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12BODYOFCHRISTNEWSMAY2013LongtimeDenveriteandhistori-an-through-experienceNormanHarrisSr.hasownedpropertiesinDenversFivePointsareasince1947.InordertounderstandhowheacquiredsuchpropertiesherecentlytookBodyofChristNewsBOCNbackintimewhenitallcameabout.OriginallyfromEmporiaVirginiainGreenvilleCountyHarrisSr.wasdraftedintothearmyairforceandwaspassingthroughDenverinJanuary1943onamilitaryconvoyfromFortGeorgeG.MeadeheadingtoKearnsUtahforbasictraining.AtthattimeduringWorldWarIIDenverwasarail-roadcenterterminalfornearlyeveryrailroadcompanygoingeastandwest.SegregationwasverymuchapartofAmericancultureandwhenthetrooptrainsstoppedinDenverHarrisSr.andotherblacksoldiersheadedforentertainment.BlacksoldierswenttotheUSOClubonGlenarmStreetwhilewhitesoldiersheadeddowntowntotheCosmopolitanHotel.Hestatedthatthiswascommonwheneverthesoldiershadalayoverinacityblacksoldiersweretakentotheblackneigh-borhoodstosocializeinblackUSOClubsandwhitesoldiersweretakentowhiteneighborhoods.Harrisrecalledthatinthemid-to-late1940sDenverwaspredominantlyblackfromYorkStreetgoingeastandalsonorthtothestockyards.TheFivePointswasthemainarteryoflivebusi-nessandentertainment.TherewasalotofworkactivitiesgoingonbecauseoftheWar.AlotofblacksfromTexasKansasandSt.LouisallcametoDenverlookingforworkandtherewasplentyofittogoaround.TherewereclosetofivemilitaryinstallationstosupporttroopsinDenveralonealongwithwar-timemanufacturingbusi-nessessuchastheRockyMountainArsenalthatwasmakingbombsandshellsfortheWar.AfoodsourcemaderationpackagesforthetroopslocatedonYorkStreet.DowntowntherewasacompanyonBroadwaythatmanu-facturedtentsforthetroops.GatesRubberCompanyoneofthelarg-esttiremanufacturingcompaniesinAmericamanufacturedtiresforthewarefforttoo.Thisiswhypeoplewerecominghere.TheseweregoodtimesandgoodmemoriesforHarrisSr.TheFivePointsdistrictwasabustlingplacewithpeoplewalkingaroundalldayandgoingtotheexcitingclubsallnight.Therewerenearlysixorsevenentertainmentclubsthereweregrocerystoreshardwarestorescloth-ingstorestheatersandbusinessesHarrisSr.recalled.DenverhadanNAACPTheUrbanLeaguetheElksClubtheMasonryandawholelotofothernationalblackmenandwomensorganizations.ThiswastheplacetobeHewasimpressedwiththeclasswithwhichblackDenveritescarriedthemselvesandsaystheywerewelldressedandfriendly.AfterWorldWarIIwasovermanyofthetroopscamebacktoDenverandtherewasalotofavailableworkintheFivePointsareaandalsoatFitzsimmonsLowryAirForceBaseFortLoganRockyMountainArsenalandtheFederalCenter.InadditiontherewereplentyofpackinghousesintheDenverareaaswellasmanufacturingplantsthatmadecreosotefortheMidwest.Thecowboyscameheretooforstockshowsandranchersandfarmerscametobuytheirsupplies.-DenverwastheMeccaoftheWest.FromhisgoodtimesspentinDenverbackin1943HarrisSr.rememberedthewell-educatedblacksalltheactiv-itygoingonintheFivePointsareaandappreciatedtheeconomicoppor-tunitiesthere.Denverappearedtohimtobeacenterforblackcul-tureespeciallyforblackwomenwhohadtheirownbusinessesontheFivePoints.HereminiscedaboutthethreeorfourtheaterslocatedonthePointsthebigbandsthatplayedwithjazzgreatssuchasDukeEllingtonandCabCalloway.Whitesoldierswouldbeentertainedonenightandblacksoldiersthenextbeforethebandsandentertainersmovedontothecoast.ForHarrisSr.andtheblackcommunitytimesweregoodandseg-regationhadnonegativeimpactonthem.SoafterHarrisgotoutoftheservicehecamebacktoDenverandgotajobusedhisG.I.Billandwenttoschool.Hesoonboughthisfirstproperty-abuildinglocatedat3048CaliforniaStreet-stillstandingtodayatthepointwheretheLightRailturnsaroundonWeltonStreet.Theblackpopulationwassubstan-tialwhenHarrisSr.beganlivinginDenverinthelate1940s.AtthetimehepurchasedhisfirstpropertysomeblacksliveddownbythePlatteRiveralong6thAvenueallthewayuptotheSearsRoebuckCompany.OtherblackslivedfromCurtisStreetallthewaytothepackinghousepasttherail-roadtracks.Therewasabigrailroadcenterherethatrepairedtrainson38thAvenueandmanywhitepeoplelivedinthatarea.AsblacksbegantomoveaboutDenvertheybegantobuypropertysincewhitepeopledidnotwanttoliveamongstusandmovedContinuedonPage18NEIGHBORHOODSDenveriteTellsofFivePointsIllustrativeHistory