Excavators Uncover Historic Relics in Loveland’s HIP Streets Project

Crews working on the Heart Improvement Plan (HIP) Streets project in downtown Loveland have unearthed significant historical artifacts while replacing infrastructure beneath a five-block stretch of Fourth Street. Among the discoveries is a large concrete cylinder, believed to be a remnant of a flagpole erected in 1918 during the Liberty Loan campaign for World War I.

Excavator operator Shane Ricks has spent eight years working on road projects across Colorado and has encountered various interesting finds, including fossils and an old pistol. However, nothing compared to the cylinder he uncovered last month while digging a trench for a water line at the intersection of Fourth Street and Lincoln Avenue. Ricks noted the unusual texture and sound of the obstruction, giving him the instinct that it was something noteworthy.

After further excavation revealed a seven-ton concrete object, Ricks and his team moved it to a corner near Thompson Pocket Park, allowing the city’s HIP Streets team to investigate its origins. Project manager Shelley Aschenbrenner collaborated with city surveyor Paul Hernandez to conduct research, which led them to discover that the cylinder was once the base for one of Loveland’s first mechanized streetlights, used until the 1950s.

“We started pulling historic photos and historic aerials,” Aschenbrenner explained. “We saw something in the middle of the road.” Their research revealed that the original flagpole was removed around a decade after its installation and repurposed as the foundation for the streetlight.

A historic image shows the original streetlight at Fourth Street and Lincoln Avenue, supported by the concrete caisson. Ricks, who describes himself as a “car guy,” expressed excitement over uncovering a piece of Loveland’s transition from horse-drawn wagons to motorized traffic. “It was definitely a lot cooler once we found out what it was,” he said.

The caisson will be transported to the Loveland Recycling Center for storage. This discovery is just one of many artifacts found during the ongoing construction. In the six months since the project began, crews have also uncovered old bottles, remnants of wooden water pipes, and rusted horseshoes, possibly linked to a nearby blacksmith shop.

As construction progresses, the final two blocks of Fourth Street are expected to yield even more surprises. Abby Powell, assistant director of the Loveland Downtown District, expressed enthusiasm for what might be discovered as work continues. “It’s so fascinating when you start digging,” she said. “We’re hoping to find even more.”

With about a year left in the project, the Loveland Downtown District and the Loveland Museum are collecting items for a new exhibit titled Found on Fourth, set to open in fall 2026. The exhibit will showcase the artifacts unearthed during the construction and narrate the evolution of downtown Loveland from dirt roads and wooden pipes to modern infrastructure.

City and museum officials are encouraging community members to contribute historic photos that may enrich the exhibit. Those with relevant images or materials related to Fourth Street are invited to contact the Downtown District at [email protected].

The ongoing HIP Streets project not only aims to modernize the area but also serves as a fascinating window into Loveland’s rich history, intertwining the past with the present.