Edgewater women at the Arvada KKK parade on August 9, 1925 (From History Colorado Collection)
Image of the back of the photo above (Photo from History Colorado Collection)
Ku Klux Klan membership lists from the 1920s include 38 recorded members of the KKK that lived in Edgewater. KKK influence in Edgewater went beyond these 38 members. The Colorado Transcript (August 13, 1925) recorded a large KKK parade in Arvada that included ten thousand women on August 9, 1925.
The author records it this way:
Arvada was the scene Saturday night of the largest gathering in the history of that city when ten thousand women of the Ku Klux Klan marched in a gigantic parade, in which the local members of the order participated. Golden men assisted those of Arvada and other cities in regulating traffic, which started into the thriving little city at 2:30 and continued until 7:30 when it was necessary to stop all travel into the community because of the great congestion.
The mammoth parade was the climax of a big convention held in Denver, to take up some momentous questions affecting the order, which is not affiliated with the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
The women were robed but unmasked, and were cheered by the thousands of spectators that lined the roads and streets. The fife and drum corps of the Minute Men of America furnished the only music for the parade. Two big American flags, accompanied by military escort, were at the head of the parade.
The women marched with arms folded until they came within sight of the crowds of spectators massed along the Arvada streets. Then they raised their left arms with palms front in greeting.
With the precision of a military machine, the parade moved through the town and then doubled back to the starting point, where it disbanded. It required more than an hour for the marchers to pass a given point.
Every one of the thirty units in Colorado was represented in the parade. Numerous floats, all attractively decorated, were in the line of march. The Edgewater float represented the ‘Little Red Schoolhouse’ and bore the motto, ‘Our Hope.’
These Edgewater KKK members would have influenced politics and community values through early centers of power in Edgewater like city government, churches and the fire department. It is unknown exactly what this influence might have been, but it would have resulted in portions of the community and its leaders who were anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic and anti-Black.
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.
Nasty history. How could that many people know when to gather – both to March and to watch? by radio only?
What was the purpose of this story Joel really?
As we tell the history of our community, it’s important to shed light on stories some would like to gloss over. Even though it makes some feel uncomfortable, we have a responsibility to accurately talk about Edgewater’s history. I have not seen a mention of the influence of the KKK in any other Edgewater history books. As the Echo’s motto says, we listen to the past and look to the future. How do we learn from the mistakes of the past and ensure a community where everyone is valued?
Just to add to the account, the women were “marching to the Shrine of St. Anne,” at present day Webster St. and Grant Pl. (They then burned a cross in front of it.) Significantly, the next month 10,000 Catholic men and boys from North Denver counter marched into Arvada “to show their strength.” From Arvada — Just Between You and Me, 1904-1941 published by the Arvada Historical Society (1985)
Thank you for this article, Joel. It’s important for people to understand history be it good or bad. I find it strikingly similar to displays of racism and white power with Hitler’s armies & supporters. “The women marched with arms folded until they came within sight of the crowds of spectators massed along the Arvada streets. Then they raised their left arms with palms front in greeting.” Sadly this same behavior presents itself to this day. 100 years hasn’t changed racist attitudes.