As Immigrants Age, Brighton Buddhist Temple Set to Close

October 2, 2005

Source: GJSentinel.com

Wire Service: AP

On October 2, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Seventy years ago, Japanese-Americans working their Adams County, [Colorado] vegetable farms began building a place where their large families could gather, meditate and learn the teachings of Buddha. Since it was dedicated in February 1940, the Brighton Buddhist Temple could boast up to 160 members. But a decline in the number of followers of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, coupled with the fact that members' children were moving away for more urban lifestyles, has forced the 20 remaining members to close the temple. Those followers, all in their 70s and 80s, gathered Sunday for the temple's final service. The wooden structure in Brighton's downtown is being sold to a developer who has promised not to raze it, said member Mary Shibao, whose future husband helped build the temple when he was 14. The temple's Buddhist shrine will be moved to the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple."