Andrew J. Macky was among the early settlers of Boulder who arrived with three ox-drawn wagons full of provisions to help start his new life. He quickly became involved in business and banking.
Shortly after his arrival in 1861, he accepted an appointment as postmaster. He also held the positions of county treasurer, justice of the peace, treasurer of Boulder and clerk of District Court.
As a result, Macky was one of Boulder's first success stories. He is credited for building one of Boulder's first fine frame houses at 14th and Pearl. At the time, Macky's home doubled as the first county courthouse and community meeting place for political, religious and social events until he built Union Hall for the town's meetings and events. He later went on to build the first brick business building and first brick home (1201 Pine Street) in the community. In 1877, he and Lewis Chaney also organized the First National Bank of Boulder. In addition, Macky was involved in projects concerning the development of reservoirs and fire departments by organizing and subsidizing the Macky Hose Company on January 5, 1877. His fortune continued when one of the mines he invested in extracted $5,000 worth of gold in 1886.
Andrew J. Macky is perhaps best known today, along with the assistance of Marinus Smith and David Nichols, as the men who led the drive that raised money to establish the University of Colorado in Boulder. The state legislature had appropriated $15,000 for the University on the condition that a similar sum be raised by Boulder citizens. With donations ranging from $15 to $1000, the town residents raised $16,806.33 along with land donated for the university site. 'Old Main,' the original university building, opened its doors to 44 students on September 5, 1877. Macky further cemented his legacy to the University of Colorado when he left $300,000 in his will to the school for the construction of an auditorium-rightly named Macky Auditorium.
References: Boulder in Perspective by J.B. Schoolland, Boulder County: An Illustrated History by Thomas J. Noel & Dan Corson, A Look at Boulder by Phyllis Smith, Frontier Boulder by Richard Fetter and the Carnegie Branch Library for Local History.
