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A Letter from our President:
Dear Friends and Members of Old Colorado City Historical Society,
The Board of OCCHS has voted to commit to a fundraising to stabilize the basement walls of the Museum/History Center. The repair cannot be postponed any longer.
Recently, three days of constant rain supersaturated the south side of the museum and spilled into the basement. Sandbags were used to direct the flow into a drain and multiple volunteers moved materials from harm’s way.
Several expensive archival boxes, both with and without materials, were affected. Precious artifacts and photos were endangered, but not damaged. The water went dangerously close to the computers and destroyed some of the museum display materials.
This has been an issue since long before most of us were at the museum. In the late 1930s, the south add-on was built quickly and poorly. The area was used by students of the Emmanuel Church School (see West Word July/August 2017) and had windows for basement living quarters. Later, the windows were blocked off and a sidewalk was added along the south side. The sidewalk grade tilts into the building from the parking area, allowing water to pool, create foundation cracks and flow through the original windows. Mitigation has never been approved and financed.
Upon discovery of the flood some exhibit building materials were damaged. If left any longer, the wa
On May 19, the current Old Colorado City Historical Society Board voted to begin a restoration project. Repair bids are now open. The current estimate for this project is $45,000-$50,000. Actual construction cannot start before the 2025 Arts/Crafts Market ends in mid-October.
In the past several years, long-differed repairs have taken place with donor funding. One-of-two furnaces has been replaced, an exterior balcony rebuilt, basement water lines replaced and rerouted, efficient water heater installed,
concrete steps repaired, and a law-required drinking fountain installed. The roof and building paint are less than ten years old. An OCCHS member Feasibility Study done in 2020 supported keeping the State-Registered historical building as a museum. The original 1889 stone building foundation appears to be dry and secure and is expected to continue to support our museum on into the future.
Funding for this critical investment is just beginning and will take an effort from everyone. OCCHS has set aside some funds that have been be allocated toward this need, but that will only cover a portion. There will be continuing information and detailed progress reports.
Flooding in the document and photo room threatens irreplaceable artifacts.
You can start making donations now. OCCHS is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit and donations toward stabilizing the basement walls can be designated exclusively for that purpose.
Barb Sweat,
President
Old Colorado City Historical Society
Donations may be made in-person at the History Center, or online through GoFundMe. For more information please email us at info@occhs.org, call us at (719)-636-1225, or drop in to the History Center.
We truly appreciate all donations ❤
Damage to the foundation caused by old windows. Water pours through these cracks during rain storms.