Video Archive

Highlands Ranch Historical Society

Welcome to the Highlands Ranch Historical Society YouTube Channel. We will be featuring interviews, photos and historical information pertaining to the Highlands Ranch area from its early history to present day.
For more information, news and programs we offer visit our website at: http://TheHRHS.org

Thank You,
The Board of Directors
Highlands Ranch Historical Society

Highlands Ranch Historical Society
Steve Ormiston describes his 50 year career where he was was the planner for the nations largest planned community, Highlands Ranch. Please enjoy in the story that Steve Ormiston, former Shea Homes Colorado Vice President of Planning, shares about our community.
John Beeman shares his experience with the Arapahoe Hunt Club.
The HRHS learned during our October 2022 meeting that the 1859 Colorado Gold rush was sparked by finds in a creek near the Highlands Ranch Area. Please learn with us about the details presented by Skot Latona based on work by Rolf Asphaug. Skot Latona will be narrating Rolf’s historical slide presentation and adding additional information. He is bringing panning equipment (and may even share some locations to pan with us). Skot has served as the Manager of South Platte Park in Littleton, since 2010, after managing the interpretation and education programs for the previous 12 years. He has led nature and cultural heritage tours through Littleton, around the west, and internationally for over 30 years and is a trainer for public, nationally recognized Interpretive Guide certification courses, Colorado Native Plant Master, and Audubon Master Naturalist and Master Birder programs. Skot’s mentor in gold panning was the late Ray Simpson, state representative, mining expert, former commissioner of the Colorado Land Board and amateur prospector who developed S Platte Park’s gold panning field trips for 4thtgraders since the mid-1990s. Rolf Asphaug is a retired General Counsel for the Regional Transportation District. He is a volunteer park patroller and naturalist for Jefferson County Open Space, Chatfield State Park, Castlewood Canyon State Park, Staunton State Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park and at the Carson Nature Center at South Platte Park. He is a former president of the Colorado Mountain Club and a founding board member of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. Rolf’s wife’s great-great-grandparents came to Colorado in the 1859 Gold Rush, and her great-great-grandmother’s journal became a book – “Mollie: The Journal of Mollie Dorsey Sanford in Nebraska and Colorado Territories” – that is still in print today. Mollie’s home is still standing in downtown Littleton – a house bought by gold dust.
Jeff Kappes, Vice President of Shea Homes and Chair of Centennial Water and Sanitation District provides an in depth history of the development of the Highlands Ranch Community from his first hand experience. Jeff was actively involved with Mission Viejo and Shea Home since the beginning of modern Highlands Ranch.
The oral history of Joe Blake conducted on 4/16/2019
Joe Blake was instrumental in getting the Highlands Ranch community started in the early 1980's in so many ways. This video describes many of the important areas that Joe was involved in the planning and creation of Highlands Ranch and Centennial Water and Sanitation District. The video was created, edited and narrated by Mark Stevenson.
Disasters in History: The South Platte River Flood of 1965 Flood season is on the horizon, but the South Platte River is less likely to experience “an outstanding hydrologic event” because of the lessons learned from the June 1965 flood. Einar Jensen will dissect the factors leading to the flood and the flood’s short-term and long-term impacts to our community. This presentation will include tips on how to make our families and property safer from flooding. Presented by Einar Jensen, Risk Reduction Specialist with South Metro Fire Rescue. He was a firefighter for 15 years and has now been in the fire service for 24 years. Einar studied history at the University of Montana and University of Puget Sound. He has published a trio of books: his nonfiction book Ancient Fire, Modern Fire: Understanding and Living with Our Friend & Foe, a history of the Idaho Springs Fire Department, and a novel called Code Violations. He belongs to the Fire Marshal’s Association of Colorado, Pikes Peak Wildfire Prevention Partners, and National Science Teachers Association. This was the February 2022 monthly members program for the Highlands Ranch Historical Society.
December 2021, Marshall Fire was devastating. However, it was not without precedent. In October 1871, a massive weather system powered catastrophic fires in the drought-stricken Midwest. Most people have heard of the Great Chicago Fire, but fewer are familiar with the Peshtigo Fire that occurred during those same days. There were other fires, too. This presentation will explain what happened in October 1871 before, during, and after those fires and provide connections to the Marshall Fire. Presented by Einar Jensen, Risk Reduction Specialist with South Metro Fire Rescue. He was a firefighter for 15 years and has now been in the fire service for 24 years. Einar studied history at the University of Montana and University of Puget Sound. He has published a trio of books: his nonfiction book Ancient Fire, Modern Fire: Understanding and Living with Our Friend & Foe, a history of the Idaho Springs Fire Department, and a novel called Code Violations. He belongs to the Fire Marshal’s Association of Colorado, Pikes Peak Wildfire Prevention Partners, and National Science Teachers Association. Please forgive the technical glitch with the video between 0:25-0:45 Also covered, practical reminders for all: Disaster prevention for homeowners and businesses, wild fire and other preparedness measures. Prepare, Prevent, Plan Please consider donating to the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. This was the January 2022 monthly members program for the Highlands Ranch Historical Society.
The Highlands Ranch Herald, Community Newspaper In March of 2021 Jerry and Ann Healey, owners and publishers of the free, weekly community newspaper Highlands Ranch Herald, sat down with the HR Historical Society to discuss the history of the newspaper, how the newspaper reflects and reports the local news, and the personal relationship that the Healey’s have had with the community that they have called “home” since 1994. In May of 2021 the Healey’s retired, and sold the HR Herald to the Colorado News Conservancy. Interview with Jerry and Ann Healey (and their Cat Mickey), Owners and Publishers of the Highlands Ranch Herald Gives Local News Free to Residents. The Healeys—owners of Colorado Community Media, parent company of the HR Herald—worked tirelessly to bring local news to their readers. In the beginning of their ownership, the HR Herald was published bi-weekly and within two to three years, became weekly. The paper is delivered free to residents. Colorado Community Media headquartered in Englewood now has a network of 27 newspapers. “They’re all community newspapers with their own reporters who cover the local news,” said Ann.
Pronghorns have a special place in the history of Highlands Ranch! They are unique and beautiful animals, and once roamed freely on the land that would become Highlands Ranch. Video is about the 2003 Sculpture of TAH KEEN CHA, Pronghorn by Larry Perkins. TAH KEEN CHA means “small pale deer” in Arapahoe Cheyenne TAH KEEN CHA is located at the entrance walk to Westridge Recreation Center. The sculpture is larger than life-sized, and anatomically correct. Sculptor Larry Perkins (and friend) standing proudly next to his larger-than-full-size TAH KEEN CHA The plaque at the base of TAH KEEN CHA reads: “TAH KEEN CHA, a Tribute to our Community Spirit. Placed by the Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association, Sculptor Larry Perkins, Dedicated 2003″ Some interesting facts about Pronghorns: They are NORTH AMERICAN PRONGHORNS, not Antelopes. Pronghorns are native to North America, not found anywhere else in the world. Pronghorns are unusual animals: they shed part of their horns, Antelopes do NOT shed horns, Deer shed their antlers. Pronghorns evolved with cheetahs, after the first 100 yards pronghorns can outrun a cheetah, which is considered the fastest animal. Pronghorns can run for a long time, longer and farther than a cheetah. Pronghorns can NOT jump over a fence, they go UNDER the fence. The white patch of tail hair serves as a danger signal to one another.
The Highlands Ranch Mansion has evolved over the past 130 years since the first home was built on the site in 1891. However, in the last 40 years, this 27,000-square-foot historic landmark has seen a community grow up around it and embrace it for its rich history. Learn about the Mansion’s modern history over the last 40 years as Highlands Ranch grew and evolved. Highlights of the 2010-2012 renovation will be shared. Presenters from HR Metropolitan District and the Mansion: Susie Appleby, Volunteer & Historic Programs Coordinator, HR Mansion Sherry Eppers, Community Relations Manager, HR Metro District
Then and Now of Law Enforcement and Fire Services in Highlands Ranch presented by representatives from both entities. Presenters were Douglas County Undersheriff David Walcher and South Metro Fire Department Public Information Information Officer and Risk Reduction Specialist Einar Jensen. Presented at the Highlands Ranch Historical Society Meeting, August 2021 at Southridge Rec Center in Highlands Ranch.
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Definition Explanation

An HRHS event that was recorded onsite at a location of interest and pertinent to Highlands Ranch history.

 

A lengthy exchange between multiple people in a formal session with the intent of revealing important and relevant facts pertinent to Highlands Ranch history. The people who were chosen for these clips were heavily involved in some aspect of Highlands Ranch’s activity.

 

An event where a speaker (not necessarily an HRHS member or officer) expounds on a topic pertinent to Highlands Ranch history.

 

Usually a lengthy exchange between two people in a formal session with the intent of revealing important and relevant facts pertinent to Highlands Ranch history. The people who were chosen for these events were heavily involved in some aspect of Highlands Ranch’s activity, formation or governance.

 

Short clips taken from an ORAL HISTORY which are focused on a specific topic. These are made available to save a time-constrained viewer from having to watch an entire ORAL HISTORY in order to learn more about something specific to their interest.

A video essay describing the life and times of an important Highlands Ranch resident.

 

Summary of Videos

HR Local History and Field Trips
HRHS Oral Histories and Interviews
HRHS Programs