Westsider Westsider 4/25/13
North Jeffco
POSTAL PATRON
April 26, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 16
spring in her step
PRSRT - STd ECRWSS US POSTAgE PAid BROOmfiELd CO PERmiT #101 Eddm
Civil unions begin County prepared with new forms By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
Legacy’s Christine Emory competes in the triple jump during the Maxine Ehrman Invitational held April 20 at the 5 Star North Stadium. See sports on Page 22. Photo by Jonathan Maness
Bowles house to celebrate 25 years Historic site saved by third-graders By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com The Bowles House in Westminster was almost destroyed before becoming an historic site and museum. In 1981 the city of Westminster was going to destroy the Bowles House in a practiced burn, but a group of third-graders had another plan. “The students at Vista Grande Elementary School are the ones who really saved the museum,” said Linda Cherrington with the Westminster Historical Society. “Those kids wrote to the city, TV stations and newspapers asking to not burn down the house, but to restore it. They did a good thing.” The Bowles House property at 3924 W. 72nd Ave. was homesteaded by Edward Bruce Bowles in 1871. Edward Bowles married Mahalia Elizabeth Longan and was a horse breeder who rode in the Denver Pioneer Parade. Through the month of May, the Bowles House will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with special events and free
museum tours. According to the National Register of Historic Places, the house was constructed between 1871 and 1876. The Bowles were the second permanent settlers in the Westminster area, and their family of nine children played an important role in the growth of the city. Since the restoration and official opening of the museum in 1988, the Bowles House has been a local historical landmark giving residents a glimpse into Westminster’s past. “Over the years we’ve grown a lot and now every room is filled up with furniture and other historical items from the Westminster area,” Cherrington said. “We’ve received so many donated items and now we will celebrate 25 years.” The month of events begins with a reception at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Bowles House. On Saturday, May 11, Linda Graybeal will present herself at Mahalia Bowles. “Mahalia was a tough woman, she had to be. She wasn’t cultured or refined, she even liked to smoke a pipe now and again,” Graybeal said. “She raised all of those kids in that house and her world view was survival. So I try to imagine what made this woman, who she was and what kept her going when I portray her.”
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a civil-unions bill into law March 21 opening up a new option for same-sex couples when it goes into effect on May 1. The bill, passed by the Democratcontrolled state Legislature, is seen by gay marriage supporters as a half step to reversing a 2006 voter-approved state ban on gay marriage. While the new law might represent a major cultural shift, Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Pam Anderson said that for her office, the change should be easily accepted. “I’m currently the president of the (state) Clerks Association. And once we knew it was going to become law, we began work on an implementation plan,” Anderson said. That implementation plan is now in full effect across the state, as each county prepares to accept the new civil union licenses beginning on Wednesday, May 1. Anderson said most of the work involves the creation of new forms, and new computer programing to accommodate the new type of license. She said the form, and the process, will be very similar to the standard marriage form. According to Department Director Susie Swain, one of the few differences between the two licenses will be that while someone under 18 can receive a marriage license with the permission of a parent or guardian, no such provision will be allowed for civil unions. In Colorado, a heterosexual couple can obtain a marriage license, self affirm their marriage, or have a common law marriage. “Once this goes into effect, a heterosexual couple could choose to get a civil union instead of a marriage license,” Swain said.
The big day
The Bowles House at 3924 W. 72nd Ave. in Westminster is a local museum giving the public a glimpse into the city’s history. Next month the Westminster Historical Society will celebrate the Bowles House 25th Anniversary with special events open to the public. Photo by Ashley Reimers On May 18, the Bowles House will display local quilts, and on May 25, the Westminster Historical Society will present the Historical Preservation Award to a home owner or business owner who had made steps to preserve their historical home or business. Also on May 18, the his-
torical society will honor those who have served in the military during “A Salute to the Military” event at the Westminster Grange, 3935 W. 73rd Ave. Local veterans are invited to attend and share their stories. For more information on the Bowles House 25th Anniversary call 303-426-5279.
“We’re anticipating a really exciting day,” Anderson said of May 1. “What will be historic and special is this will be the first day for civil unions in Colorado, and we’ll be prepared for that.” The county Clerk and Recorder’s office in Golden will be open and able to issue the new civil union licenses. To receive the license, both parties have to be present, have proof of ID, Social Security Numbers, not be married to anyone else, and have $30 in cash or check. “It’s a pretty simple form,” Swain said. Swain estimated that once a couple reaches the clerk’s counter, it should only take 15 minutes to receive the license. “You can take it home with you. The license is good within 35 days. Or you can use it right away,” Swain said. Once the license is used to finalize a union, it can be handed or mailed back to the county, which will record the couple’s new legal status to the state. Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.