2025 Church Festivals in Globeville

No one does festivals like the ethnic parishes in Globeville! Begin with Saint Joesph's Polish Catholic Church at 46th Avenue between Pearl and Pennsylvania Streets. Happening the third weekend in August, Saturday August 23rd and Sunday, August 24th. You'll enjoy all things Polish - cabbage rolls, pierogi, potato pancakes, hunters stew, sausage, desserts and robust Polish beer. There are activities for the children and the Krakowiacy Polish Dancers and Amber Band will entertain you. FREE admission and parking in the Holy Rosary parking lot, or the vacant city-owned lot on Washington. 

https://polishfoodfestival.org/

Next up is the Open House at Holy Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Cathedral on Saturday, August 30th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Take the opportunity to tour this jewell at 349 East 47th Avenue! Built in 1898, this church glows with icons, incense and beeswax candles. Three bells call the faithful to services. The food is as diverse as the Globeville neighborhood and the cash bar features craft beer as well as "a shot and a beer." There are games and activities for the kids, tables to share food and fellowship with friends. FREE admission - donations are welcome!

https://orthodoxdenver.org/

Save the date! Sunday, September 7th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm is Holy Rosary Bazaar. FREE admission! Fantastic Mexican food and American hot dogs and burgers. Awesome entertainment, music, karoke, and games for the kids (and adults). Holy Rosary is located at 4688 Pearl Street (half a block from St. Joseph's). Free parking at the city lot on Washington! 

https://holyrosarydenver.org

 

What makes Globeville special?

Globeville maintains a thoroughly distinctive sense of place. Like an archaeological site, every stage of its development is visible. Barns and sheds constructed from railroad lumber are present in many back yards. "Shotgun" houses on tiny lots still exist on most streets and generations of families occupy homes close to each other. Ethnic churches dedicated more than a century ago support robust congregations. Like life in a small town, everyone seems to know everyone. People look out for each other and take care of each other.

Globeville has endured shoddy treatment by the City of Denver, the division and destruction by two interstate highways, and inadequate city services. Encroachment from industry and gentrification threaten the community.

In 1991, in the face of overwhelming odds, 568 residents mortgaged their homes to pay lawyer Macon Cowels. On their behalf, Cowels sued the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), the multi-national smelter trust. Globeville won remediation and restitution - a real David and Goliath story.

Residents are proud of their community and unified in defense of its survival. For more than a century, Globeville has persevered.

Sundays in Globeville

There once was a time when most businesses were closed on Sundays, with the exception of a few bakeries, cafes (that also sold newspapers) and family-friendly taverns. Every chore - laundry, baking, cooking, bathing and housekeeping - was completed by Saturday night so that the "Day of Rest" could be observed.  

Globeville's homes were made for Sundays, with front porches deep enough for several chairs, and some with railings to rest your feet on. Porches were the places where people could wave to neighbors walking by, or welcome relatives who stopped to visit. Women made sure there was coffee, Potica, ham and rolls or cinnamon buns to welcome company. 

There were other places to socialize where it was acceptable to bring the children and the grandparents, like the Logan Grill, also known as the Sidewinder on the 4400 block of Logan Street. Not far away was the Portulaca where Joe Shinall and Ray Videtich served beer and burgers, and candy bars for the kids. On the 4800 block of Washington was the Mayflower and on the 4500 block of Washington was the Slovenian Gardens, where Johnny Popovich (Jonny Pop) knew everyone's name.

Sundays were a time to rest, recharge your batteries and spend time with folks and family in the neighborhood. It's a tradition worth reviving.

Porches in Globeville are made for visiting

The Logan Grill and the Sidewinder

The Portulaca was a local watering hole

Johnny Popovich remembered and welcomed everyone
at the Slovenian Gardens

Globeville's Ben Dreith - NFL Referee

        As the 2024/25 NFL season is nearing its conclusion, fans have cheered their home-town teams, followed their favorite players and paid attention to certain officials. For many years, NFL referee Ben Dreith was recognized for his knowledge, fairness and adherence to the rules. Former director of NFL officials Art McNally said, "When Ben stepped onto the field the game was under control, no ifs, ands or buts about it. He was an outstanding referee."
        Benjamin Dreith was born in Globeville February 1, 1925 to Anna Marie and Johannes Dreith, who emigrated from the village of Beideck on the Volga River. With his three brothers and three sisters, he grew up in the neighborhood, attended Garden Place School and then North High School, where he excelled as an athlete.
        In World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving from June 1943 to March 1946 on the USS Teak in the Philippines. After the war, he graduated from the University of Northern Colorado (then known as Colorado State College) with a BA in Education, and lettered in three sports: football, basketball and baseball. In the 1950s Dreith played both semipro baseball and basketball in Denver.
        After college, Dreith taught physical education for 38 years in the Denver Public Schools, most of those at Lincoln High School His officiating career began at the high school level, and then the college ranks in the Skyline Conference, which became the Western Athletic Conference.
        In an article in the Rocky Mountain News Spotlight, January 25th, 1998, Dreith remembered, "In 1960 a friend called me and said 'How would you like to wrok professional football?' I said yeah and signed up with the American Football League (AFL). That's how things worked. Friends would call friends."
        When Dreith went to the professional ranks in the AFL, he was also teaching high school, and officiating high school and college level games. In 1996, the AFL merged with the National Football League (NFL), and the NFL restricted its officials to pro games only.
        During his NFL career, Dreith was awarded 27 post-season games, including eight Conference Championships, 13 Divisional Playoffs and two Pro Bowl games.        Getting to the Super Bowl was a mark of achievement for officials because the appearance was based on a rating system from the entire season. The officials with the highest ratings went to the Super Bowl, a coveted assignment awarded to Dreith four times.
        Dreith was not a fan of instant replay, which was introduced in 1986. "We'd stand there and wait and wait and wait, and then 96 percent of the time our call would stand." Also in 1986, Dreith issued one colorful, no-nonsense penalty call that was forever tied to his name. In a game between the Jets and the Bill, Jets' defensive tackle Marty started punching Bill's quarterback Jim Kelly after the play was over. Dreith threw his penalty flag, and with his robust baritone voice echoling through the stadium, he announced the most famous call in NFL history, "There's a personal foul on number 99 of the defense. After he tackled the quarterback, he's giving him the business down there. That's a 15-yard penalty."
        Dreith retired from both the NFL and from teaching in 1990. He was inducted in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. When he died on April 25, 2021, many of his former high school students posted memories to his obituary.
        "What an amazing guy. I loved his gym classes and his gruff exterior, but he had a funny side too. His officiating in the NFL was great to watch as well. I can't help but think of the many young lives he influenced over those many years, including mine." Roger Colburn, May 07, 2021

Former NFL referee Ben Dreith
Photo: Denver Public Library

Both Ben Dreith and the Denver Broncos made it
to the big leagues in 1960. Dreith wore number 53
and worked as a Line Judge in the 1960 season.
Mary Lou Egan, personal collection

Turkeys in Globeville

Before raising backyard chickens and geese was cool, it was common in Globeville. Flaunting city regulations, some families even kept a pig or cow. Youngsters raised rabbits to sell and learn not to form an attachment to a source of income.

Most residents also cultivated substantial gardens with beans, peas, tomatoes, onions, carrots and asparagus - and would "put up" the surplus to sustain them all winter. And there were peaches, cherries, pears and plums to preserve. Pickles were the best, though. Crock pickles, bread and butter slices, dill and sweet pickles - ah the aroma of pickles! 

Self sufficiency was borne of necessity, but there was a great deal of pride too. Nothing was wasted. 

Andy Jackson poses with the turkeys he raised in the 
back yard of his home on Sherman Street. 

Pickles were the best, all winter long

  

 

Peter Pan of the Preps - Globeville Sportswriter Manny Boody

Colorado newspapers were a really big deal in the 1940s and 50s, and sports coverage was also a big deal. Sports stories were covered in great detail, with lots of photos and colorful language. Sportswriters were minor celebrities, too and had their own nicknames. From the Rocky Mountain News, Chet Nelson was called the "Prophet of the Press Box" and Manny Boody was tagged the "Peter Pan of the Preps." Boody was also know as a "Bulldog for Details."

Manny Boody was born Manuel Budisavljevich in Trinidad, Colorado in 1913, the son of John and Ellen (Yelena) Budisavljevich, who were immigrants from Lika, Serbia. His father worked as a machinist in Tabasco, Colorado, a coal town that served the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company in Pueblo.

In 1915, the family moved to Globeville, where his father was employed in meat packing for the next 40 years. Boody and his brother Pete attended North High School and Manny eventually graduated from the University of Denver. His career as a sportswriter began at the Denver Post, but was interrupted by Pearl Harbor.  He returned to the Post after his service in the Army, but in 1948, he switched to the Rocky Mountain News. At the News, Boody covered high school sports while moonlighting as a scout for the Brooklyn, later Los Angeles, Dodgers.

In 1962, Boody was elected president of the Denver Press Club and served on the board with Gene Amole and Dusty Saunders. In 1990, he was named to the Colorado High School Association's (CHSA) Hall of Fame.

"Manny was the legend," said Bert Borgmann, assistant commissioner of the CHSA. No one knew more than Manny."

The CHSA's Hall of Fame remembered Manny Boody as . . . "one of the most popular and respected media persons ever associated with high school sports. . . Manny Boody covered prep sports for 30 years for the Rocky Mountain News. His personal attention to the students who played elevated him to a revered status within the prep community. Boody believed that as many names as possible needed to be in the newspaper to recognize those who played."

Manny Boody died on March 5, 1996 and is buried at Fort Logan.

Manny Boody in 1990
Photo courtesy of the Colorado High School Association

Homecoming at Holy Rosary • October 5th, 2024

This October 5th, Holy Rosary Church in Globeville will host our fourth "Homecoming" event.

If you've attended any of our previous gatherings, you know how much fun we had visiting and sharing memories. If you haven't been to Homecoming, you'll want to join us and invite your children and grandchildren to come with you.

We'll begin with Mass at 10:00 am in honor of the feast of Our Lady of Holy Rosary in our century-old church. There will be a few traditional Latin hymns (Can you remember the Tantum Ergo?), Slovenian and Spanish hymns. The stunning stained-glass windows, statues, and stations of the cross are a testament to the devotion of the church founders.

After Mass, we'll enjoy coffee, beverages, Potica, fruit and sandwiches while folks rekindle old friendships and make new ones. Bring those photos of First Communions, choirs, pageants, bingo night, posadas, quinceañeras, Our Lady of Guadalupe processions, pancake breakfasts and Christmas programs. Check out the 41 graduating classes from Holy Rosary School and see if you can find your relatives in them. Check out the classrooms - which teachers do you remember?

At our three previous Homecoming events, people shared their memories of teachers, classmates, events and antics in a video. There will be a video set up to record your favorite story about Holy Rosary!

Saturday, October 5th 2024 at Holy Rosary
4688 Pearl Street  •  Denver, CO 80216
Mass at 10:00 am  •  Refreshments, fellowship and sharing
RSVP (so we'll have enough food):
Mary Lou Egan  •  303-584-9812
maryloudesign@comcast.net

For updates, see www.holyrosarydenver.org
https://www.facebook.com/HolyRosaryChurchDenver