Engineering Service Company

06/03/2026

Aurora's Historic Growth. Post 8/25

Following World War II, Aurora experienced rapid suburban growth, as did many cities in Colorado and elsewhere in the country. The abundance of inexpensive land and the resolution of water problems spurred residential construction that met the critical housing shortage that followed the war. Many soldiers who trained in the Rocky Mountain region settled down here with their families.

The recently passed GI Bill gave them the means to purchase a home. Aurora's population of 3,437 residents in 1940 jumped to 48,548 by 1960.

Developers like Sam Hoffman took advantage of the housing shortage and built 1,700 homes using an assembly line method of construction in a new neighborhood called Hoffman Heights. Families desired a modern home with a yard and space for an automobile, as well as strong community ties and good schools. The self-contained community of Hoffman Heights included 7,000 residents by 1953, as well as a fire station, park, shopping center and school.

To address the needs of a growing population, the city professionalized and expanded its police and fire departments. It also required subdivision developers to pave roads, install water and sewer lines, and create space for parks and schools. Aurora purchased its first water rights in 1957 and soon began to initiate plans to ensure water independence and allow for future growth.

Hoffman Heights can be seen in this 1951 aerial shot, just south of the Fitzsimons Army Hospital campus.

The subdivision known as Hoffman Heights was annexed by the city of Aurora in 1954.

The annexation was challenged by a number of Hoffman Heights residents, who wanted to incorporate as a separate city. They filed a lawsuit that eventually was appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, which ruled that the annexation had been legal.



[Image Description: 1951 aerial photo of Hoffman Heights subdivision, just south of Fitzsimons Army Hospital]

05/28/2026

FBI WARNING ‼️ A new phishing tool can bypass Microsoft 365 multi-factor authentication, giving hackers access to your Outlook, Teams and OneDrive accounts. Here's what you need to know: http://www.9news.com/article/news/nation-world/fbi-warning-phishing-tool-kali365-microsoft-accounts/507-1562564a-be79-4073-b4d9-b64f1c666456?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_9NEWS_(KUSA)

05/22/2026

Today, we would like to celebrate Chip’s 25-year anniversary at ESC.

We would also like to announce that, after 45 years in the surveying industry—including 30 years with ESC (5 years in the 1980s and the past 25 years)—Chip Beckstrom will be retiring effective June 1.

Chip, thank you for everything you have done for ESC and for the surveying industry. Congratulations on your retirement!

05/18/2026

Congratulations, Mac!

05/07/2026

04/08/2026

"On This Day" April 7, 1827
Benjamin Franklin Wadsworth

Today we remember Benjamin Franklin Wadsworth, born April 7, 1827 — an early settler whose influence helped shape the community that would become Arvada.
In 1870, the U.S. Post Office asked Wadsworth to name the growing settlement to distinguish it from other communities along Ralston Creek. His wife, Mary Ann Wadsworth, chose the name “Arvada,” honoring her brother-in-law, Hiram Arvada Haskin — giving our city the name we know today.

Wadsworth was among the early settlers in the area, contributing to Arvada’s agricultural roots and community development. His name lives on today in familiar landmarks like Wadsworth Boulevard, a lasting reminder of his impact on the region.
A respected member of the early agricultural community, Wadsworth’s legacy lives on not only in name, but in the roots of Arvada itself.

He passed away on April 12, 1893, but his story remains part of our shared history.

Attached are his photo, plus photo of the original Wadsworth cabin/earliest post office and another Residence where he lived off Grandview Ave

📜 Take a moment today to reflect on those who helped build our community.

04/08/2026

Very interesting.

Various brief shots illustrating the changing countryside; a tree being felled; workman at a table looking at plans while another holds a pneumatic drill bes...

03/18/2026

From chains to coordinates—celebrating the evolution of surveying and the professionals behind it.

Happy National Surveyors Week.

01/25/2026

Circa 1870s in Golden, Colorado!

Overview of Golden with Castle Rock and fenced residences.
"This thriving town is located at the mouth of Clear Creek Canon (Canyon), 12 miles west from Denver.

It is the intersection point of the Colorado Central, Golden & Julesburg, and Golden & South Platte Railroads. Directly east, and in close proximity rises Castle Rock, an eminence 600 feet high commanding a comprehensive and interesting view."

Photo and description by William Gunnison Chamberlain (Denver Public Library)

01/24/2026

Idaho Springs 1402 Miner St. Photos taken in 1897 and 2017.

Michael B. Graeff built a two-story wooden hotel at this location, which was popular due to its proximity to the railroad depot. Following a fire in 1880, the building was replaced with a brick structure known as the "Queen" Hotel. Throughout its history, the building was known by several names, including the Schiller, the Woodward, and the Portland Hotel. The building features distinctive brickwork on the upper story, brick-arched windows, and a decorated frieze. In 1978, the building was renovated to serve as a senior citizens' center. Further remodeling and the addition of a senior center apartment complex at the location were completed in November 1986.

Original photo provided courtesy Denver Public Library Digital Collection.

Colorado Then and Now Photographs History Colorado Historic Idaho Springs Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office