By Steve Plutt, Special to the Courier

It was in 1933 when John and Clara Vos came to Woodland Park and 1935 when the couple owned and operated a filling station here. That station was at the intersection of Park and Midland, about where Joanie’s Deli and the Thai Restaurant are now. Then they built a “cottage camp” called the Red Roof Cabins, which were at the corner of Midland Avenue and Fairview Street. During the 1930s, the CO 24 we know today did not yet exist, and their motel was positioned in what is now the middle of the highway, in front of Williams Furniture.

Just prior to the “new” Highway 24 coming into Woodland Park in 1937, the town and the State needed her property. So in a land swap deal with the Town, the Vos’ gave up their property and business and took ownership of the lot where John, Clara and three friends built a new, two story building where, after its completion, Clara opened “Vos Antiques.” She operated her antique store consistently from that day until 1982, when she sold it after reaching the age of 92.

This iconic landmark is sometimes viewed as an “ongoing insult to the city” by some city officials and residents alike, yet it was within its walls that Clara and her like-minded friends brainstormed and conceived many innovative ideas to make Woodland Park a better place to live.

For example, Vos was instrumental in raising the funds required to establish Memorial Park, a place we continue to appreciate and enjoy to this day.

If not for her and her lady friends, the 12 residential lots they purchased might very well be populated with homes today, instead of the entire south half of Memorial Park. Clara and her friends even planted 120 trees there and installed picnic tables and fire pits. Some of those trees remain today.

She was also responsible for making arrangements for health care professionals from Colorado Springs to come to Woodland Park and provide comprehensive health, dental, and eye care to the children at no charge to their parents.

For the town of Woodland Park, Clara was the driving force that made it all happen, and her groundbreaking ideas all originated in this building.

Clara was the Woodland Park town clerk from 1943 to 1945 and watched this town grow from 200 people to what it was in 1990 when she turned 100 years old. She loved Woodland Park with all her heart.

For nearly five decades, Vos was highly dedicated to enhancing Woodland Park as a more desirable and wholesome living environment for its residents. Clara was also involved in the women’s rights movement and she always worked to find ways for women to have their abilities appreciated.

Never having any children of her own, she did have many nieces and nephews and countless friends, including myself.

Vos was always very proud of the youth of Woodland Park and its school system. Since 1933 she was very active in the local P.T.A., serving as both its President and later, Vice-President. She also attended every single graduation ceremony from 1933 on.

Clara was also a world traveler, visiting places such as England, Belgium, Holland, France, Germany and Switzerland. However, once back home, she said “I haven’t found any place I care for as much as Woodland Park.” In a 1976 news interview, 85 year old Clara said, “I think Woodland Park has been wonderful to me and I want to spend the rest of my life here.”

Vos had a very keen interest in the welfare of her fellow man and her community. But beside being an undying community activist, Clara was also athletic. In her younger days she was an avid hiker and runner. At one point, she was the only female that entered the annual foot race up Pikes Peak. And she did it seven times but including her normal hiking she made the summit a grand total of nine times. Her dynamic lifestyle was also what led to her eventual decline. She suffered a severe injury while playing volleyball and was left to spend her remaining days in a wheelchair.

Vos turned 100 years old in 1990 and died on May 2, 1991 in Colorado Springs.

So this building may be a blight or an eyesore to some, but as for me, it is a landmark that has huge historical significance to the city of Woodland Park. It is a building where ideas were envisioned, promoted and advanced, that turned into so many positive improvements for Woodland Park, some that we still enjoy today, thanks to Mrs. Vos.