Inn and Elkhorn Lodge in Estes Park, Colo., the quaint Little Church in the Pines in Salina, Colo., and two historic properties in Lyons, Colo. — the Lyons Railroad Depot Library and the Meadow Park Shelter House.

“The State Historical Fund emergency grants have helped stabilize some historic properties that are integral to these communities’ identity and heritage while residents work to rebuild their lives,” said Steve Turner, History Colorado’s Vice President for Preservation Programs and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer.

Estes Park

  • Elkhorn Lodge: The historic barns at this late-19th-century lodge drowned in a newly formed river before cleanup and subsequent emergency funding kept the barns extant.
  • Baldpate Inn: Completed in 1916, the inn had major structural damage to the roof and foundation and was inaccessible after floodwaters destroyed the road leading to the property. In addition to providing the emergency grant, History Colorado worked with CDOT to repair the road.

Salina

  • The Little Church in the Pines:  After restoring the building just last year, the congregation’s work was undone when the floods destroyed half the foundation of this circa-1908 community church. The grant provided wood cribbing to stabilize the building within weeks of the flood.

Lyons

  •  Lyons Railroad Depot Library:  Water overtook this community’s 1885 stone depot-turned-library, ripping out the foundation and leaving a muddy floor in its stead, compromising both the building and its library collection before emergency funding stabilized the structure.
  • Meadow Park Shelter House:  Built by Works Progress Administration volunteers in 1933, the Meadow Park Shelter House offered park-goers shady respite before the floods left it in ruins. The emergency grant allows this beloved shelter to remain and be enjoyed.

For more about the History Colorado State Historical Fund and its emergency grant program, visit http://bit.ly/SHFgrants or contact Cynthia Nieb, Deputy Director, at 303/866-2809, cynthia.nieb@state.co.us.

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History Colorado's mission is to inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. We serve as the state's memory, preserving the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through our museums, educational programs, historic preservation grants, research library, collections, and outreach to Colorado communities. Find History Colorado on all major social media platforms. Visit HistoryColorado.org or call (303) HISTORY for more information.

Media Contact:
Shannon Haltiwanger, Preservation Communications Manager
(303) 866-2049, shannon.haltiwanger@state.co.us
Released issued March 11, 2014
Photos: Little Church of the Pines before and after.