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City Of Federal Heights
History of Federal Heights
The first 'modern day' resident of what was to become the Town of Federal Heights, and later the City of Federal Heights, was Mr. Harvey Larsen who worked for the Colorado & Southern Railroad. In 1927 Larsen purchased 2½ acres of vacant land to the east of a rutted, two-lane, dirt road that led into Denver. That dirt road was Federal Boulevard. The Larsen property was in the area that is now the intersection of W. 92nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The purchase price for the property was $1,000. Because of Federal Boulevard, and the fact that the land was high and overlooked Denver, Mr. Larsen named the area Federal Heights. As traffic began to increase on Federal Boulevard, Larsen eventually opened a business that he called The North Federal Heights Grocery and Supply Station.
By the late 1930s there were 34 residents living in the area. Most of them obtained their water from a shallow well on the Larsen property. Unfortunately the well was heavy with minerals. Area residents began having meetings to discuss the water problems. It was decided that the best path for improving the water situation was to incorporate the area into a town.
The Committee to Incorporate was formed and an incorporation election was held on May 28, 1940. The vote was 32 to 2 in favor of incorporation. The necessary paperwork was filed with the State of Colorado on June 19, 1940. Mr. Pat Lombardi became the first Mayor of Federal Heights. Since the primary reason for incorporation had been to seek a better water source, one of the first points of business was to establish a new well. After several failed attempts, a good well was drilled 1,750 feet into the Fox Hill Sands at a cost of $21,000. Federal Heights soon became known as a town with good well water. Designated as Well No. 1, this well remained productive until 1955.
Few residents today are aware that Federal Heights was once home to a very busy airport. Federal Heights Airport (also known as Ruston Field) was located on 320 acres of land near what is now the intersection of W. 100th Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The airport had 4 runways, the longest of which was a spectacular 8,000 feet in length! Built in the 1930s by Mr. Harry Ruston, it was the first privately owned airport in the state. During World War II, hundreds of pilots were trained at Ruston Field for the military. And during peacetime, students from Regis College and Denver University trained there.
The official address of the airport was 1100 North Federal Boulevard, Denver 11, Colorado. The telephone number was GRand 3533 and the official elevation was 5,550 feet above sea level. The airport continued in operation until 1961 when it was forced out of business by competition from the Jefferson County Airport, which was built in the late 1950s, and by encroachment from housing projects that were developing in the area.
Today the two buildings currently occupied by the Flight Deck bar (formerly the Pilots Perch restaurant and airport offices) and Napa Auto Parts (the former airport hangar) are the only remnants of the Federal Heights Airport. These buildings were once connected by a tunnel that has long since been sealed off. The areas where most of the runways were once located are now occupied by homes and businesses in Northborough, Legacy Heights, and Federal Plaza.
Mr. Ruston had also worked as a journalist. He had been employed by the Associated Press, Reuters, the Denver Post, and the Jerusalem Post. In this capacity he had interviewed many important world leaders. He was active in law and was an attorney for many years. At one time he was appointed by President Harry Truman to serve as a Federal judge. He also served the State of Colorado as its Attorney General and as its Inheritance Tax Collector. Some accounts report that Mr. Ruston was also the first Municipal Judge for the Town of Federal Heights. Ruston Park, located on the west side of the 9900 block of Zuni Street, is named in honor of Mr. Ruston and his many contributions to Federal Heights and Colorado.
The first 'modern day' resident of what was to become the Town of Federal Heights, and later the City of Federal Heights, was Mr. Harvey Larsen who worked for the Colorado & Southern Railroad. In 1927 Larsen purchased 2½ acres of vacant land to the east of a rutted, two-lane, dirt road that led into Denver. That dirt road was Federal Boulevard. The Larsen property was in the area that is now the intersection of W. 92nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The purchase price for the property was $1,000. Because of Federal Boulevard, and the fact that the land was high and overlooked Denver, Mr. Larsen named the area Federal Heights. As traffic began to increase on Federal Boulevard, Larsen eventually opened a business that he called The North Federal Heights Grocery and Supply Station.
By the late 1930s there were 34 residents living in the area. Most of them obtained their water from a shallow well on the Larsen property. Unfortunately the well was heavy with minerals. Area residents began having meetings to discuss the water problems. It was decided that the best path for improving the water situation was to incorporate the area into a town.
The Committee to Incorporate was formed and an incorporation election was held on May 28, 1940. The vote was 32 to 2 in favor of incorporation. The necessary paperwork was filed with the State of Colorado on June 19, 1940. Mr. Pat Lombardi became the first Mayor of Federal Heights. Since the primary reason for incorporation had been to seek a better water source, one of the first points of business was to establish a new well. After several failed attempts, a good well was drilled 1,750 feet into the Fox Hill Sands at a cost of $21,000. Federal Heights soon became known as a town with good well water. Designated as Well No. 1, this well remained productive until 1955.
Few residents today are aware that Federal Heights was once home to a very busy airport. Federal Heights Airport (also known as Ruston Field) was located on 320 acres of land near what is now the intersection of W. 100th Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The airport had 4 runways, the longest of which was a spectacular 8,000 feet in length! Built in the 1930s by Mr. Harry Ruston, it was the first privately owned airport in the state. During World War II, hundreds of pilots were trained at Ruston Field for the military. And during peacetime, students from Regis College and Denver University trained there.
The official address of the airport was 1100 North Federal Boulevard, Denver 11, Colorado. The telephone number was GRand 3533 and the official elevation was 5,550 feet above sea level. The airport continued in operation until 1961 when it was forced out of business by competition from the Jefferson County Airport, which was built in the late 1950s, and by encroachment from housing projects that were developing in the area.
Today the two buildings currently occupied by the Flight Deck bar (formerly the Pilots Perch restaurant and airport offices) and Napa Auto Parts (the former airport hangar) are the only remnants of the Federal Heights Airport. These buildings were once connected by a tunnel that has long since been sealed off. The areas where most of the runways were once located are now occupied by homes and businesses in Northborough, Legacy Heights, and Federal Plaza.
Mr. Ruston had also worked as a journalist. He had been employed by the Associated Press, Reuters, the Denver Post, and the Jerusalem Post. In this capacity he had interviewed many important world leaders. He was active in law and was an attorney for many years. At one time he was appointed by President Harry Truman to serve as a Federal judge. He also served the State of Colorado as its Attorney General and as its Inheritance Tax Collector. Some accounts report that Mr. Ruston was also the first Municipal Judge for the Town of Federal Heights. Ruston Park, located on the west side of the 9900 block of Zuni Street, is named in honor of Mr. Ruston and his many contributions to Federal Heights and Colorado.