Broomfield Depot Museum reopening, drawing connections between 1919 pandemic and coronavirus

Jan. 2—An updated public health order allows educational institutions and places of worship to reopen.

The state order, amended Dec. 7, deemed worship activities as essential and allows places like museums, zoos and aquariums to open up to 25% capacity or 25 people per room, whichever is fewer.

The Broomfield Depot Museum has planned to reopen Jan. 9 and will be open Saturdays from 11 a.m .to 4 p.m.

Museum Coordinator David Allison said the museum will have new signage, some of which will highlight the Influenza Pandemic of 1919 and how children handled it.

"We are trying to make the connection between the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and 1919 and the COVID-19 pandemic of today," he said.

Allison said he hopes understanding the Influenza pandemic will help Broomfield residents build empathy.

"As we learn about the history of the Influenza pandemic, we can see that the human spirit is the same today as it was in the past, and we can learn how we might create a better future as a result," he said.

Allison said the museum staff is eager to welcome back visitors, and they've stepped up cleaning protocols to ensure everyone can have a safe return. Allison said no more than 12 people can be in the museum at a time under the health order, and physical distancing and masks will be required.

The Broomfield Veterans Museum remains closed until further notice, according to the museum's website

The Depot Museum is accepting stories and objects to help document Broomfield during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit friendsofbroomfieldhistory.org.

Worship activities deemed essential

In the same public health order, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced places of worship can operate without capacity limits. Outdoor activities are still strongly preferred, the amended order said, and masks are required indoors and there must be six feet of space between members of different households.

Broomfield United Methodist Church had not hosted an in-person church service since March 15, and staff said they chose to take a conservative approach to in-person gatherings.

On Christmas Eve, though, that changed when the church offered in-person Christmas Eve events in conjunction with three outdoor worship services and two online worship opportunities.

"We want both to minister to our community and protect it," Communications Coordinator Karen Smith said. "We feel that is the way to embody our faith and care for each other and still maintain the critical social and interpersonal connections that our community needs."

Smith said the church will remain closed through January and staff will reevaluate opening the church at the end of the month.

___

(c)2021 the Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.)

Visit the Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.) at www.dailycamera.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.