Petrikin's Hill

View from the Tower

Much of the information for this story came from the University of Northern Colorado Archives, and also Charles Martin, who survives his father at the Martin Supply and Salvage.

The site where the University Center stands today was known as “Petrikin’s Hill” many years ago, after Greeley banker J.M.B. Petrikin purchased the land in 1904 as a farm (although he never farmed it) and built his house on the highest hill in Greeley.

Before Petrikin, the area was known as “Knob Hill,” and from 1870-74, it served as the first cemetery in Greeley. The men who moved the bodies from the hill to what came to be known as Linn Grove Cemetery were quoted as saying, “We think we got them all.”

But now it was years later, and Petrikin, president of the First National Bank of Greeley wanted to give something to the people of Greeley. He talked his bank board into funding a large metal tower on the hill near his home in 1926. He wanted a place where people could climb to the top and see the open land, rivers and mountains for miles around. It became known as “Inspiration Point.”

Although built for sight-seeing, the tower also became a place for young couples to climb to the top and write their initials on the steel girding of the tower. It wasn’t long before the entire tower was covered with hearts and initials. Petrikin didn’t seem to mind.

During World War II, it was re-named “Victory Tower,” and a large metal “V” was welded to the top of the structure.

The tower remained on the hill after the land was purchased by the college in 1963, and it would be two years before it was removed. Mervin and Charles Martin of Martin Supply and Salvage, located west of Greeley on U.S. 34, tore down the structure and took it to their scrap metal yard.

They saved the top of the tower, and in 1971, placed it near an entrance to the yard and built a small shed. They placed a telescope inside so visitors could get close-up views of the mountains.

That top of Victory Tower remains at the scrapyard today, although it isn’t used as a viewing tower any longer. NV

 

Archives

UNC Social
Connect with UNC on our social networking sites.

unco.edu/social/