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Bettie Cram Oral History

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Call NumberOH506CreatorCram, Bettie Johnson, 1922-2020ContributorColorado Voice PreserveDate2013 September 14SummaryBettie Johnson Cram was born September 18, 1922 on a farm near Niwot, Colorado. After high school she moved to Denver and worked several jobs. In 1941, she found work at the Livestock Exchange Group. She remained there for several years, working in different buildings and departments. She met her husband, Eddie Cram while working there. After their marriage, they settled in the Swansea neighborhood and raised two daughters. After Eddie passed away, Bettie remained active in the Pilgrim Congregational Church and a variety of community associations, especially the redesign of Interstate-70. As of November 2013, she still lives in the Swansea neighborhood. In the interview Bettie Cram discusses her memories of working at the Livestock Exchange Group, its different buildings and departments, and the changes that occurred with automation. She also addresses the disappearance of the packing houses in the early 1960s, the expansion of the stockyards and the houses that were consequently demolished, and her hope that the National Western Stock show will help the area. Other topics she discusses are: the construction of the Valley Highway, Interstate-70’s impact on the neighborhood and her activism against its reconstruction. She also discusses the history and lack of historic buildings in the neighborhood, Pilgrim Congregational Church, boxing matches, theaters, and the need to keep the heritage of the area. She mentions the change in the demographics of the neighborhood and assimilation of new immigrants into the community, and several families she’s known from the neighborhood.Physical Description2 audio files (38:07)SubjectCram, Bettie Johnson, 1922-2020Swansea (Denver, Colo.)--Personal narrativesStockyards--Personal narrativesGeographic AreaSwansea (Denver, Colo.)TranscriberNelson, Cyns

Audio

Bettie Cram Audio 1

Bettie Cram Audio 2

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Bettie Cram Transcript

Bettie Cram at Valdez-Perry Branch Library