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1027 9th Street was once filled with the voices of children, shared meals, and the rhythms of working-class life. This stop features Gloria Gallegos, who recounts growing up here with her single mother and siblings after arriving from New Mexico in the late 1950s, finding family in the neighbors who surrounded them.
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Rachel Gross: The house at 1027 9th Street might be quiet now, but sixty years ago it would have been alive with the voices of children, the smells of shared meals, and the rhythms of working-class life in a tightly knit neighborhood.
The old Westside’s families came from near and far. Wagon Mound, New Mexico. Riveton, Wyoming. Saltillo, Mexico. Canton, China. They came from farms and mines and ranches, arriving in this bustling neighborhood, just west of downtown Denver on the banks of Cherry Creek. They found work in factories and flour mills and meat plants, working for railroad companies or for the city of Denver itself. Others started their own businesses, opening a local grocery store or renting out rooms and apartments. Although most of them were poor, they built a community that was rich in connection.
Mary Maestas arrived in West Denver in the late 1950s as a single mother from New Mexico with three young mouths to feed and very little money. Her oldest child, Gloria, recounted years later:
Gloria Gallegos: I grew up poor and didn’t know I was poor. And when I look back on it, it was like, wow, we were really poor. My mom did her best as a single parent, and she worked part time. But we used to love when she would bring home a box of the hot dogs. They were like, all beef hot dogs. We were like yay, we got hot dogs.
Rachel Gross: Unlike some residents, Gloria didn’t have an extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in the neighborhood. Instead, her neighbors became her new family. Again, Gloria:
Gloria Gallegos: Growing up there, I didn’t feel like it was just us. It was, you know, like the neighbors. My mom, she knew all the neighbors. And of course, we knew all the kids in the neighborhood. And even as far as probably blocks down, you know, like it could be down two or three blocks. And we still knew all the kids from all the surrounding area. …I don’t remember having any fear as a little kid, you know, walking to school because along the way we would know everyone. You know, you knew that family, that family. Or as you walked along, you had friends that joined you, and then by the time you got to school, you were a little group.
Rachel Gross: These sorts of memories weren’t unique to Gloria or her family. Let’s walk next door to 1033 9th Street to hear more about how another Westside family built a sense of community and connection.