For immediate release October 21, 2016:
Castle Rock’s “lighting of the star,” presented by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, is a community event with a storied history dating back to 1936. This year’s Starlighting event takes place on Saturday, November 19, and Douglas County History Research Center (DCHRC) is seeking photos and other historical documentation of the star and this event from Douglas County residents for its Starlighting collection.
“The library is not just a place of learning, it’s also a place of history for all Douglas County residents,” says Adam Speirs, archivist with DCHRC, a service of Douglas County Libraries. “We want to build on that history by developing a more robust Starlighting collection.”
Of particular interest, says Speirs, are photos of the star following World War II. When the war ended on August 14, 1945, the star was converted into a V for victory—reportedly the first and only time it was lit as something other than a star. “We would love for residents to dig out their old photos, as well as their more current ones, and share them with us,” Speirs says.
Photos and other documents can be uploaded directly to the DCHRC’s website at DouglasCountyHistory.org beginning November 10. Residents can provide details on their photo/document submissions via an online form on the same page. They may also visit the DCHRC at Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock (Philip S. Miller branch, 100 S. Wilcox St.) with their historical pieces as well.
The Douglas County History Research Center collects and preserves the history of Douglas County, the High Plains, the Divide area of the Front Range, and the State of Colorado in order to provide historical research resources to the public. For more information, call 303-688-7730.
Douglas County Libraries will host Starlighting Santa and Puppet Shows and History of the Castle Rock Star at its Castle Rock branch to coincide with the Castle Rock Starlighting. Visit the Castle Rock location page at DCL.org and click on Castle Rock Events Calendar for more information or to register.
Douglas County Libraries is a passionate advocate for literacy and lifelong learning.