Erie recalls its roots with minimuseum in town hall

Erie is taking a look back at its history as it kicks off a year-long celebration of the town’s 150th anniversary.

Michele Crawford, deputy town clerk, took the lead in getting all the documents, artifacts and information to curate a Mini-museum on display in Erie Town Hall, 645 Holbrook St.

The museum starts at the beginning of the town’s history, with documents handwritten by the then-clerk, the town’s first five ordinances and the old ballot boxes used for local elections.

The museum also has items on loan from the Wise Homestead Museum, one of the oldest frame houses in Boulder County, such as an old ice cream maker and a dough maker. The Wise homestead was settled by Oliver Wise and his family in 1870, shortly before the town was established in 1874.

Sarah Wise, great-granddaughter of Oliver Wise, attended Lincoln School before the building became Town Hall. The museum displays the Wise’s class of 1941 composite photo.

Crawford said, of course, things in Erie were different over 100 years ago. For example she highlights that one of the town’s first five ordinances mandated that every male over the age of 21 must work for the town for a short period.

The museum also has more modern information about the town, like the newly designed Erie Police Department badges made to commemorate the 150th anniversary and an explanation of Town Clerk Debbie Stamp’s job to meticulously record the history of the town.

Crawford said as she helped curate and organize the museum, it was fun to see how Erie has gone from a small coal mining town to a much larger town.

“We still got that hometown feel, of being sweet and quaint,” Crawford said.

Gabi Rae, communications and community engagement director, and Crawford said the museum highlights how even as Erie grows rapidly, the town can still maintain it’s small

town feel and charm.

Rae pointed out that the museum displays one of the town’s first phonebooks, containing approximately 1,000 people. Now the population estimates for Erie are around 36,000, and Rae said the town expects to grow to 60,000 people by 2035.

According to a town survey, Erie residents prioritize maintaining a small town feel.

“This is (the resident’s) building too,” Gabi said referring to Town Hall, “They are welcome to come here to learn and talk to staff.”

Ashley Burger, 150th Committee Project Manager and marketing communications manager, said the town will celebrate the sesquicentennial all year long.

She highlighted that in March, Erie will team up with Being Better Neighbors to spotlight the voices

of historically marginalized groups.

Burger also said she was excited for April, as the town’s regular Arbor Day celebration will be expanded into giving away 150 trees for residents.

“The trees represent the years of the town,” Burgar said.

More information about the 150th anniversary events is available at erieco. gov/150.