Stories from Holy Rosary Homecoming

Any parish that's been around for more than a century has stories to tell and the folks who attended the Homecoming event at Holy Rosary on October told them in abundance.

We began with Mass, of course. Joann Birsa sang "Kraljica venca rožnega" in Slovenian and the congregation followed with the same hymn "O Queen of the Holy Rosary" in English. In his homily, Father Frank Garcia paid tribute to the faith and perseverance of the Slovenian and Croatian founders, the teachers and pastors and the current Spanish parishioners who sustain the parish. The Mass concluded with the singing of "Tantum Ergo" and "Holy God We Praise Thy Name." We then retired to the school cafeteria for coffee, Potica, sandwiches and sharing photos and memories.

Joann Birsa has documented Slovenian songs and hymns. 

Their Croatian heritage is important to the Kalcevic family,
who has been farming in Colorado since 1898. 

Jeff Kalcevic, Mac, Bronwyn and Bo
https://kalcevicfarmsinc.business.site

Jim Peketz' family were among those who established Holy Rosary,

 as well as the Western Slavonic Association.
The family sponsored two stained glass windows in the church.

Magali Martinez, Nicki Gonzales, PhD (Vice Provost for Diversity

and Inclusion, and Professor of History at Regis University)

and Martha Del Real share a laugh.

Frank Okoren and his 98-year-old father, Rudy. Rudy entertained his granddaughter Karina by reciting escapades from his childhood.

It wasn't all hymns and history. There were tales of church founders arrested for bootlegging. Rudy Okoren recalled the Mass being said in Latin, with a sermon in Slovenian and a sermon in English. He smiled when confessing to skipping the second homily to steal a smoke. There were memories of altar servers, choirs, the terror of receiving your report card and a Christmas pageant with the Baby Jesus going airborne. We had such a great time, we'll do it again Saturday, March 25th, 2023.

View those entertaining stories on our YouTube Channel

https://youtu.be/GAMeDnK2kZc

Elections in Globeville

The very first election in Globeville was held on a Thursday, July 2, 1891. The community needed to decide whether or not to incorporate their settlement.

Developers had laid out inexpensive, rural-sounding tracts so workers could build homes close to their industrial jobs. Greenwood Addition, Cranberry Place, Tacoma Heights, Argo Park, Platte Farm and Garden Place were growing in population and this vote was to determine whether their residents wanted to incorporate as a single town. Thomas J. Anders, a real estate developer from adjacent Retreat Park, opposed the idea and argued that taxes would likely increase. But many citizens were concerned that their village could be annexed by Denver (who coveted the tax revenue from the smelters and meat packing plants), by the straight-laced company town of Argo to the west, or the anything-goes town of Elyria to the east. 

Residents felt the need for some civic improvements like water treatment, fire and police protection, street lights, and control over the kind of behavior that would be tolerated in the town. Incorporation carried the day and the community chose the name of "Globeville" for their new city.

An organizational meeting was held in the Globeville schoolhouse at 51st and Washington with homesteader William Hanford Clark chosen as the town's first mayor. Attendees decided that the city government would be elected every two years and consist of the mayor, six trustees, a recorder, treasurer, magistrate and marshal. Officials wold meet every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm, with additional meetings as necessary.

The minutes of that first meeting reflect the determination of the council to ensure that Globeville would be a desirable place to live. Prize fighting, which was legal and profitable in nearby Elyria, was forbidden. "Abusive, common, vulgar, indecent or improper language was illegal, as well as inciting others to commit violent crimes."

The neighborhood still had large areas of open land and town ordinances reflected that. "The running of large horses, cattle, sheep or goats, geese or burros within the limits of the town is illegal."

The first meeting dealt with the structure of governance in Globeville and it was decided to hold the first official election of officials and trustees in the spring. So a ballot for the vote was published on April 1, 1892, in the Rocky Mountain News, and the election held on April 5, 1892.