Hudson, CO: See how a Library builds community!
February 2024: Continuing on my journey to visit small towns along the I76 corridor, my next stop was Hudson (pop.1,651*) which has a small historic downtown on Cedar Street. However, my first stop was on the edge of town, to the Hudson Public Library. Buzzing with activity, it was clear that this library is a hub for the community! I learned the library is intertwined with area history. Read on!
Hudson is located in the southern end of Weld County.
Hudson – A Brief History
In 1883 the Hudson Post Office was established along with a railroad water and
supply stop for the Union Pacific along their new Colorado line between Denver and Eckley.
A plat was filed in 1887 for the Hudson City Land and Improvement Company (the town’s namesake). Land speculation was booming and a second plat was filed
for an additional 3,000 lots in 1889.
The creation of a Municipal Irrigation District in 1907 brought more land speculators, permanent residents and a newspaper. Approximately 75 farmers from Kansas and Oklahoma moved to Hudson between 1910 and 1913 and the town incorporated in Weld County in 1914.
In 1913, the Pepper family built a modest cafe on old Main Street and eventually a larger building next to Hwy 6. In 1956, the present building was constructed near I76. The Pepper Pod continues to be an iconic restaurant in the area – family owned and operated, celebrating over 110 years in business!
By 1930 the Henrylyn Municipal Irrigation District was irrigating 34,617 acres of southeast Weld County with water from the South Platte River. This helped to transform Hudson into a successful farming and agricultural community.
In May 1951,the Paul Gregg Pony Club founded the Hudson Public Library, in honor of 12-year-old Anita Jeanetter Casserotti who tragically died after falling off of a horse. The Pepper family donated a small storage building for the library, which was cleaned and painted. The Hudson Library was dedicated on June 6, 1951 with a collection of 500 donated books.
See How the Hudson Library builds Community
In the world of digital books, i used to wonder whether libraries would eventually fade away. In fact, libraries have reinvented themselves as community hubs. The Hudson Library is a perfect example of this. Here are 5 community-building programs i found at the library:
Community Room activities
As you walk in the door of the library, one of the first things i saw was an open door to the Community Room, with a full house! I learned on line that it was a Prime Timers senior group learning how to create a charcuterie board… cool! Below are just a few of the options on their community calendar
- Bi-lingual story time – meets every Monday
- Pack Mule fitness – meets every Monday late afternoon
- Prime Timers Senior Group – ages 55+, meets every Tuesday
- Story time – meets every Wednesday and Fridays
- Adult Yoga class – meets every Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings
- Messy Art Class – meets every month
- Trash to Treasure – ages 8-18 get to decorate a thrifted piece of potential treasure
- Sew a Softie (fox) – ages 6-12, learn beginning sewing skills
Makers Space
The Hudson Library has a collaborative work space which includes a variety of equipment (i.e. 3D printer, Laser Cutter, Sewing machines, Circuit boards, etc) for kids, adults and entrepreneurs to use at no cost. When I asked about the Create HQ Marketspace program at the front desk, a very nice young employee led me to the room and showed me around. Impressive! See their webpage and facebook pages for more information.
Words on Wheels – mobile books
During my visit to Hudson, i saw the Hudson Public Library bookmobile – so went online to learn more. They have a program called WOW! (Words on Wheels) which brings books, story time and crafts throughout the community.
Visit the historic Hudson Main Street
Anytime we visit a small town, we always look to see if it has a historic business district, as we have found these streets are generally the best way to get the vibe of community as a whole. Hudson’s original Main Street today is State Hwy 52. However there are still historic buildings along Cedar Street which is worth a visit! Two businesses that stood out to me are:
- End of the Trail – Google Maps – local hang-out with a nice looking patio
- Hudson Lockers – Google Maps – provide custom meat options (includingwild game processing); lots of local traffic at this place!
More to Explore!
During online research I found a long list of Upcoming Town events in 2024, as well as a YouTube channel for Hudson where they post Recreation and Events and a Hudson Event specific facebook page.
- Monthly: Senior Bingo & Lunch
- March: Easter Egg Hunt in Memorial Park
- April: Animal Vaccine Clinic
- May: Fishing Derby & Safety Day, Cedar Street Block Party & Market
- June: Music Mash in Memorial Park
- July: Hudson Lunch & Lawn Games
- September: Hudson Harvest Festival in Memorial Park
- October: Trunk or Treat in Memorial Park
- November: Veteran’s Ceremony
- December: Holiday Parade and Celebrtion
There is also an attractive event venue called Reeder, which looks like it might be historic and beautifully renovated (i couldn’t find information online about its history).
