The Nederland Area Historical Society (NAHS) and the Boulder Arapahoe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) have been working together for some time to publicly honor former Nederland resident Grace Fairchild Gillaspie. On August 13 people gathered at the Gillaspie House, which is now a museum, to dedicate a bench and plaque in honor of Gillaspie.

The Arapahoe Chapter of the DAR has financed the bench and the plaque and they are honored to do so. In the 1930s and 1940s Gillaspie held the positions of Chapter Regent, State Regent and National Vice President of the DAR. This is the 11th historical site that this DAR chapter has marked in Boulder County.

Retired local teacher, DAR member and NAHS member Lee Tillotson and NAHS board member Jessie Ansari did a tremendous amount of research to make this project a reality. Both women spoke about Gillaspie at the dedication ceremony. NAHS President Emmit Hoyl welcomed the crowd and Janis Tennery Regent of the Boulder Arapahoe Chapter of the DAR also spoke. Tennery shared how the DAR works together to honor women, preserve history, and this is always through a lens of service and education.

This was a time to learn about and remember Grace Gillaspie. It is also a time to acknowledge that women during Gillaspie’s time in Nederland (early 1900s), as well as prior to that time and even into today are far too often forgotten and invisible. With honoring Gillaspie we are taking away a layer of ignorance. When we honor women or anyone who is marginalized in society we are taking a deeper look at ourselves as a society.

At Grace and Dr. Carbon Gillaspie’s former home in Nederland, on the corner of Bridge Street and 4th Street, you can now sit down and rest on the bench. One can enjoy the shade on a hot summer day or catch your breath after walking up the Bridge Street hill. All are welcome.

To find out more about the Gillaspie House, check out the NAHS website at https://www.nederlandareahistoricalsociety.org/ gillaspie-house.