Exploring the Historic Charm of Blue Columbine's Neighborhood

Long before Wheat Ridge became incorporated in 1969, this section of the city was known as the community of Fruitdale, owing to the fact that greenhouses, orchards, and farms all developed near Clear Creek in the mid-1800s.

In 1859, James Baugh left Missouri to stake his claim in the Pikes Peak Gold Rush along with many others but settled instead on 160 acres of land a block east of the Blue Columbine property. After obtaining water rights, he grew mostly wheat, oats and potatoes, using the Old Prospect Trail (now 44th Avenue) as a main route to sell the produce between a growing Denver to the east and mining camps to the west such as Golden, Central City and Blackhawk.

His original log cabin, considered one of the oldest free-standing structures of its kind in the State, plus an adjacent frame structure enclosing it later around 1904, still stand as part of the 3-acre Wheat Ridge Historical Society property a couple blocks north on Robb Street just past the Fruitdale Flower Farm.

Other semblances from the past include the former Fruitdale School six blocks east of Blue Columbine, an Art Deco style building designed by famed Denver architect Temple Buell. This 1927 National Historical Register property is now an apartment complex but originally served as a focus of community events such as sock hops, haunted houses, and carnivals.

A more modern example of Fruitdale's agricultural heritage is Heinie's Market, two blocks west of Blue Columbine cohousing, still selling a wide variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables since 1950.

• Mike Turner authored this blog post

Fresh Produce at Heinie's Market