--- Terminus: Five Points ---
My terminal hike last month was my third trip to Downing Street Station. The first was also my first to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Unless you're down for a long walk, I wouldn't recommend that one. The second was a group tour of Whittier neighborhood presented by the Ford-Warren Branch of the Denver Public Library and Chris Englert from Walk2Connect. It was an interesting tour highlighting Black history in Denver.
This walk was short, less than a mile from Downing Street Station back to 19th Street. The day was overcast but at least it was cool.
[Downing Street Station]
This part of Welton Street, known as Five Points, has also been called the Harlem of the West and is known for it's jazz culture. There wasn't a lot happening that morning. The little park had a few monuments to local history including this statue of Dr. Justina Ford "The Baby Doctor."
[Statue of Dr. Justina Ford]
Doctor Ford (1871-1952) was Denver's first licensed African American, female doctor and she specialized in obstetrics and pediatrics for over 50 years.
Five Points, if I ignore the 40+ story buildings in the background, less than a mile away, reminds me of a little Southern town with its city street bounded by store fronts.
[Two street scenes]
I had a nice lunch at the Welton Street Cafe that advertises Southern and Caribbean food and, sure enough, it was good Southern and Caribbean food. I had a great catfish sandwich and (wonders upon wonders) real fried okra!
Almost back to downtown Denver, the Blair-Caldwell Branch of the Denver Public Library offers a considerable collection of African American materials. The full name is Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, and it's worth a visit.
[Chinese statue]
That was the end of the line for my Welton Street walk and the beginning of the line for my trip back home.
Selma, my home for 20 years, has a strong historic heritage including pioneer Alabama, the Civil War, the mystic Edgar Cayce, and Civil Rights. A walk around Selma was a walk through history. Your town has a historical legacy, too. Can you find it?
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