Beyond the Campus

The Stories that Move Beyond Loveland High School

Miss Loveland Valentine

Background and impact of the Miss Loveland Valentine’s on promoting the remailing program

Ellie Heiser and Kyla Schroetlin March 12, 2023

First cache created in 1953 by Ted Thompson, Chamber of Commerce president

Victoria Fischer, Ashley Arthur, Olivia Friske, and Abby Fledderjohn, just a few of the Miss Loveland Valentine’s throughout the years, a tradition that has been going since 1962. This year, Loveland celebrates its 61st year of Miss Loveland Valentine, by promoting the remailing program each year.

Elmer Ivers, the 1947 Loveland postmaster had received up to 40 Valentines from individuals requesting that the Valentines should be mailed from Loveland with their postmark. Many thought that by doing it this way, that it would add a “romantic touch” and that it would let people know about Loveland. Ted Thompson, the president of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, thought it would be a good publicity stunt for the town. Soon after, the idea was sprung into life and Ted created the first Loveland cachet shortly after with an outline of a heart pierced with an arrow saying, “A Valentine Greeting from Sweetheart Town, Loveland Colorado”.

300 Valentines were stamped that year, however, the next year when the same cachet was used, individuals requested a change in the cachet each year. Ted started to create a new cachet each year while keeping the significance of the first cachet. The program really took off when the Royal Canadians recorded the song, “There’s a Lovely Lake in Loveland” and featured their song during the radio show broadcast. By the late 1950s early 1960s, the program took off and up to 12,000 Valentines were being stamped. As of this year, there are over 100,000 Valentines being stamped and the re-mailing program is now in its 77th year. People still enjoy sending their Valentines from all parts of the world to have them stamped by the Sweetheart City.

The first Miss Loveland was Ellary Hackenburg, who was named back in 1962. She posed for many public attractions and was featured in newspaper articles. The Miss Valentine competition continues today as she is chosen from a group of high school seniors nominated from local high schools. The Chamber of Commerce panel of judges vote based on personality, interviews, a personal essay, poise, photogenics, and leadership. After chosen, her duties include representing Loveland through valentine activities and other events.

As the program celebrates its 61st year, the same traditions still continue, along with the same individuals being recgonized for their contribution to the Loveland community.

Ted and Mabel Thompson were titled as the sweetheart couple of the community, and their title still reigns today. Ted became the president of the Chamber of Commerce and through the start of the remailing service, him and Mabel started the the Miss Loveland Valentine contest. Mabel was described as a mother to 32 daughters, as her and Ted would chaperone the girls around the state to promote the remailing program.

Ted and Mabel’s legacy will never be forgotten as they were a part of many boards, committees, and projects than can be counted on top of their dedication to the remailing and Miss Valentine projects.

Ted and Mabel Thompson, chaperones & creators of Miss Loveland Valentine and Remailing Program

Ted and Mabel Thompson, a bronze memorial of the couple in Downtown Loveland

Both passed in the early 1990s, but can both be found in the bronze memorial of them holding hands at Thompson Park, in the Loveland Mueseum, or in all of their projects through their dedication to the community.

The Miss Loveland tradition shall carry on for years, as Norma Jean Goodheart, the chaperone for the 30th year as of 2023, continues to do so after Mabel’s contribution.

"The impact also overflows into the advocation I have to keep the program going, encouraging involvement and interest, and being a testament to how much it has meant to me and hoping others can experience that in their own special way." (Jamie Felton, Miss Loveland Valentine 2011).

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