LampLighters Update
February 2nd 2022 LampLighters Update: Thank you to all who attended the Zoom Meeting earlier this month. The input from neighbors help focus our efforts to get the lights back up. Progress toward our goal of returning the lights to their original location along Wood Ave is being made in three important areas:
Conversations between ONEN and Colorado Springs Utilities have begun. An in-person meeting with CSU representative, Charles Cassidy and Dutch Shultz and north end resident, Jon Thomas, is expected as early as this week. A thank you to Nancy Henjum, our District 5 City Council representative for helping to move this forward.
Restoration: A committee including Dutch, Tim Boddington, Rob Harrison, Dave Lippincott, and Jon Thomas met and examined the lights that are in storage at a city warehouse. The process of seeking bids for the restoration of the lanterns and the standards is underway.
Fund Raising: Thank you to those who have made generous financial donations. LampLighters has received donations from 22 households totaling just over 13,000. The next step is to begin exploring and applying for grants. We will be able to apply for larger grants as community support through individual donations increase.
Email Info@LampLighters.org to volunteer, share ideas or to ask questions.
Click here to make a donation.
Checks can be made out to NorthEndLampLighters and mailed to PO BOX 8185. Colorado Springs, CO 80933
The North End Lamplighters
Working together to bring our history home.
These lamps were a project created and paid for by the residents of wood avenue
These ornamental street lights were a public improvement project in 1930. They were paid for by the residents of 1100, 1200 and 1300 blocks of Wood Ave. Maintenance was given to the City.
History is what The Old North End is built upon.
You may have noticed this priceless piece of history has gone missing. Earlier this fall, four historic and intricately beautiful ornamental streetlamps were removed by Colorado Springs Utilities from their home of over 90 years along the Wood Avenue median between Columbia and Uintah.
For the full history, read the in-depth analysis prepared by Jon Thomas.
Sit down, relax and grab a book. You are about to read all of the story behind these historical lights given by ONEN residents in 1925 until now as ONEN residents work diligently to bring them home.
the day our lamps were lost.
Did you miss the neighborhood discussion on the 16th?
Good news - you can watch the entire discussion onnline to find out what you missed and where to stay informed for upcoming meetings, city involvement and the progress in our fund raising.
our story is built upon our past present and future.
ONEN President Dutch Schulz received calls and emails from concerned neighbors wanting to know what happened. Dutch, along with neighbors Frank Wright and Tim Scanlon met with CSU and determined the standards, lamps and parts were safely stored in city warehouses. CSU intended to replace the 1930 Lamps with modern lamps with an ‘historic look’.
Instead, many of us want to have the ornamental lamps returned to their original locations. Although we anticipate City Utilities will participate in the reinstallation, a combination of grants and donations from private residents will assure the four lights will be refurbished so they will grace our neighborhood for another 100 years. The Old North End LampLighter Project was created to achieve this goal. Our extended vision is to install new replica lanterns in the entire Old North End as an effort to honor our rich historical past and continue to light the way home.
In talking with residents, it became apparent that there are still questions that need answers about why the lamps were removed and what role CSU will have in putting them back. There is a team currently involved in finding answers to these questions. As our research continues we will be offering neighborhood gatherings to answer questions and invite feedback and participation. Dates, times and locations will be sent out by email in the coming week.
