Sepia Tones
Recap of all Sepia Tone history columns
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The massive Foos model railroad collection has fans across the nation; and it is in our own backyard. September 2017
In between the Bromley and the Koizuma-Hishinuma ownership of the historic farm on Bromley Lane, two more names were associated with the property: The Roberts family worked the fields and lived in the home owned by bus magnate I.B. James. August 2017
Henderson has a rich history that includes a Poor Farm. July 2017
There was at least one other school in early Brighton, but North Elementary seems to be the place where the growth started. June 2017
Some people, especially on the Eastern Plains, may question the fluidity of water as a resource, but the Platte River has been somewhat dependable for Brighton, though it hasn’t always been the perfect irrigation solution. May 2017
Dick Hodge looks back at the well-versed musical history of Brighton talent. April 2017
History writer Dick Hodge takes a verbal stroll down South Main Street of years past. March 2017
Despite being bullied during development of DIA, the people from Van-Aire proved that you can't keep a good neighborhood (with its own private airstrip) down. February 2017
A community's story always includes the ones who lived before, and many keys are held in local cemeteries. January 2017
A look back at the formation of the Brighton Fire District reflects on people who made a difference and places lost. December 2016
From Westminster to Burlington, there's a lot of history – from railroads to agriculture to military – preserved in museums and historic properties. November 2016
When Lee Montoya got involved in the community, remarkable, insightful, revoltionary things happened. Also: Brighton Properties Pop Quiz, answers and winners. October 2016
Brighton Properties Pop Quiz is your chance to prove you have total recall. September 2016
Second-oldest Boy Scout troop in state survives and thrives in Brighton. August 2016
In earlier days, Brighton was surrounded by varying smells of business success and disposal gone wild. July 2016
The Dent family covers a lot of territory in and around Brighton. June 2016
Nicknamed 'Space City,' old Lochbuie ushered in 'space age' for local real estate. May 2016
An old-school look at school districts. By Dick Hodge. April 2016
Brighton boomers still cruising. By Dick Hodge. March 2016
Downtown retains evidence of Brighton Downtown Development Authority. Dick Hodge joins the pages of Local Color® in the Sepia Tone column. February 2016
Carl and Laurene Dorr published Brighton's stories. January 2016
Kitayama family part of Brighton flower-power movement. December 2015
Crime victims retrieve comfort in Jake. November 2015
Kay Dreyer has a history with athletics, animals and art. October 2015
Dr. Alan Rice helped continue the first veterinary practice – Brighton Animal Clinic – established in Brighton. September 2015
'Fudge' Tashiro fed Brighton at Terrace Inn. August 2015.
St. Elizabeth's church at home on Third Avenue. July 2015
Local historian Albin Wagner tracked and recorded history. June 2015
Bob and Nancy Besaw have a strong bond with Brighton. May 2015
Jan Pawlowski brought 'A Game' to Varsity. April 2015
Teri Sanchez is part of the five generations of the Trujillo family who have lived in the house at 219 N. Eighth Ave. March 2015
Dixie Pierce is now part of Adams County History Museum lore. February 2015
Call it a buffalo or a bison, the furry bovine cousin roamed the Brighton area long before farming took root. January 2015
Jim Jaeger, of Jim's Shoe Repair, finds that the antiques in his store have stayed in step with his craft. December 2014
Rowdy Readers speak of volumes. November 2014
Brighton High School Class of 1949 continues annual reunions. October 2014
Brighton's history includes community and personal encounters with the Ku Klux Klan. September 2014
Ellen's Pastry Shop the stuff memories are made of. August 2014.
The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have long histories of community service in Brighton, but they recently lost their home. July 2014
Brighton Buddhist Church was a positive force in community during its time in the city. June 2014
Time goes by, but Jordinelli name endures. May 2014
The Okubo brothers tend the alleys - and everything else - at their Lucky Lanes. April 2014
Future promising for Pleasant Plains School. March 2014
Vivian and Russel Hause share 64 Valentine's Days. February 2014
Jack Lockett makes his 100 years count. January 2014
Hagus family visits homestead site. December 2013
Portrait of a family ~ Bill and Lydia Nagel and their daughters. November 2013
Ironing became a jewel of a chore. October 2013
Grandson shares William Hiller's history. September 2013
Love bloomed for Rose Case Unrein after prom. August 2013
Harvey Lovato keeps track of family tree. July 2013
Sheep herds no longer around city. Former Hall of Justice was site of many iterations. June 2013
Emi Chikuma: Woman for all seasons. May 2013
Aichelman's dream changed to Pleasant Plains. April 2013
The Euterpean Society members still following their muse. March 2013
Music plays into Matador's style. February 2013
1926 magazine article in The Trail tells the 'story' of a Brighton 'mayor's job in 1980,' written by Brightonian Fred Watts. January 2013
Teacher Bob Ellis spared the paddle, taught the child. December 2012
Happy 100th, Ada D. Dunham. November 2012
Dick and Joella Riddell answered Brighton's call. October 2012
Giving tradition began with Dr. Walter and Margaret Peer. September 2012
This Peer group - Wayne and Barbara - has served Brighton. August 2012
Remember the house where you grew up? July 2012
Fourth Avenue house has interesting past. June 2012
Alter's rainbow led him to Brighton and Ben Franklin's. May 2012
125 years later: A city celebrates. April 2012
Early Brantner School days remembered. March 2012
Baumgartners still truckin' after 50 years. February 2012
Rattlesnake Kate earned her nickname. January 2012
'Rusty' Hartley recalls Armory days. December 2011
Immigrant Frank Aichelman found prospects good here. November 2011
Maude Butler made history ... books. October 2011
Historic Fort Lupton has been reborn. September 2011
The Masons are cornerstones of a community. August 2011
A shot in the dark killed deputy; now remembered at new police memorial. July 2011
Talkin' bout three generations: Family interviews found in the Brighton and Surrounding Areas history book prompts Pat Reither to interview three generations, both male and female, about daily life as they recall it. June 2011
Capitol glass reflects well on Brighton: Naoichi Hokazono, of Brighton, is depicted in a stained-glass window at the Capitol. May 2011
History flows through Fulton Ditch. April 2011
Two chiefs, Niwot and Friday, influence settlement. March 2011
Happiness was fun-filled 47-year ride for Reithers.
February 2011
Brighton's roots were in farming. January 2011
Green Valley Grange was heart of community. December 2010
Sky's no limit for female pilot Cindy Bellmar. November 2010
Baseball was king for 'Duke.' October 2010
Schwabs found sweet life here. September 2010
Sanctuary is a church again. August 2010
First Fourth of July in Brighton celebrated in 1820. July 2010
Kar-Vu Drive-In: Back then, they came in droves. June 2010Deputies shed light on bandits. May 2010
Mayberry was the law: County sheriff laid groundwork for modern force. April 2010
In past, Mom and Pop ran food shop. March 2010
Kirkmeyers a dream team 53 years. February 2010
Senior Center site has served community well. January 2010
Brighton camp was branch POW site. December 2009
'Silver building' on North Main had an uncanny past. November 2009
The Armory: Dedicated to stand the test of time. October 2009
Education history lives at Heritage Academy. September 2009
Brighton Feed and Saddlery: Store still feeds off its colorful past. August 2009
Historian and author Albin Wagner's own history is Brighton. July 2009
Eachus family has tankful of memories. June 2009
George Oliphant's career took wing during war. May 2009
What's cooking for VFW leader Jim McCoy. April 2009
Ruth Wright's girls knew the drill. March 2009
Cases celebrate 56th Valentine's Day together. February 2009
George Williams, the man who lived in the Armory. January 2009
Holiday decorations: Tapias' light the way. December 2008
Ray Benedict was a community leader. November 2008
Opera House (the Wire Building) generated memories. October 2008
Early public education: School bells first rang in 1885. September 2008
Inez Gamble a welcome friend. August 2008
A civilian prisoner of war: Mary Shibao trapped in Japan as teen. July 2008
Tanabes revisit a dark era: Convention recalls costs of wartime. June 2008
Lifestyle: Past washdays had their hang-ups. May 2008
Downtown excavation: Crews unearth ruins of the Rex. April 2008
The Tepe Farm and Family: Evelyn Tepe builds from Brighton roots. March 2008
Two couples: Longtime valentines enjoy each other. February 2008
177 Bridge St.: Hunter Hardware was a longtime fixture. January 2008
Early Libraries: Books poured into first library. December 2007
Baseball was a hit in city's past. November 2007
Great Western Sugar Co. brought sweet times to Brighton. October 2007
Letter circa 1912: Floor speaks to city's past. September 2007
Trappers and traders: Mountain men relied on area forts. August 2007
Family pioneered the farm stand: Makeshift market gave Hose family its fresh start. July 2007
Troesters found small-town dream: Osteopathic doc set up practice before Brighton hospital. June 2007
Blocks chock full of history: Home-grown Hydrastone helped build Brighton. May 2007
Rowdy earned his building tour: Leffingwell's horse knew his way around downtown. April 2007
What's a little snow, anyway?: '06 storm didn't compare to 1913, 1973 or 1982. March 2007
Church has resurrection: Presbyterians built city's first house of worship. February 2007
Mayor and madam? Hardly. Newspaper work tied J.N. Counter to odd controversy. January 2007
Cy Cress gives from city's past: Memorabilia helps tell city's social story. December 2006
Depot follows tracks to past: Railway station once favorite spot for area cowboys. November 2006
All travel was once done by coach class: Hughes stage line set up station south of town. October 2006
Pictures paint Brighton's past: History hangs on 100-year-old City Hall's walls. September 2006
Fair days from our past: Tomato battles, patriotic speeches evolved with county. August 2006
Poor farm part of rich history: Fairgrounds once fed Denver's neediest folk. July 2006
Armory holds a cache of memories: After design, local building a unique gathering place. June 2006
Pioneers on the Platte: Gold lured Riethmann family to Colorado. May 2006
Barr history: From buffalo wallow, to sewage-disposal site to heron habitat, Barr Lake has a colorful past. April 2006
Funny thing about first county sheriff: Pat Reither recounts stories of Adams' first county sheriff; his humor landed him in his own jail. March 2006
City Hall courts century celebration: Pat Reither documents the transition from Courthouse to City Hall. The building will turn 100 this year. February 2006
City Hall courts century celebration: Pat Reither tells the history of the Adams County Courthouse in Brighton. One former courthouse building, circa 1906, is now home to City Hall and will turn 100 this year. January 2006
Two recalled day of horror: Recollections of two Pearl Harbor survivors who made Brighton their homes. December 2005
Westlake survived POW ordeal: Al Westlake was not only a veteran of World War II, he also had been a prisoner of war in Germany. Pat Reither writes about two Pearl Harbor survivors who made Brighton their homes. November 2005
Taking the heat since 1890: Homes and businesses grew around the railroad depot in the 1880s. Fire protection became a concern for these early pioneers. October 2005
Eyerly was the wheel deal: Brighton got its first roller-skating rink in August 1958; thanks to Howard Eyerly. September 2005
Heroes' names set in stone: Brighton has always been fortunate to have many people who were willing to volunteer their time and put forth effort to make Brighton a better place to live. A trail from Southern Street to Bromley Lane serves as a 'thank you.' August 2005
Strong ties to old mystery: Old-timers in Brighton probably are aware of the Strong family. The mystery of Dewey and Nancy Strong has been intriguing: Why did biographers ignore one child? July 2005
Carmichael built this city: Emmet Bromley may have been the father of Adams County, but Daniel F. Carmichael was the father of Brighton. June 2005
Last men toast camaraderie: The Last Man's Club of Phillip Wade Post 46 of the American Legion came into existence April 6, 1934. The organization consisted of World War I veterans and appears to be the oldest such club in the state. May 2005
Bromley name lives on: An 1899 Willits farm map shows Martin Bromley owning land just west of where Sakata Farms are located today. April 2005
Our memory lane: Have you ever wondered why it is called Bromley Lane? In the late 1800s, county founder Emmet Bromley built his house on what was open range at the end of a long lane. March 2005
Mitchells love life: The 50th wedding anniversary invitation for a local couple read "step back in time to 1954." Poodle skirts, saddle shoes and soda fountains were the order of the day at the party for Buddy and Mary Jane Mitchell. February 2005
A hospital is born: Dr. Frank Mathew Cline moved to Brighton on advice from Dr. Bright. He delivered thousands of babies and performed many surgeries but realized Brighton needed a hospital. The first one was built at 643 S. 2nd Ave. January 2005
Magic time in city: John and Emi Chikuma travel the world collecting ornaments that brighten our city's Christmas every year. Teri Sanchez recalls her family traditions, too. December 2004
The Kuner legacy: A Bavarian watchmaker bought his brother's pickling business in 1885 and ultimately converted it to a canning business. In 1907, Max Kuner added a factory next to the Platte River in Brighton. November 2004
Time marches on: When Brighton was small, any excuse could be a reason to have a parade. October 2004
Really old-school: The very first school for Brighton's pioneer children was a log cabin like Abraham Lincoln attended. It was built in 1866 and was called Independence. September 2004
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Brighton Fire Department dressed for a parade circa 1950s
