Andy Gordon taught me how to fly in 1973, and one snowy day that winter I took a number of aerial photos of Rifle. They’re fascinating to look at over 40 years later. Among other things, there is
- no I-70, so of course no bypass
- City Market was located where Remington Square is now
- City Hall and the Library are vacant lots; the Winchester Hotel had been torn down earlier that year during one of the boom/bust cycles
- The apartments at 5th and Whiteriver are not there
- Aspen Avenue had very few houses and wasn’t paved all the way to 7th Street
- Highlands East is farmland
- Rifle High School was held in what is now part of the Middle School
I also took some nostalgic photos of the Rifle A&W and of Ray Cole, its owner. By this time, the alignment of I-70 had been determined, and the Department of Highways had acquired and closed his restaurant. The Chamber of Commerce had purchased a railroad car from the Rio Grande for $1 and parked it near his restaurant; it was later moved to the SW corner of the intersection of First & Railroad, and subsequently junked.
Please leave comments if you notice anything else.
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