Colorado Springs Town Tidings
Posts
🏺 TRIVIA: Iconic Pottery Put the Springs on the Map 🗺️

🏺 TRIVIA: Iconic Pottery Put the Springs on the Map 🗺️

3 Min Read | Issue #24-170 6/18/24

COS Town Tidings #24-170

READ ONLINE (as Gmail will Truncate)

🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 Traffic Alert: Water Main Break on Palmer Park Blvd 🚧

📰 High Fire Risk: Red Flag Warnings Ahead 🔥⚠️

📰 Nevada Ave Power Lines Moving Underground 🚧🔌

🏺 TRIVIA: Van Briggle, Iconic Pottery Put the Springs on the Map 🗺️

🌤 COS Weather - Warm, average warm temps with isolated showers possible

📆 Local Events

Why was the pottery class so popular?

👉 It was kiln it! 🤣

🚧 Traffic Alert: Water Main Break on Palmer Park Blvd

A water main break has led to the closure of Palmer Park Blvd near the Patty Jewett Golf Course, stretching from N Meade to Buena Ventura. Colorado Springs Utilities reported the break Monday, and the road will remain closed for repairs until Wed, June 19. Commuters are advised to use alternative routes and follow on-site crew instructions during this period.

🔥⚠️ High Fire Risk: Red Flag Warnings Ahead

Colorado Springs residents are being cautioned about a heightened potential for Red Flag Warnings this summer, indicating an increased risk of wildfires due to warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. The Pine Cliff neighborhood, in partnership with the CSFD, is conducting fire mitigation activities to reduce fire hazards around homes.

The community is reminded of the importance of fire safety, particularly during Red Flag conditions, to prevent incidents like the devastating Waldo Canyon Fire from recurring. Such warnings could be frequent this summer, making vigilance and caution essential. Full Story

🚧🔌 Nevada Ave Power Lines Moving Underground

Colorado Springs Utilities is in the final stages of a project to relocate power lines from overhead poles to underground along a mile of Nevada, from Harrison to Commerce streets. The project aims to enhance infrastructure resilience and aesthetics in a critical area near CommonSpirit Penrose Hospital and the historic Old North End neighborhood. Northbound traffic remains limited to one lane. Despite benefits such as reduced weather-related damage, the high costs and risks of underground systems mean they are unlikely to be widely adopted in existing neighborhoods. Currently, 70% of CSU’s power lines are underground, mostly in new developments for wildfire prevention benefits of underground lines. Full Story

🏺 TRIVIA: Van Briggle, Iconic Pottery Put Colorado Springs on the Map 🗺️

In 1899, Artus Van Briggle moved to Colorado Springs hoping the drier climate would help with his tuberculosis. He and his wife Anne founded Van Briggle Pottery in 1901, quickly earning international acclaim for their Art Nouveau designs and distinctive matte glazes. Tragically, Artus died in 1904, leaving Anne to guide the company's future. She oversaw construction of the iconic Van Briggle Memorial Pottery building on Uintah in 1908, celebrated for its architectural beauty and ceramic details.

Anne remained involved until selling the company in 1922 due to financial difficulties. The pottery persevered under subsequent owners, surviving a 1919 fire, the 1935 flood, and a WWII production halt.

By the 1950s, with shifting American tastes, then-owner J.H. Lewis introduced modern designs and glossy glazes alongside Van Briggle's signature matte pieces. He also relocated the pottery from Uintah to a higher-traffic Midland facility near Hwy 24 and 21st.

In 1968, Colorado College purchased the Uintah Street building, which is now part of a historic walking tour. The Midland Road facility, sold in 2012, has since been sectioned off. Though serving new purposes, both locations remain connected to the visionaries behind Van Briggle's lasting legacy in Colorado Springs.

🗨 Why did Van Briggle Pottery relocate their building off of Hwy 24?

Will you do us a favor and spread the word? Please share Colorado Springs Town Tidings 👉Are you on Nextdoor? Get your link to share our newsletter there too!