Midwives: Margaret Gugger and Emma Reisbick

Margaret Gugger and Emma Reisbick. Everyone knew them. They lived in the neighborhood, and were recommended by women you knew. More prominent than politicians, and more reliable. They were Globeville's midwives.
In Globeville, most babies were born at home with one of these two women in attendance; Mrs. Margaret Gugger served Catholic women and Mrs. Emma Reisbick tended to German-Russian ladies. In addition to delivering the baby, these women provided care for two weeks following the birth, coming each day to check on the mother and infant. They also did some light housekeeping, washed the diapers, looked after the siblings if necessary, encouraged and advised the mother. Neighbors would bring chicken soup, angel food cake or fruit soup - meals considered nourishing and appropriate for the confinement. Margaret Gugger and Emma Reisbick were both widows, and their profession became their livelihood. To mothers in Globeville, these ladies offered valuable help and a welcome respite during a special time.

 

Margaret Gugger's home on 4559 Washington Street
is gone now. Photo DPL

Emma Reisbick's home at 4367 Sherman
is freshly painted
Photo ® Mary Lou Egan

Short Sherman

Globeville is defined by its ethnic enclaves, but there are also pockets of the neighborhood that locals refer to by their own distinctive titles. Like Short Sherman.
Short Sherman is located on the southern end of Globeville and consists of three houses on the west side of the 4200 block (there is no east side), right next to the Burlington Railroad tracks. The Denver city directory lists these three families on the block in 1934:

• William and Elizabeth Yaeger occupied 4289 Sherman, a house built in 1896.
• Peter and Thelma Meininger were in the middle of the block at 4287 Sherman.
  The home dates from 1901.
• John and Elizabeth Triebelhorn lived the southern end of the short street at
  4285 Sherman, in a house built in 1900. 

Triebelhorns are the best example of families settling near each other, with fourteen Triebelhorn families living on Sherman and Lincoln Streets in the Garden Place subdivision. Seven Triebelhorns worked for the Burlington Railroad, four were laborers, one a small businessman and two ladies were employed at the Denver Dry Goods.
The small enclave is also an example of chain migration, with all the residents being German-speaking immigrants from the Volga region of Russia. German Russians had been persecuted for their faith in the Old Country and were very active in the three German-speaking churches in Globeville. (David Triebelhorn is listed among the founders of the Freidens Evangelical Lutheran Church).
While those families listed in 1934 have moved away from the neighborhood, their legacy of families working together and supporting each other remains a characteristic of Globeville today.

 

4200 block of Sherman Street in Globeville

Photo ® Mary Lou Egan

Christmas lights in Globeville

The homes are modest, but Globeville's expression of Christmas is joyous, exuberant and sincere.  Strings of lights grace porches, trees and fences, wreathes and banners welcome visitors and hand-crafted nativity displays honor the birth of Christ. Globeville's lights can best be appreciated by walking the neighborhood.

4535 Sherman Street

Globeville Story

Every day, thousands of commuters speed along Interstate 70 at Washington Street, barely noticing the neighborhood of Globeville. There isn't enough time to see that the lettering on the tower of St. Joseph's Church is written in Polish or to catch a glimpse of the tiny golden dome of the Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral. Other ethnic churches, taverns, lodge buildings and homes are lost from view on the elevated freeway. The remains of the Globe smelter, for which the neighborhood was named, is hardly visible at all. This neighborhood has a rich history, worth slowing down and taking a closer look.

 E 45th Avenue, photo property of Mary Lou Egan
cannot be used without written permission