Renovation reveals relics at former grocery store

August 19, 2009

By Brenda Rader Mross

The Wellington

 

The metaphor “Don’t judge a book by its cover” has Susy’s Market written all over it.

The River of Life Fellowship renovation of the former grocery store property into a family community center has unearthed some interesting clues about the site’s varied and significant history.

“We didn’t know what we were getting when we bought it,” said Pastor Rick Carlson.

Fifty church volunteers and other community members, including Harvest Farm residents, have been working weekends since mid-March to transform the 5,500-square-foot building into a community-oriented, public gathering place.

“About $80,000 was required for the remodel,” Carlson said. “Our congregation gave sacrificially in tough times to make this happen.”

In the process of bringing the structure up to code, Carlson said, it was necessary to tear down walls, remove ceilings, and take floors completely down to the joists.

Fascinated by the discovery of a trio of odd doors — one of which was completely walled in — Carlson enlisted a local history expert’s help to “unthicken” the plot.

Bill Schneider, owner of Vestige Press, Wellington History Museum and the new Larimer County History Museum, has access to a large, private history archive.

According to Schneider, a number of different service-related businesses were housed in buildings that once stood on the five lots that comprise the reconstruction area, including a lumberyard, a general store, a movie theater and a town hall.

“The town was created around service,” he explained. “Wellington was founded to help with the cares of travelers and expanded to provide services for families to cope and survive out here on the plains.”

Among the artifacts uncovered were about 30 vodka bottles dating back to the Prohibition era (1920 – 1933), two antique pull-chain light fixtures, a drill and bit hand drill, and some vintage soda bottles.

Schneider will present the details of his research at the location’s grand opening, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 4.

“The Carlson project is a great project for the future of this town,” said Schneider. “It is in keeping with a long tradition of churches in Wellington playing an important role in the future of this area.”

Judging by a pattern of discolored ceiling tiles, Carlson said, it appears as if the hidden door was at one time a southwest outside entrance to a long hallway leading to 10-by-10 concrete slab measuring 3 feet thick. Carlson said some “heavy, heavy, heavy” equipment was obviously used there, which indicates the site may have once been a laundry, and the separate entry may have been for minority workers.

Considering the current street address is 3712 Cleveland Ave., the remnants of an original address on the door — 11-something-something — only add to the intrigue.

“If anybody in the community knows anything about that door, please let us know,” Carlson said.

Carlson also requested that townspeople offer ideas as to how a Butcher Boy freezer door dated Dec. 28, 1937 could be re-employed. He said former Susy’s Market owner Rolando Santos used the 300-pound, 8-inch thick door for his grocery business, but it could be a “cool office door or something.”

The third door discovery was that of an old header door that apparently opened up to an auto pit. Carlson said it looks as if mechanics accessed vehicles via another door on the floor, which covered a wooden staircase leading to the basement.

“Wellington was a well-known stop-off point between Cheyenne and Fort Collins,” Carlson said. “Back then automobiles required constant maintenance. We also believe this was a dealership for Model T’s or A’s.”

Carlson said Schneider’s investigations indicate the current building was once two: the west side was constructed in the early 1900s, while the east was built in 1929.

The original structure will soon accommodate a fully carpeted concert hall and large meeting room, with a state-of-the-art sound system. Arcade games, air hockey and pool tables will line the walls. Already in place is a 28-by-10 raised stage, upon which Carlson envisions bands of different musical genres.

Acoustical panels will block the sound from the other side, as it will host assemblies of a more intimate nature.

Couches, soft lighting, hardwood oak flooring, ceiling fans, new east-facing windows, four or five big-screen televisions, knotty alder French doors, and hand-painted murals will provide an upscale but comfortable ambience. Wi-Fi access will be available.

“It will be like a coffee shop, but not just a coffee shop,” said Julie Carlson, Rick’s wife and fellow pastor. “It may migrate to that eventually, but this facility is about the love of our church for our community.”

In addition to coffee-related products, there will be some food — like pizza and ice cream — catered by local eateries.

The Carlsons and their congregation are looking to Wellington residents for input in shaping the building’s ultimate use.

“We want to keep it nice — smoke-free and liquor-free — a place for family getaways,” Rick Carlson said. “But this is not just about River of Life. It’s about the community. You tell us.”

Carlson’s list of possibilities for the new family center include Monday Night Football or local “Big Game” viewings, Friday night activities with occasional postgame gatherings, Sunday podcast services, movie nights, exercise classes and eventually “alternative” Saturday night services. He envisions renting the facility out for a modest fee to teams, businesses, families and community groups for meetings and parties, and making small kiosks available for folks to market their wares.

A fully functional apartment in the rear of the building may become a nursery as things progress, Carlson said, which would enable them to provide couples with young children a monthly “Date Night” sans kids.

The River of Life Fellowship has yet to name the facility, but Carlson hinted it may be river-related or play off on the spiritual significance of its address.

“Three represents the Trinity,” he explained. “Seven is God’s perfect holy number, whereas 12 is for the disciples, the church.”

Whatever the title, “Judge not” will be the in-between-the-lines motto.