Serene, Colorado facts for kids
Serene, Colorado was once a company town in Colorado, owned by a company called the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company. A company town is a place where a company owns most of the homes and stores, and most people living there work for that company. Serene was built around the Columbine Mine, a coal mine, and had homes for workers and a special building to get coal ready. There was even a post office in Serene from 1923 to 1942. Serene is also known for a sad event called the Columbine Mine Massacre that happened there on November 21, 1927.
What Was Serene Like?
In 1927, many coal miners across Colorado went on a strike. This strike was organized by a group called the Industrial Workers of the World. During this time, the Columbine Mine in Serene was one of the few big coal mines in Colorado that kept working.
A writer named Phyllis Smith described Serene in her book Once A Coal Miner. She said it was a group of simple company houses surrounded by a fence made of barbed wire. At night, a huge searchlight from the coal processing building lit up the area.
Besides homes for the miners, Serene also had a church, a place for gambling, a general store, a dining hall, and the United States post office.
Because of its location, Serene was somewhat cut off from other towns and workers. Even though its name "Serene" means peaceful, the town showed the difficult conditions that miners were protesting against during their strike.
The Columbine Mine Incident
To stop a protest by the striking coal miners, a group called the Colorado State Ranger Unit was called in. This group used to be involved in stopping alcohol sales during the prohibition era.
On the morning of November 21, about 500 protesters arrived at the mine. There was a clash between the striking miners and the militia. This event became known as the Columbine Mine Massacre. Six miners were killed by gunfire from machine guns, rifles, and pistols.
Where Was Serene Located?
Serene was located on rolling hills just west of the main highway known today as Interstate 25. It was also near Colorado State Highway 7. You can find a special Historical Marker nearby that remembers the Columbine Mine Massacre.
Today, the area where Serene once stood is a public landfill. It is in the very southwestern part of Weld County, close to the towns of Erie and Broomfield.
