- History Corner

The First Firehouse

Castle Rock's fire department started out with nothing more that 300 feet of fire hose mounted on a homemade two wheel cart in 1892. Three years later a Fire Chief was named and instructed to organize a company of no more than seven people. Those who joined were given partial uniforms that included caps, belts, and blouses. In 1903 the hose cart was stored in a shed on Fourth Street between Wilcox Street and Perry Street. To alert people to a fire there was a bell on top of a poll with a wire hanging down to ring the bell . One hundred years ago on February 2, 1915 the first volunteer fire department was was organized and consisted of 15 members and three honorary members. Soon after a hand-drawn chemical cart was added to their equipment. It was not until 1922 that the fire department acquired a Ford hose truck and later that year they purchased an electric siren. In 1929 a GMC LaFrance Fire Engine was purchased, and to speed up response time to out of town calls the chemical cart was mounted on rubber. Twenty-five years after the first volunteers joined the fire department they finally were able to move into their first fire house. In 1935 a building fund was started to construct the building and in 1939 the Castle Rock Firemen's Association was formed. In February, 1940 the building was finished, occupied, and and the firemen held an open house. 

- Historical Society News

Castle Rock Historical Society Board

President - Dorothy Kelly
Vice President - Shaun Boyd
Secretery/Treasurer - Fleta Nockles
Education - Guy Mordeaux
Fundraising - Sandy Schenecker

-In Our Community

Commemorative Brick Courtyard 

The courtyard at the Castle Rock Museum is continuing to expand, stop by and purchase your own commemorative brick for yourself, a loved one, a business, or even your most cherished animal companion. 

First Annual 4 Mile Race

The Story Behind the Tool Shed

Back in 1938 when Andy Rudolph's father Bill was named section foreman for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad I'm sure Andy didn't imagine that 76 years later he himself would still be involved with the railroad. We had the blessing of meeting Andy and his wife Kiyoko on September 12, 2014 when they were visiting his boyhood town and stopped into the museum. After spending a couple of hours reminiscing about growing up in Castle Rock and sharing stories of his childhood we learned that Andy's father had moved an old shed that was once the tool house for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Depot to their family residence sometime in the mid 1950's. With Andy's family still owning the property and the tool house we were very interested when he spoke of having the over 70 year old shed demolished. After some thinking, phone calls, emails, and several visits to the old shed, Andy agreed to donate the building to the museum. What better location to move it to than next to the museum which also happens to be the the old depot for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. After being moved at least three times by the railroad before 1955 and then again by Bill Rudolph, the shed was raised, loaded on a trailer and brought to what we hope will be it's  final location. After getting the D & RG tool house moved to the museum to escape demolition, we have learned a few things. One, the shed itself was a wooden boxcar re-purposed by the railroad,  two, you move an old boxcar 2 inch's at a time, and three, 70 year old boxcars need some restoration...  

- In the Gift Shop

Looking for unique gift? Come down to the Castle Rock Museum's gift shop for all your historic Castle Rock and Douglas County gifts. We are stocked in 2015 calendars, Robert L. Lowenberg's book "CASTLE ROCK A Grass Roots History", a handful of children's railroad themed toys, and a limited number of local Castle Rock postcards. 

Along with these popular titles...