Louis Shoenberg founded the Shoenberg Farm to Denver’s National Jewish Hospital after his son died of tuberculosis. The farm supplied the hospital with eggs and milk while the land was used as a trade school to help recovered TB patients learn job skills. Jacob Tepper purchased the farm in 1921, adding restaurants, hotels, schools—and eventually, Fitzsimons Army Hospital.

The town of Westminster originally got its name from Westminster University, which drew land speculators, students and professors to this new, burgeoning town! The crown jewel of the campus, now called Westminster Castle, joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and today houses Belleview Christian Schools and KPOF, part of the oldest Christian radio network in the nation.

In 1876, Edward Bowles decided that Westminster, then called Harris, was the perfect place to settle with his wife, Mahala. In 1881 they built their first house – the same year the railroad came to town. The Bowles House, now a museum, is one of the few buildings still standing from the original pre-Westminster downtown area.

Built in 1913, Westminster Grange Hall was the town’s social, civic, and agricultural center. In addition to being an early meeting hall for the City Council and a polling place, it was a venue for dances, potluck dinners, and talent contests. In 2003, the Westminster Grange Hall was the first building designated by the city as a historic landmark.

Pleasant DeSpain was the first settler to permanently call “Westminster” home in 1870. Soon, the small village grew into a lively farming community. To meet the needs of local farmers and ranchers, new shops such as blacksmith, lumber, and general goods emerged. DeSpain Junction operated as a true village when the railroad arrived.

Colorado's arid climate was unforgiving to new settlers and farmers who were used to growing crops back East. Many gave up and sold their land to CJ Harris, a real estate developer from Connecticut. Harris divided the farms into smaller tracts of land and sold them to fruit farmers. Today, CJ Harris’ abode - the Harris House - still stands at 7996 Bradburn Boulevard.