4 BOCNEWS.com AUGUST 2018 Supporting Local Black Business It is so exciting to be back in the SADDLE again. In 2006 I had to close henri’s of Denver due to illness, but I continued to share and help in the community. The journey has been a long one, but an interesting, and a Godly learning process. I thank and praise God for another opportunity to continue contributing to my community and family that I grew up in (20th Emerson). I reflect over the 70 years of My Life remem- bering the struggles our people had to go through just to own their business and to stay afloat. The black Mom and Pop stores on the corners in the neighborhood, and all the entrepreneurs in 5 Points, such as, Rhythm Record Shop, Selman’s Record Shop, Pig Ear Stand, Kapre Chicken, Golden Bird, 7-15, KC Lounge, Roxie Theater, Duncan Shoes, Star Filling Station and many, many more. Remember them? I know you do, they are all gone now, but we are in a different world now called tech- nology. henri’s of Denver is on board and moving with the times. I believe it is time for us to train our children, grandchildren, and other family members to step up and be the leaders our forefathers wanted us to be. My second wind has come, and henri’s of Denver is on line and kick- ing. Times have changed which has introduced us to the internet. henri’s of Denver has taken heed, on line, and ready to take a lead in this movement. With our Suits, Dresses, Extraordinary Beautiful Hats, henri’s Original handmade Jewelry, Pulpit Apparel, and beautiful accessories, you can’t go wrong with henri’s, but, wait the best is yet to coming. YES, A MEN’S LINE…. LOOK FOR IT, IT WILL BE HERE SOON! Keep checking out our website; we are adding new and more items to it. Email us and let us know want you are looking for. henrisofdenver.com henrisofdenver1@gmail.com BUSINESS PROFILE By Henri Anna Davis A Lifetime of Memories At 91-years old, you already have a lifetime of memories. Albert R.Groves, a World War II veteran, who grew up in Denver recalls all the changes he’s seen over the past nine decades. He was drafted into the army at age 18 and sent to Arbauck, Germany. During this time, Blacks and Whites were segregated in the Army. “Whites stayed at one end and Blacks stayed at the other end of the barracks,” he explained. He was sent to Fort Logan and Fort Leavenworth, then trans- ferred to Joplin, Mo for eight months before being shipped off to Columbia SC. While in South Carolina, he didn’t like the fact that Blacks had to sit in the back of the bus. “That was rough,” he said and how they weren’t allowed to ride the bus on weekends and during (Jim Crow) holidays. Between 1945 and 1946, Blacks and Whites serving in the military became integrated. “I had a good time in the ser- vice,” he laughed. “My only regret was that I got out of the Army.” Mr. Groves said he had more of a sense of freedom coming back to Denver after serving his time in the Army. “You could go to the show down on Curtis Street. No one acted like it was segregated, even though all the Blacks would end upstairs in the balcony. We all went to the Roxy Theater down on Welton.” “You didn’t seem like you were being segregated, but segregation was still in play.” Even after returning to his native city, Mr. Groves became a part of the vast changes, growth and development that Denver under- went. He lived on Glenarm Street in Denver, which was where the majority of Blacks lived along Glenarm to Humboldt and from Franklin to Gilpin. “Believe it or not, the dark- er skinned blacks lived in lower part of Denver from Glenarm to Humboldt. The lighter skinned blacks lived on the other side of Gilpin. So it was really segregat- ed between light skinned blacks and dark skinned blacks,” he explained it was done by the real estate companies to keep Blacks in certain areas of the city. That was more than 50 years ago. Blacks, of course, have tran- scended from that segregated sta- tus to living in all areas and neighborhoods in Denver. The most drastic change has been the housing market forcing people not to be able to buy a home or rent because of skyrock- eting prices. Nearly 50 years ago, Mr. Groves purchased his home in the Park Hill area for $17,500. Now the market value of his home is $444,000. Mr. Groves had his share of struggles growing up as a child. He explained how his mother died when he was 15 months old and father died when he was 13 years old. No family members wanted to take care of him and his brother. His uncle (father’s youngest brother) did finally take the two boys in. But Mr. Groves at age 15 ended up working at Walgreens wash- ing dishes and making salads. He dropped out of school in the Albert R Groves The most drastic change has been the housing market forcing people not to be able to buy a home or rent because of skyrocketing prices. Continued on Page 21 By Sheila Smith