Lakewood's Roots in Eiber

Lakewood's Roots in Eiber

The Eiber neighborhood is a residential community in the northern part of Lakewood CO. It consists mostly of single family residential properties with larger lots, horse properties, urban agriculture and gardening, mixed with pockets of apartments and townhomes along business corridors. Eiber has a long history, spanning more than 100 years as a residential suburban community of Denver. Due to its agricultural history in serving the farm and produce markets of Denver in the early 20th century, and the retention of much of its rural character as it slowly developed over the ensuing years, some refer to it as a “subrural” community.

Eiber is conveniently located mid-point between downtown Denver and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. 15 minutes by highway in either direction will take you to the two extremes of urban business and culture on the one hand and gateways to mountain wilderness on the other. It is served by several major transportation corridors, including US 6 / 6th Ave freeway, US 40 / Colfax Ave, and light rail service between Denver and Golden. North/South corridors include Wadsworth Blvd and Kipling St.

The Eiber neighborhood is bounded geographically by Colfax Ave, Wadsworth Blvd, 6th Ave, and Oak St. The neighborhood obtained its formal designation in 2001 under the City of Lakewood’s neighborhood development initiative, being the seventh neighborhood to be recognized in Lakewood. The Eiber Neighborhood Assoc was formed to be a conduit for open communication between the community and the city and other governmental bodies, providing access to a variety of funding sources for improvements in community services and resources, and to assist the city in making land use decisions that respect the interests of the local community. The Eiber Neighborhood Plan was developed as part of this process, and has guided the Assoc in its efforts to improve the quality of life of its residents.

A neighborhood story

The Pearsons

In 1921 Joseph and Elizabeth Pearson bought a farm at the corner of 14th Avenue and Holland Street in Lakewood. They moved from Denver with their two young children, 9 year old Carl, and 6 year old Irma.  Joseph and Elizabeth would spend the rest of their lives in this home, which is still in the family today.

The house didn’t have central heating, but the big wood stove in the kitchen kept it cozy in winter months.  The outhouse was the only bathroom, and the well pump the water source. Irma Pearson Lundin tells stories about the goose attacking the buttons on the back of the children’s pants as they ran for the outhouse.  Out running or out smarting the goose was part of every trip, as was the occasional nip on the bottom. (to continue reading, click here)