Loveland’s HIP Streets Project Uncovers Historic Relics

Significant historical artifacts have emerged from the ongoing Heart Improvement Plan (HIP) Streets project in downtown Loveland, Colorado. Excavations have revealed a range of buried items, including a remarkable concrete cylinder linked to the city’s early infrastructure. This discovery adds to the narrative of Loveland’s transformation from horse-drawn transportation to modern vehicles.

Excavator operator Shane Ricks, who has spent eight years on various road projects throughout Colorado, made this find last month while working at the intersection of Fourth Street and Lincoln Avenue. During excavation for a new water line, Ricks felt a distinct difference in the material he encountered. “You get a weird feeling about certain things,” he explained. “I can feel the difference between concrete versus rock versus steel…just by the noise it makes against the bucket.”

Upon further investigation, Ricks and his crew unearthed a large, seven-ton concrete caisson, which was later determined to be the foundation for one of Loveland’s first mechanized streetlights. This streetlight was originally supported by a flagpole erected in 1918 to commemorate the city’s participation in the Liberty Loan campaign during World War I. Project manager Shelley Aschenbrenner noted the historical significance of the find, stating, “We started pulling historic photos and historic aerials…and we saw something in the middle of the road.”

Research indicates that the flagpole was removed in the late 1920s, at which point the caisson was repurposed. Aschenbrenner mentioned that historic photos from 1956 show the streetlight’s presence, but it disappears in later images, leading to speculation about whether the road surface was modified after the streetlight was decommissioned. “We’ve been trying to find information about when the new signals went up, but so far nothing,” she added.

Ricks expressed his excitement about the find, commenting, “It was definitely a lot cooler once we found out what it was.” He has a personal interest in vintage streetlights, with several old models in his garage. The caisson will be transported to the Loveland Recycling Center for safe storage.

The streetlight base is not the only historical item discovered during the HIP Streets project, which aims to modernize infrastructure along a five-block stretch of Fourth Street. In the six months since construction began, crews have uncovered various artifacts, including old bottles associated with the former Draper Drug Store and remnants of a wooden water pipe beneath Garfield Avenue. Abby Powell, assistant director of the Loveland Downtown District, speculated that the rusted horseshoes and nails found near Lincoln Avenue might originate from a local blacksmith shop.

With approximately one year remaining in construction, further discoveries are anticipated as work progresses into the older sections of Fourth Street. Powell remarked, “It’s so fascinating when you start digging. We’re hoping to find even more.”

To commemorate these historical finds, staff from the Loveland Downtown District and the Loveland Museum are collaborating to create an exhibition titled “Found on Fourth.” This exhibit is scheduled to open in fall 2026 and will showcase the artifacts discovered during the project, illustrating the evolution of Loveland from its early days of dirt roads and wooden pipes to the modern infrastructure in place today.

City officials and museum representatives are inviting community members to contribute by sharing historic photographs related to Fourth Street. Those with relevant materials are encouraged to contact the Downtown District at [email protected].

The HIP Streets project not only aims to enhance the infrastructure of downtown Loveland but also serves as a window into the city’s vibrant history, connecting past and present as new layers of history continue to emerge.