The History Behind Santa Fe Glass

Santa Fe Glass was originally established in the early 1920s selling paint and glass. Carl Westerberg began his career and got his union initiation May 20, 1931 in Local 930 of Denver, Colorado Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators & Paperhangers of America. After working in the trade for 8 years, he and a partner Charles Adams decided to buy Santa Fe Glass from Luster Waggoner. On a cold December 30, 1939 morning in Evergreen, Colorado, Mr. Adams and Carl Westerberg agreed to purchase Santa Fe Glass from Mr. Waggoner for the total sum of $3,335.05 and upon placing a deposit of $60.00, they began their adventure of business ownership.

After 5 years in business together, Charles Adams decided to sell his shares of Santa Fe Glass to Carl Westerberg for a total of $2,000. On July 27, 1945, Carl Westerberg began his run at sole ownership and operation of Santa Fe Glass. The company, from its inception, was located at 262 S. Santa Fe Drive. This building made several changes and grew to fit the operation. Gary Westerberg, Carl’s son, began his career working for his father at the family business as a young man. Gary then officially started in the glass business at Harding Glass in Kansas City MO. Gary came to work full-time with his father at Santa Fe Glass in 1964.

Carl and Gary worked together operating the commercial and residential glass business until Carl’s failing health and subsequent death in 1975. Gary then took over as owner and ran the business. Through the years, Gary’s children worked in the family business, providing commercial and residential glass services, including custom glass, glass replacement, glass installation, and much more. Santa Fe Glass sponsored youth baseball in the Columbine area and even had a couple championship youth teams. In 1990, Gary’s oldest son Chris was tragically killed working on a ranch while enrolled in the Veterinary School at Colorado State University. In the next couple years with the recent family tragedy and mounting financial pressures, Gary made the decision to close Santa Fe Glass. Gary closed the doors in July 1993 after ensuring that all debts were paid and the company was left with a good name.

Craig started his career in public safety and Clint stayed in the glass business. After 14 years of Santa Fe Glass being closed, while on a trip to Ft. Collins to present the endowed Christopher Nels Westerberg Memorial Scholarship at Colorado State University, Craig and Clint made the decision to look into the possibility of re-opening Santa Fe Glass. Then in July of 2006, Craig and Clint Westerberg re-opened Santa Fe Glass with the same phone number that was established in the 1940s before the advent of 7 digit telephone dialing. (Spruce-4491) Now we can be reached at 303-777-4491. Our office, which is now our commercial and residential glass showroom, is located at an updated newer, larger facility just a few miles south of the old facility and a block off of Santa Fe on Quincy at 1920 W. Quincy Ave.