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SVHS is committed to " assuring a future for our community's past" though the historical preservation and education for future generations. Please join our mission in preserving the history and heritage of Longmont, Colorado.
The City of Longmont and Longmont Historic Preservation Commission support the St. Vrain Historical Society's ongoing efforts related to historic preservation and education. The St. Vrain Historical Society has been in existence for nearly 50 years and has been instrumental in preserving significant historical sites in Longmont, promoting Longmont's history, and helping to establish a landmark commission ordinance with the City of Longmont.
The efforts by the Society are a valuable opportunity to educate the public about the importance of historic preservation in our community, from historical interpretation to architectural preservation and sustainability. Properties owned and maintained by the Society represent prominent links to Longmont's architectural and cultural history, and ongoing preservation of historic landmarks compliment the Historic Preservation Commission's efforts to encourage historic preservation in our community.
The St. Vrain Historical Society has a distinguished and long tenured record of historic preservation in Longmont and the surrounding area. The Society's commitment to preserving and operating historical properties for the benefit of the community, through educational and social events and community meeting space, has been invaluable, and we look forward to the Society's many more years of community service
The St. Vrain Historical Society, Inc., (SVHS) seeks to preserve the heritage of Longmont. SVHS fosters an appreciation for local history through the historic education and preservation of its four historic sites : Old Mill Park, Old St. Stephens, The Hover Farmstead, and Historic Hoverhome.
The St. Vrain Historical Society was incorporated in 1967, after functioning for many years on a less formal basis. The upcoming centennial of the Chicago-Colorado Colony founding of Longmont in 1971 prompted much and the first activities of the Society included: a publication of "They Came to Stay", a Grand Ball at the Dickens Opera House, creation of a walking tour brochure to highlight some of the pre-1900 homes in the original Chicago-Colorado Colony, and establish the Landmark Commission.
In 1969/1970, SVHS created Old Mill Park from "blighted" land that was formally the site of the old Longmont (Denio) Flour Mill that burned in the 1930s, transforming it into a historic "mini park". Today, the park now serves as a "sanctuary" to many old pioneer era buildings related to Longmont and Boulder County's history: The Affolter Cabin (1860), The Hauck Milk House (1860), The Billings Cabin (1890). In addition, the park also holds other structures related to Longmont's past like the Gildner Gazebo (1916), and the antique street lamps that were once part of Old Main Street. SVHS formally dedicated Old Mill Park on August 1, 1976 in conjunction with Colorado's Centennial and the National Bicentennial.
In 1976, SVHS spearheaded a five-year community-wide effort to rescue Longmont's oldest standing church; "Old" St. Stephen's (1881) saving it from destruction and later helping place it on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the early 1990s SVHS then purchased the original farmhouse once belonging to the 160-acre farm established by Charles Hover in 1902. The other Farmstead buildings were acquired in 1996. When the barn became victim to arson fire the society then reconstructed the barn to what was once their originally.
Finally, in 1997 the Society acquired the 1913-1914 English Tudor, Gothic Revival, Hover Mansion, known as "Hoverhome" owned by Charles L. Hover, a notable Longmont resident and Colorado Citizen. This house contains many of the original furnishings belonging to the Hover family and is used for historic tours and programming as well as an event space.
Today, SVHS intends to continue operating these four beloved local historic landmarks for public benefit and education.
Organization name
The St. Vrain Historical Society, Inc.
other names
SVHS
1967
Tax id (EIN)
23-7122160
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
1309 Hover StreetOther
P.O. Box 705Boulder County, CO, US
Phone
3037761870
Other
303-776-1870
Other
303-774-7810