This beautiful photograph was taken by Ms. Tracy Walker, a resident of Wood Avenue. This piece is a breath taking portrait of the 4 works of art having graced our street for 92 years only to be removed as of no importance and left to sit on the shelves of a remote warehouse collecting dust.
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.
Stay up to date with all things involving Lamplighters.
Editorial written by Ms. Judith Rice Jones
Working to bring back a piece of history taken from our city.
Written by Tim Scanlon while employed as City Planner, Colorado Springs Planning Department.
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.
Working together to bring our history home.
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.
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.
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.
