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