To the Editor:

(Granby ) a sleepy little wide spot on Highway 40 my foot.

I about fell out of my chair when I read this.

This is probably the first and last time I’ve written a letter to the editor.

This is my memory and my opinions.

For anyone who didn’t have the privilege of living in Granby between the 1940s and 1960s, they wouldn’t understand the fun time. During this period, Granby was the greatest town in Colorado. We had a group of business families who were independent, ambitious, hard working, capable and fun loving, dedicated to building a great town without help or government interference.

As I recall, we had three grocery stores, two drug stores, two or three clothing stores, two hardware and appliance stores and a variety store ” to name a few.

We had many services ” TV repair, show repair, two barbers, many beauty shops, laundry, cleaners, hotels, motels, good restaurants and half a dozen service stations that included window washing, tires checked, battery, anti-freeze checked automatically, and a newspaper.

We had a great pool hall, bowling lanes, movie theater and a bank. No real estate offices. No developers. All in walking distance.

Our town board met maybe once a month for an hour or so to pay bills. I don’t recall about sales tax, grants or special tax districts.

We had schools, a volunteer (fire) department, and a sanitation district was formed in the late ’50s.

A ski area.

The Kiwanis Club built a park on the land donated for Granby children by the Polhamus family.

We formed the first Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations. Granby had a phenomenal growth during this period.

Most everything was voluntary.

I had better stop now before I start braggin’.

Jim Childress

Granby