Historic Greeley Hosts Art Show at Greeley Creative Arts Center Wardell Gallery

May 2026

In May, Historic Greeley hosted an art show at the Greeley Creative Arts Center (GCAC) entitled Preservation Around Town, an exhibit showcasing Historic Greeley's work to preserve and protect our community's historic architecture in celebration of Preservation Month.

Historic Greeley was delighted to host the show at a location that is itself a fantastic example of historic preservation around town and support the growing projects at the GCAC.

In 2024, the Greeley Creative District acquired the historic Macy-Alnutt Funeral Home at 702 13th Street in downtown with hopes of renovating the space into a creative arts center. The building was constructed in 1920 and was the Macy-Alnutt Funeral Home for over a century until the business relocated to west Greeley a few years ago. Since then, the imposing 7th-avenue structure sat vacant until being acquired by the Creative District for use as the new creative center. 

The Preservation Around Town art show highlighted local preservation wins and losses, materials and methods used to save iconic structures, and information for how to advocate for the historic fabric of our city and was up at the GCAC for the month of May.

If you are part of an organization that would be interested in hosting a temporary exhibition on historic preservation, please send us an email at historicgreeleyinc@gmail.com.

Do It For Greeley: Bob Tointon's statewide legacy of historic preservation in Greeley

 By Linde Thompson

In 2005, the board of directors of Colorado Preservation, Inc., the statewide preservation nonprofit, was mulling a weighty decision. Its annual fundraiser, the Dana Crawford Award gala, named for Denver’s most notable preservationist, was scheduled for later in the year. It was an important event for the organization — its primary fundraiser. And for the first time, CPI was considering honoring someone from outside the metro Denver area — and perhaps outside the prominent, deep-pocketed attendees of past galas.

But the names of Bob and Betty Tointon came to the attention of CPI, not just as benefactors of historic downtown Greeley, but as a well-known business couple who had a vast network of admirers both in and out of Greeley and Colorado. Only a few years before, in 2000, CPI had named downtown Greeley to its list of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places, a designation that had actually helped the area in raising awareness, so the Tointon’s efforts were well-known to the host organization.

CPI approached Bob Tointon about accepting its Dana Crawford Award, and not surprisingly, Bob graciously declined. As a construction executive and CEO of more than one major company, Bob’s accomplishments and philanthropy had filled his fireplace mantle with plaques and trophies many times over. And, as the driving force behind the renaissance of downtown Greeley, Bob was in it for the love of the community that he and Betty shared — not for another award.

But then CPI brought in its big gun: Dana Crawford herself called Bob. The two had history with development in downtown Denver in years past, and more significantly, they were both proud former Kansans who had made Colorado their homes.  In that phone conversation in 2005, Dana didn’t really play fair.  “I know you don’t need another award, Bob,” she said. “But do it for Greeley.”

That phrase is a good summation of Bob Tointon’s legacy in downtown — he did it for Greeley. He bought properties that were vacant and distressed in the late 1990s and early 2000s and poured millions into rehabilitation and development. He helped fledgling businesses that went into those buildings by extending reduced rents and building improvements. He supported the establishment of the Downtown Greeley Historic District, the Main Street program, and the Downtown Greeley National Register district, to name just a few preservation efforts.

And so Bob took Dana Crawford’s advice, and he and Betty accepted the award in May 2005, named for their fellow Kansan. The CPI staff and board realized that they shouldn’t have worried about a non-Denver honoree. The Sewell Ballroom at the DCPA was full of Tointon friends and associates from all over the state who contributed generously. At some point during her opening remarks, Dana Crawford looked at the roomful of attendees and said, “There’s an awful lot of people here whom I don’t recognize. Will all the folks from Greeley stand up?” A full two-thirds of the ballroom rose and cheers erupted. It was a good night to be from Greeley.

For many years after, the Tointon award dinner was one CPI’s most financially successful fundraising events, lending credence to the idea that important contributions could come from outside metro Denver. The Tointons continued to support CPI, and a few years later downtown Greeley was named a “Save” on CPI’s Endangered Places List.

Twenty years later, the work of historic preservation in downtown Greeley continues, with triumphs like the many Bob Tointon-funded rehabilitations — and defeats, like the demolition of historic downtown Greeley buildings making way for the Greeley civic campus.

But the fact that Greeley even has a downtown in which to locate its civic campus is because of the decades of contribution by Bob and Betty Tointon. Long before Dana Crawford encouraged him, Bob Tointon lived the phrase, “Do it for Greeley” — and we’re all the better for it.

Remarks for the Farewell City Hall event on February 27

The City of Greeley is set to host a farewell to City Hall event on Friday, February 27 at City Hall following the city's decision to demolish the historic structure as part of their plans to develop a downtown civic campus. Historic Greeley board member Annette Jaehn is set to speak at the event about City Hall's legacy and the importance of preserving historic structures in our city going forward. You can read Annette's remarks below, or hear them in-person at the Farewell City Hall event on Friday, February 27 from 10am-12pm at 1000 10th Street. 
 

We gather for what’s being called a farewell. But perhaps it is also a moment to reflect — on what we choose to carry forward as our city grows.

The Round Building was never just concrete and glass and steel. It was bold. It was different. It didn’t look like everything else around it. And that matters.

Cities need buildings that stand out. They need texture. They need landmarks to help us orient ourselves - not just physically, but emotionally.

Greeley has experienced moments like this before. Today, a parking lot marks the footprint of the Camfield Hotel and the Chief Theater. Where the Opera House once defined its corner, a different structure now stands. At the time, those changes likely felt practical and forward-looking. With time, many of us have come to see them as losses.

History gently reminds us that once distinctive architecture is gone, it cannot be recreated. And yet, preservation is not theoretical here. The Camfield Court Building is being restored. The State Armory is finding new life. These projects show that historic structures can anchor investment and coexist with progress.

Growth and preservation are not opposites. Healthy cities learn to do both. Architecture is one of the few art forms we live inside every day. It shapes how we experience our community and tell future generations who we were.

As this building comes down, I would offer one hopeful suggestion: let its story continue. Salvage architectural elements. Reuse materials. Echo its features in what rises next. Let redevelopment acknowledge what stood here before.

Because connection matters. When we weave pieces of our past into our future, we create a city with depth — not just square footage.

Today we say goodbye to a structure. And we also carry forward its story. The Round Building deserves to be remembered. Let’s ensure that its legacy remains part of Greeley’s ongoing story.