11 Rare Photos From Denver During Wwii

Like everywhere else in the country, Colorado was greatly effected by the turbulence and uncertainty that came along with World War II. However, despite missing family and friends fighting abroad, life went on, as shown by these 11 very rare photos taken in and around Denver between 1939-1945:

1.) “This gelatin silver print was taken by an unidentified photographer circa 1942-1945. The photograph shows seven men installing a billboard for ‘Colorado’s 2nd War Loan’ in the park in front of the Colorado state capitol building in Denver, Colorado. A small sign is attached above the billboard that reads, ‘General Outdoor Ady Co,’ and there is also a attached dish attached at the top of the billboard that reads ‘KOA NBC.’ KOA was Denver’s NBC radio station during this time.”

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2.) “Procession for the Feast of Saint Rocco, c. 1940.”

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3.) “Standing at front door of coach. G.E. Stoffer poses by a Denver Tramway Corporation bus, in a Denver, Colorado garage. Letters and destination sign read: ‘To Larimer St.,’ and ‘506.’”

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4.) “A man a woman pose by an airlines ticket counter at Stapleton International Airport, in Denver, Colorado. She wears a corsage; signs read: ‘United Airlines Check Baggage.’”

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5.) “View of the Remington Ordnance Plant (later called the Federal Center) in Lakewood (Jefferson County) Colorado; a man installs road reflectors with a jackhammer. Sign reads: ‘War Department - Quartermaster Corps - Construction Division - Denver Ordnance Plant - Smith Henchman & Grylls, Inc., Broderick and Gordon General Contractors.’ Front range mountains are in the foreground.”

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6.) “Interior view of women and racks of glass eyes at the Denver Optical Company’s office, possibly in the A. C. Foster (University) Building at 16th (Sixteenth) and Champa Streets in downtown Denver, Colorado.”

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7.) “Wake Is. [sic] memorial.”

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8.) “Trolley coach, Colfax & Broadway, Denver.”

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9.) “Canon City Penitentiary.”

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10.) “Construction workers excavate a trench near a dynamite house at the Denver Ordnance Plant (Remington Ordnance Plant, later Denver Federal Center) in Lakewood (Jefferson County), Colorado. The men wear work clothes and hard hats. The bunker is a semi-subterranean structure with a concrete facade. Tools are scattered on the ground nearby.”

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11.) View of the Colorado Mining Association parade as it passes spectators near Tremont and 16th (Sixteenth) Streets in downtown Denver, Colorado. Shows people, a flatbed truck, a float and storefronts (1942)."

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Did you live in Denver during this time? Please share your memories in the comments!