From grocery to dance hall, Klan to marketing firms
August 13, 1991
 

Remember the corner grocery with the cigar-store Indian out front?

The Indian still exists, albeit as a painting on the side wall of the former grocery at 922 Washington Ave., the symbol by which most people recall the E.E. Stewart Block Building.

The building was built in 1892 at 10th Street (then Platte Street) and Washington Avenue. The intersection was, for many years after the first settlers, a hub of activity in the city.

Its storefront is touted as being one of the few original facades in Golden still maintained in its authentic style without overhangs.

C.E. Parfet owned the building.

The E.E. Stewart plaque above the door may cover the original plaque which read "Nankivell and Jones." According to reports at the time, Nankivell and Jones Staple and Fancy Groceries was operated on the motto "quick sales and small profits." It was known to carry a varied stock of produce that was fresh and of good quality.

James Nankivell served one term as the city of Golden's treasurer. In 1891, he was elected mayor and served two "conservative and safe" years. Thus his reputation of being conservative and safe was born, and he was elected alderman in 1893 by "a round majority."

Robert E. Jones was known as the "accommodating and prompt" treasurer of Jefferson County.

E.E. Stewart ran the grocery from 1891 to 1937.

He actually entered the picture in 1889. That's when then city Treasurer Stewart and S.E. Parshall formed a partnership to buy the grocery stock and business from Parfet.

Stewart, described as an "esteemed citizen of Golden," passed away in 1945 at the age of 83.

Before that, however, Stewart had sold the building to Leonard Vogel, a brewmaster at Coors Brewery. Vogel donated it to the city of Golden for use as a recreation center--1944 to 1961--then it was sold to raise money for a new recreation center.

Also evident on the facade are the letters S, L, K and P, standing for the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias, which leased the hall from Nankivell and Jones. The floor was built to suit the leaseholders. The March 9, 1892, Transcript wrote, "Altogether, the new quarters for the K. of P. will be a daisy.

Unsavory characters met in the hall too. The Ku Klux Klan, which was active for years in the Golden area, headquartered on the second floor of the Stewart building.

The original two-story building had two large rooms separated by an arch on the first floor. Even today, the high ceilings are retained. As a grocery, the front room was used for display purposes. A long wooden bench along the length of the front windows was used as a showcase.

The original floor was elaborately decorated in a floral, mosaic tile.

Golden resident Gene Bennetts recollects when the hall was a canteen for teens attending Golden High School (the former junior high on 10th Street). "We would dance to records every Friday after the basketball or football game. We had a good time up there," he said....

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