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BROMWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (214)
2500 East
Fourth Avenue,
80206-4214
(Columbine Street at East Fourth Avenue)

Telephone:
(303) 388-5969
Fax: (720) 424-9355
E-mail: Bromwell@dpsk12.org

Mr. Jonathan Wolfer, Principal

The Bromwell Scrapbook 1955 - 1976

Bromwell Elementary School is shown within the white circle in the center of the photo -- it is the dark building in the upper left, with an open area between the building and Josephine. Just east of the school, Columbine Street runs unobstructed from Sixth Avenue and on south. The structures that appear white, in the bottom of the circle, were part of a large greenhouse. It was demolished to make room for the townhomes that still stand today, and for the developed land that later became Manley Park.

This symbol was used for our school for many years
on stationary and posters.

This photograph from The Denver Post was taken by David Cupp and published on May 18th, 1975. The headline was "Denver Schoolgirls Acquaint Vietnames Orphan With Sights At City Park." It was accompanied by this blurb: "Nguyen Thi Kin Lein, 10, second from left, visits with Nicole Murray, 10, left, Lisa Kirk, 11, and Kathy Torres, 12, at a Denver City Park picnic. A fifth-grade class at Bromwell Elementary School hosted the picnic for 15 Vietnamese orphans, including Lien, staying at the Continental Care Center in denver en route to new homes."

Below: the new school, as seen from the north. The old building towers above the cafeteria/all-purpose room from behind.

Above: the old school building is seen here from the south, just beyond the corner of the new school that houses Room A-5.

Below: here is a photograph of the old school's front door. The building was enclosed by a wire mesh fence as the date of demolition approached.

The new school was dedicated on Monday, May 17th, 1976. A dedication booklet was distributed at that time, which included photographs and a brief history. The cover of the booklet, above, was drawn by student Neal Seney. The back cover, below, was drawn by student Kevin O'Neill. Both boys were in the Sixth grade.

At the dedication ceremony, the Sixth Grade Choir apparently sang the following song, accompanied by Miss Sarah Rockwell:

A brand new Bromwell,
A brand new school
A brand new park that is really cool
A brand new playground
to make us drool
A brand new opening
of our brand new school.
No stairs to climb and the space is wide
The rooms have sinks and the boards will slide
Now we know we can show our pride
No more a mess and no more to hide.

Here's an excerpt from the address given by Principal James Manley at the dedication:

Welcome. A special thanks to my friends and colleagues of other years and other schools for your courtesy in being here tonight.

In May, 1906, the red brick school that stood on the other side of that wall was named Bromwell School. Until May, 1976, it was the pride and focal point of this community. We can attest to that through the reminiscing of 450 old-timers, and some not so old, who returned on May 2nd to hold a reunion and bid farewell to the old Bromwell. One person was 92 years of age. He came at 11:30 and stayed until 4:30.

Tonight, May 17th, 1976, we celebrate the birth of another Bromwell School. The 1976 Bromwell School was conceived back in 1970 and 1971 as a result of the recommendation of the 5-year Building Program that was projected, and with appreciation to the Board of Education for including Bromwell in the 1971 Bond Issue proposed to the citizens of Denver and voted by the citizens.

The concept of Modified Open Space as a way of construction came into focus in the DPS about the same time - this concept of design offering additional program options and alternatives for pupils and staffs.

...Fourteen months ago the quiet of the neighborhood was broken by the noise of heavy construction equipment. The smell of construction became evident, and our way of life at Bromwell changed. We had "on-the-site" education on how to construct a school!

When the new school opened, there was a shortage of desks, chairs, and (of course) walls. The two pictures below are from that time.

Eventually, the furniture arrived, as the picture below shows!