Throughout Edgewater’s history, there have been places around town that hold stories about our small community and the people that influenced its past, present, and future. One of those places is the intersection of 25th Avenue and Gray Street and the buildings that once stood on the corners. Currently, all but one of the corners make up what is now called the “Edgewater Town Square” which is managed by City Street Investors. Sloan’s Bar and Grille is on the southeast corner, the Edgewater Beer Garden is on the northeast corner, and another vacant building is on the northwest corner. Where these businesses now stand, once was a true Edgewater Town Square, with influential community institutions.
Before the center of influence was at 25th and Gray, most of Edgewater’s community life happened on 25th Avenue from Sheridan Boulevard to a couple blocks west. Lots of activity happened on Sheridan Boulevard in bars and businesses across the street from the Manhattan Beach Resort on the north side of Sloan’s Lake. Edgewater’s first Town Hall was built at 25th and Benton around 1905. In 1922, the Edgewater community started planning for a new Town Hall at 25th and Benton. In 1923, Mrs. J.J. Benson wrote in a local paper that “town hall is no longer adequate for the needs of the community; because the building is a plumb disgrace to a progressive people” (The Arvada Enterprise: March 22, 1923). The ambitious plans for the beautiful Edgewater Town Hall came to a halt when residents voted down the issuing of bonds for the project in April 1923.
The ambitious plans for a new Edgewater Town Hall at 25th and Benton from 1922.
Then in 1929, the City of Edgewater purchased the building on the northeast corner of 25th Avenue and Gray Street that had housed the Edgewater Christian Church. The building was renovated to include space for the fire department, justice of the peace, jail cell, and town meeting room.
The Edgewater Town Hall at 25th and Gray with the 1926 Graham Brothers Dodge in front of the Fire Department. Now this fire truck can be seen at the Edgewater Civic Center.
As the Edgewater grew, so did the need for more city services. In 1939, the City of Edgewater sponsored a WPA project to remodel Town Hall with new, white stucco facing and a new, streamlined building. The new building included the Fire Department, library, and town hall.
The new, white stucco Edgewater Town Hall built in 1939.
From 1952-1954, members of the Edgewater Fire Department, doing most of the work themselves, added a new, two-story building next to the white, stucco Town Hall and added a brick facade over both buildings.
The two story building built by members of the Edgewater Fire Department from 1952-1954.
In January 1969, the Edgewater Library because affiliated with Jefferson County Public Library so that residents had access to county library resources. A few years later in 1973, the City of Edgewater built a new Edgewater Fire Department building to the north of Town Hall at 2508 Gray Street. This building currently is the home of the Edgewater Beer Garden.
A view of the former City Hall and Edgewater Library before it was torn down.
Once again the City of Edgewater outgrew Town Hall and the Edgewater Redevelopment Authority purchased the former American Office Supply building at 2401 Sheridan Boulevard (24th and Sheridan), which became the new home of the Edgewater Town Hall in 1995. The fire department and library remained at the northeast corner of 25th and Gray, while the Edgewater Police Department was located across the street on the northwest corner.
City of Edgewater Holiday Lighting at 25th and Gray in front of the former Town Hall.
In recent years, the Edgewater Fire Department merged with the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District and ultimately, West Metro Fire. By April 2016, the siren sounded and the fire department buildings were closed. The City of Edgewater built a new Civic Center at 18th and Harlan, which would house the Edgewater Library, Edgewater Police Department, and most City departments. The City-owned buildings at 25th and Gray were sold to City Street Investors. The former City Hall at 24th and Sheridan is still owned by the City of Edgewater and will be torn down soon. Time will tell what will become of that important corner in Edgewater.
This December, City Street Investors is reinvigorating community life at 25th and Gray with a holiday event at the “Edgewater Town Square.” Though many were sad to see these historic buildings change over recent years, bringing community events back to this intersection of influence in Edgewater is great to see. So the next time you walk by 25th and Gray, or grab a beer inside the Edgewater Beer Garden, think about the people who influenced what would become our little community of Edgewater, Colorado.
Source:
- Edgewater Colorado: A Centennial Celebration by Celora Jean Jones and Connie Jo Fox (2001)
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
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