This memorial is dedicated to the Volunteer Firefighters of the Fort Collins, Colorado, area. It was installed in 1909 and includes a large fire bell. There is a second plaque affixed to the monument to honor Fire Chief Clifford Carpenter. The plaque reads:
In Memory of
Fort Collins Fire Chief
Clifford Carpenter
who died in the defense of the
lives and property of the citizens of
Fort Collins
State Dry Goods Fire
June 29, 1965
"One of the worst fires in the history of Fort Collins occurred in June, 1965. The blaze began in Bowen's Book Store at College and Oak at about 10:20 p.m. By midnight the bookstore, Collinado Drug, the State Dry Goods Co., and other offices were destroyed. Fire Chief Clifford Carpenter was killed while fighting the fire, which caused over one million dollars in damage." (from (
visit link) )
"Grandview Cemetery
Land one-mile-and-a-half west of the city was purchased in 1887 from Thomas Connolly for $50 per acre. Grandview cemetery (originally written as Grand View) was located in an area having abundant water rights from the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canals. A 40-acre tract was immediately laid out by landscape gardeners for cemetery purposes.
The first interment was a three-month-old baby named Felix Scoville who was buried on November 21, 1887 in Section K. Shortly after this interment, work began to remove the remains from Mountain Home Cemetery to Grandview. According to the FORT COLLINS EXPRESS, "Joe Woodcock acted as grave digger and sexton." No record remains of the number of burials that were transferred. However, it has been estimated that the removal work took a great deal of time.
W. W. Westfall was among the remains moved for the second time. His grave now lies on the front edge of the Soldier's Section that has been marked by a simple headstone.
The grounds at Grandview were originally laid out in attractive circular drives. Included were several small parks boasting lush bluegrass, well-trimmed shrubs, and beautiful flowers.
A one-half acre plat (Section S) was set aside and dedicated to the uses of George H. Thomas/Post No. 7/Grand Army of the Republic, Soldiers' Monument at Grandview Cemetery which also included the remains of soldiers buried at the Post Cemetery.
Since 1887, many members of Post No. 7 as well as veterans of the Spanish-American War, both World Wars, and the Korean War have been laid to rest in this area. Standing in the center of this section is a life-size figure of a Union Civil War soldier at parade rest. Including a six-foot base, the 12-foot Soldier's Monument stands facing east as a tribute of patriotism from members of the Women's Relief Corp. of the George H. Thomas Post No. 7. The granite memorial was erected in 1905 at a cost of about $1,250.
The Soldier's Monument was "protected" by four towering silver spruce trees for many years until one had to be removed due to damage in a windstorm. The Granddaughters of the American Revolution donated two Civil War cannons; both dated in the 1860's, for placement in front of the memorial. Vandals destroyed one of the cannons in 1972. The other was donated to the Fort Collins Museum in 1986.
Across the road to the east is a Fireman's Statue that was dedicated to the Volunteer Fire Department in 1909.
Grandview remained outside city limits for many years. Only in 1907 did citizens object to its location when a proposed purchase of land on the south side of West Mountain was set for use as a city park. Their concern was to buffer the cemetery from areas with recreational uses. Hence, a row of streets was removed from the original park proposal.
The severe influenza epidemic of 1918 reduced the number of available lots, so additional lots were opened in the Grandview Addition, a 10-acre section south of the original cemetery that had opened in 1915.
In 1924, a concrete bridge was placed over the canal at Grandview. Rustic sidewalls and flower receptacles were installed on the bridge to give the cemetery entrance a pleasing look that still remains. In addition, countless trees and shrubs have been planted over the years making Grandview one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the area.
1994 welcomed the Armed Forces Flag Display and the following year saw the opening of the Four Seasons Columbarium. Additions to the Four Seasons area will continue in the future.
Today Grandview consists of approximately 45 developed acres, 34,000 grave spaces, 70 crypts, 336 niches, and over 22,000 burials." (from (
visit link) )