Digital Collections

Betty Wonder Oral History

Details

Call NumberOH508CreatorWonder, Betty Lee, 1939-ContributorColorado Voice PreserveDate2013 September 21SummaryBetty Gallow Wonder was born July 17, 1939, in Denver, Colorado. A life-long resident of the Elyria neighborhood, she was the only child of working parents. She and many extended family members grew up and remained in the area. Betty spent most of her childhood with her extended family. She attended Swansea Elementary, Loyola Catholic, Cole Junior High, and Manual High Schools. She took her first job at age 14, and also left school early to find work. She has worked as a car hopper for a local drive-in, theater usher, saleswoman, factory worker, bartender, waitress, parking attendant, and a warehouse worker. In 1963, Betty was granted a divorce; her ex-husband died shortly afterwards. As of November 2013, she lives in her childhood home with her son. In the interview, Betty Wonder discusses the culture of the neighborhood, section 8 housing, the impact of Interstate-70 on the community, the possible contamination of the neighborhood and its sources, and the consequential health issues of the residents. She talks in depth about her family’s homes being taken during the initial Interstate-70 construction, her current home being taken with the proposed reconstruction, her possible relocation, Habitat for Humanity. She recalls visiting the Stock Show, circuses, and other shows during her childhood. She also discusses her involvement in the neighborhood watch program, other civic associations, employment history, current family members, old friends from the neighborhood, and old hang outs. She remembers the territory disputes between the youth of Elyria, Swansea, and Globeville, the boxing tradition of the area, former resident and professional boxer Max Baer, childhood pranks of her uncles and grandfathers, as well as the cultural tensions between different ethnic groups.Physical Description1 audio file (70:38)SubjectWonder, Betty Lee, 1939-Elyria-Swansea (Denver, Colo. : Neighborhood)--Personal narrativesGeographic AreaDenver (Colo.)TranscriberNelson, Cyns

Audio

Betty Wonder Audio

Document (PDF)

Betty Wonder Transcript

Betty Wonder at Valdez-Perry Branch Library