Elmwood Cemetery

Elmwood Cemetery is one of two, and the largest public cemetery in Brighton. It was officially established in 1896, but there had been burials prior to that dating back 20 years.. It’s operation was taken over by the city in 1948. The cemetery covers apporoximaely 50 acres and is the final resting place of many Brighton dignitaries. Among them are:

Emmett Ayers Bromley, called the Father of Adams County (Colorado, in which Brighton is the county seat). He was a farmer and state legislator. He proposed and was instrumental in pushing through the bill that created Adams County. His farm sits on the southeastern outskirts of Brighton, bordered by Bromley Lane, named in his honor. The farm in now listed (Bromley Farm/Koizuma-Hishinuma Farm) on the National Register of Historic Places.

Dewey Strong, co-founder (with Daniel Carmichael) and early mayor of Brighton. Carmichael plotted the early south side of Brighton in 1880, and Strong plotted the north side a year later. He owned and operated The Strong Merchantile, whose second building still stands on Main Street. He is honored with a street and park named after him in Brighton.

James (JN) Counter; State Legislator and Brighton Businessman. JN owned Counter Lumber (orinially Stouffer Lumber), the first lumber yard in Brighton. His business supplied the materials for the construction of the Adams County Courthouse. He served as a state representative from 1914-1916

Harry “Tiny” Hill, a big band era musician and band leader of the 1930s and 1940s. He was a large man, 375 lbs, and was billed as “America’s Biggest Band Leader” He had several hit during that time and founded Brighton’s first radio station, KHIL in 1956

Lloyd Barker, son of the famous Ma Barker. Lloyd did not share in most of the infamy of her mother and brothers. He was locked up in Leavenworth for 16 years after being convicted of robbing a mail truck for $7500 in bonds. By the time he was release from prison, his mother and brothers were dead, so he never achieved the same notoriety. He did not escape a violent death, as he was shotgunned by mentally ill wife in 1949. His grave is unmarked.

Elmwood is opened 7 days a week, from dusk ‘til dawn. The administrative office which can assist with finding a particular grave is opened Monday-Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM