Denver History Tours Blog

DenverUrbanism!

2011-01-09T21:37:00.002-07:00

For my regular readers over the past three years or so, I am still posting periodic blogs but have joined up with the best of Denver's urban bloggers over at DenverUrbanism.com

Check out all of the great information at that site on urban planning, historic preservation, urban renewal, infrastructure development and associated topics: all with a focus on Denver and environs.

I may still post a longer blog or two here but most of my shorter posts will be over at that site and cover topics on Denver's past, just like here.

However, please continue to email me all of your great questions to denverhistorytours@gmail.com

Otherwise, see you at denverurbanism.com

Shawn Snow

Early Denver Homes: 2222 Champa

2010-09-08T00:30:00.013-06:00

One of my hobbies is collecting early Denver related ephemera such as post cards and pictorial tour booklets. A few years back, I purchased a circa 1890 booklet entitled "Souvenir Album of Denver, Colorado". In it are drawings of numerous buildings around town, including the houses of the prominent citizens of Denver. Most of these houses were in downtown proper or close by. Doing the research on even one house takes a while but here's what I found out about 2222 Champa, the home shown above.

This lovely Second Empire house was the residence of Wolfe Londoner, Mayor of Denver. He was elected in 1889. His detractors immediately accused him of ballot stuffing and corruption. The Rocky Mountain News stated the election to be "the most disgraceful in the history of Denver politics, corrupt as they have been before." This seems to imply that although previous elections were corrupt, this one took the cake. Saloon owners and other unsavory proprietors such as Ed Chase, Soapy Smith and Bat Masterson were said to have perpetuated and encouraged this corrupt behavior. Subsequent investigations led to Mr. Londoner's removal from office in 1891 just before he was to finish his term as mayor. He has been the only mayor to be removed from office.

Wolfe Londoner

One can imagine the mayor riding his carriage over to City Hall at 14th and Larimer. Or perhaps he took the Curtis or Stout streetcar into downtown. His home at 2222 Champa was among many nice homes in the southern reaches of what we now call the "greater" Curtis Park neighborhood. At the turn of the last century, the thought of this area succumbing to the ravages of growing urbanism would have been unthinkable.

But the march of the 20th century radically changed this part of downtown. Today, the lots where the house once stood sit within the city of Denver's planning area known as Arapahoe Square. The area has among the highest concentrations of parking lots in the city. The homes that once stood here were demolished for business uses or parking lots. Only a few original houses remain in this Arapahoe Square area, mostly along adjacent Stout Street...and they are in very sorry shape. For the mayor's lot, Nate's Import Service and the adjacent parking lot now occupy the space, with an address of 2218 Champa. Investigation of the Sanborn Insurance Maps of 1890 indicate that Mayor Londoner had a double lot with the house sitting mostly upon today's parking lot with Nate's Import Service now occupying what was once part of the yard.

Mayor Londoner's home was demolished in 1940. Records and newspaper evidence indicate the home was constructed in 1878. The area near the home had begun a long decline after the Broadway road extension was put through in 1909. This endeavor sliced through the whole neighborhood and resulted in numerous demolitions. Even prior to that, the area's residential character was called into question as the house on the corner was replaced in 1904 by the Moratto Block (a building which remains).

The Londoner Home May 1, 1909
From the Denver Republican p. 12. The article talked about the declining property values caused by the extension of Broadway through the neighborhood, less than a block from Londoner's home.

These two clips come from the Denver Post, April 2, 1940

Pictures from the modern era in the 2200 block of Champa follow below:

The Moratto Block is the building that sits on the corner. For many years during the middle 20th century to circa 2000, various bohemian coffee shops occupied its walls, including Muddy's Java Cafe. Nate's Import Service is the building north of the Moratto Block.

This parking lot and Nate's Import Service, 2218 Champa, sit on the site of the former Londoner Mansion and yard. In the rear of the photo, you can view the back of one of the few remnant homes on this area south of Park Avenue. That home faces Stout Street.

Nate's was built in 1935 as an auto service garage. Its footprint encroached well into the yard of the former Londoner Mansion, leading to the home's demolition in 1940 as the residential character of this portion of Denver began to change more dramatically.

A front view of Nate's, 2218 Champa.

A close-up of Nate's with the Moratto Block in the rear.

Seeing this type of urban change over time is but one example of the amazing diversity and plethora of housing that once existed all the way from 1st Street up to 44th Street in what we now call downtown Denver. All of the housing in the current Central Business District is long gone except for the Curry-Chucovich-Gerash House at 1439 Court Place. Between 20th and 23rd Streets (Park Ave), very little housing remains. This is what makes all of the homes that make up the Curtis Park Historic District so miraculous. These old homes survived to the present day. Places like the Londoner home though are not among the survivors. Many other amazing architectural wonders were also lost. This bit of research on one such home offers a window into this lost past.

Historic Denver Brands

2010-07-21T22:50:00.007-06:00

A summer of research has turned up some interesting advertisements from Denver's past. Taking a bit of a diversion from my normal building related posts, here are some ads from a Broadway Theater program dated January 22, 1906.

The beautiful Broadway The ater used to be located at 1756 Broadway across from the Brown Palace Hotel. It was demolished in 1955. This showplace featured numerous acts over the years.

While we lament the awful destruction of the Broadway, we can live it again (sort of) by looking at these fun ads:

This ad came out before the Daniels and Fisher Company had built its signature clock tower and flagship department store at 16th and Arapahoe. Daniels and Fisher used to be located nearby at 16th and Curtis.

The University of Denver started out its life as the Colorado Seminary in 1864. It was founded by our second territorial governor, John Evans. Dr. Evans' house stood across the street from DU until 1910 when it was demolished to make way for the Denver Tramway headquarters (today's Hotel Teatro).

The Oxford is one of two downtown hotels still in public use from Denver's early years. The other is the Brown Palace. The other 48 or so privatly run hotels have mostly been demolished over the years although a few of the buildings remain standing even though their uses have changed.

If you have been to Dixon's Downtown Grill at 1610 16th Street, you may have noticed the Solitaire name in the windows. This grocery brand was sold and produced by the Morey Mercantile Company which used both the Henry Lee building where Dixon's is now located as well as the adjacent Tattered Cover Bookstore, built originally for the Morey Mercantile Company.

Ah, Baur's. This Denver institution of candy and ice cream started in 1872 and nearly lasted one century before caving into urban renewal downtown. With much of its 20th century business related to the theater crowd located on Curtis Street, the continual closure and removal of these theaters after WWII led to Baur's demise. It relocated to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center around 1955 and was closed down completely by 1970. Today however, the name and sign live on in the same building at 1512 Curtis with Baur's Ristorante.

Deep Rock still delivers water and is still located in the Five Points neighborhood after all this time. Of course, it helps that the underground aquifer the company uses is still serving outstanding water for over a century!

Enjoy this look into Denver's past through these fun ads. More to come in the future.

Post Office Terminal Annex and EPA Building

2010-05-25T23:08:00.011-06:00

This photo, circe 1992, shows the massive Post Office Terminal Annex rising to the left, behind the bridge over 15th Street. The old Moffat Train station is on the far left (photo from Denver Public Library Western History Collection X-23640)

The EPA building is shown from the 16th and Wynkoop corner (photo courtesty of EPA).

It wasn't too long ago when one of the more convenient post offices downtown was located at 16th and Wynkoop. The old Post Office Terminal Annex disappeared however to make way for the EPA Region 8 Headquarters and the adjacent 1515 Wynkoop office building. The building's use as the main sorter facility for mail had been taken over by a larger facility at 56th and Quebec so the majority of the building was no longer in use. Visit DenverInfill.com to learn more about the transformation of this site.

Here I am in 2000 with the initial development of the Central Platte Valley in full swing. Standing atop the new hill created when Commons Park rose out of the former railroad yards, the Post Office is clearly visible. What a difference ten years makes! And there's more to come.

The new buildings on the Post Office site are particularly intriguing, especially the EPA.

Upon entering the building, your eye is drawn upward. Is the building without a roof? No, it's up there, just way WAY up there! And the light is so bright, the illusion is harder to dispel, but that comes from bright sails near the ceiling, sails that transmit the natural sunlight down into the atrium, further enhancing the thought that you are outside. In front of you are stairs ascending, some large, some small and the sound of water is nearby. Elevators glide smoothly on their paths and people may be seen through the numerous windows that are in the interoir of the building. A vertical column of light and connectivity forms the interior of the building, a secret hidden to those on the outside, gloriously revealed upon entering.

One of the building's more intriguing features is not as impressive in scope in many ways, but more so on consideration. The living roof, covered with plants, looks like a gardener's pallette, but it does so much more than simply provde space for plants. The breathing things planted around the crown of the building absorb heat, reducing the costs to cool the building, and calm the flow of water from our tempetuous rains. Even if the intricate dance of management and growth of the roof fails to move you, the view is spectacular!

This green roof can serve as an inspiration for continuing this trend across the roofs of Denver. This movement has been very successful already in Chicago. The EPA building's innovative environmental design can only have a postive effect on the future built environment of Denver as it influences the next generation.

The EPA has expanded its offerings to the public, to help folks get to know the building and see its remarkable designs first hand. Normally, a full tour of the building requires advanced reservations. However, the public may do a shortened version of the tour on their own and without such reservations.

To learn more about the green features of this building, self-guided tour possibilities, or to schedule a full tour, click here or call Patty Provencher at 303-312-6836.

Colorado History Museum

2010-04-14T20:23:00.016-06:00

Over the past five months, I have been working on packing and preparing to vacate my workplace: the Colorado History Museum. When I'm not giving tours, researching and writing...I have to find time to actually work! Anyway, it's been a bittersweet time, so this overdue blog covers a brief history of the Colorado Historical Society's buildings and history since 1879.

The Historical and Natural History Society, the State Historical Society of Colorado, the Colorado History Museum, the Colorado Heritage Center, the Colorado Historical Society, and now History Colorado....all of these names and more have graced our state's "history museum" over the years since its founding in 1879 with Dr. Frederick Bancroft as the first president.

History Colorado (the newest name for everything associated with the Colorado Historical Society) as an entity has manifested itself most recognizably in its various museums and collections brought together over the years since its founding. Today, along with numerous regional museums across the state such as the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose or the Healy House and Dexter Cabin in Leadville, the state's main repository for past history has been various buildings in Denver since 1879.

The old Glenarm Hotel, old Chamber of Commerce, old Mercantile Library, and the old Arapahoe County Courthouse gave space to the museum over the years. By 1895, the museum had moved to permanent quarters in the basement level of the still-under-construction state capitol. Included in the museum's collection at this point was the large cache of archaeological wonders from Mesa Verde which had been purchased from the Weatherill brothers in 1889 for $3000. All the eclectic collection fit into 13,000 square feet and it soon became apparent that more space was needed.

One of the last buildings designed by architect Frank Edbrooke, the new state museum opened to much fanfare in 1915 with 59,000 square feet of space. This was the museum's longest-lived home where it stayed for 62 years. The building still stands at 200 14th Avenue.

By the early 1970s, pressure grew for expanded space once again. Enter the Colorado Heritage Center which joined the new State Judicial Building in one big modernist complex. The museum now had over 135,000 square feet for various uses, including space to house its growing collection. A competition was held to design the new buildings and the winner was none other than Rogers-Nagel-Langhart Architecture Company, better known by its initials of RNL today. The project definitely proved to be a challenge both architecturally and monetarily. Even before the competition, RNL said that the project was for two very incompatible uses. While it was felt the Judicial Building should be quiet and restrained, the Heritage Center should be inviting to people, particularly large numbers of children.

Upon its completion, the reviews were decidedly mixed in how to regard this new modernist structure and if it indeed was "inviting to people". While the Colorado Historical Society was certainly pleased to have a new building, negative feelings still found there way into print. Said W.E. Marshall, the Historical Society Executive Director, "In a state of mountains and plains, it is psychologically inapporpriate....for the history of Colorado to be relegated to a basement." Most of the museum's exhibit space was indeed located on the underground level. He also felt that the revised layout and structure "diminishes the structure to a level inconsistent with the functions, purposes and repsonsibilities of the Historical Society." "The exterior looks like a subway station," he continued.

Indeed, the overall reputation of the building has suffered over the years as few could recognize that the building housed a museum. Signage and exterior design elements were modified over the ensuing years to make the function of the building more apparent. The relatively recent addition of the handsome signature history panel certainly helped (see below). Still, a 1982 local pamphlet called the Capitol Hill Guidebook featured this building on its list of 'Archiectural Crimes Against Denver: a Few Candidates for Demolition'. The caption for the Colorado Heritage Center gave the following description: "the physical embodiment of the word 'hostile'".

And with its age not even yet 35, this publication gets its wish. Another example of our 1970s architectural heritage will be lost. Demolition of this building is set for May 2010. The museum gets its wish for a larger facility although this reality is really being pushed by the state judicial system--it wants more space as well. That institution will build a new expanded facility on the entire block, demolishing its current structure along the way. Click this link to learn more at DenverInfill.com.

The Colorado Historical Society has a new 200,000 square foot museum under construction at 1200 Broadway. While its design is certainly more dramatic than the current facility, it certainly is not going to turn any heads. Hopefully though, people will recognize it as a museum! As for the now "old" facility, soon to be razed......will we regret the loss of yet another 20th century building? Our built environment of the 1960s and 1970s is disappearing. Although these buildings themselves often replaced wonderful Victorain structures, showing no mercy themselves when constructed, are we not just repeating the same mistakes of the past. While the Colorado History Museum at 1300 Broadway has had its detractors, it definitely was a unique building that I have been proud to both work in and be involved with through volunteer work since 1999. I'm sorry to see it go.

Look for the new History Colorado Center to open in 2012 with the Colorado Historical Society, Colorado History Museum, State Historical Fund and Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation all under one roof .

Colorado Casket Company

2010-03-04T22:30:00.005-07:00

Oftentimes when I am doing research I come across random photos and think to myself, "Surely this building must have been demolished long ago." Such is the case with the Colorado Casket Company photo.

The picture caught my eye because of the name on the building of course! Its straightforwardness is refreshing in light of many of today's bewildering company names.

The Colorado Casket Company was located at 1213 Wazee Street and this picture dates from 1935. In my mind I was thinking the building would have been demolished during the destruction of old Auraria or perhaps as part of the widening of Speer Boulevard.

However, after consulting old maps, I found that Wazee Street corresponds partly with the current path of Auraria Parkway. In fact, when Auraria Parkway went in, part of Wazee went out! I thought of Kacey Fine Furniture at 1201 Auraria and realized that this casket building might actually still be in place.

An lo and behold, although its address is now listed as 1221 Auraria, the building in question remains! For a current view of this building, click here to go to Google maps.

Oh, by the way, the business currently listed at this address is 47 LTD LLC. Do you suppose they manufacture caskets?

16th and Wazee

2010-01-31T15:04:00.004-07:00

The first floor of the Henry Lee Building at 16th and Wazee is better known as Dixon's Restaurant in the modern day. But while doing research on Wazee Street, I stumbled across some old pictures showing the evolution of this building over time.

There is a Lower Downtown Walking Tour plaque stating that the building's origins date back to 1870 which would make it one of the oldest buildings in all of downtown Denver. However, Babs Gibson, in her book The Lower Downtown Historic District, gives the date of construction as 1886. Both sources agree that in 1907, the building was joined with the adjacent Chester S. Morey Mercantile Building via an elevated corridor that is still in use in 2010 (see below). Mr. Morey needed more space for his growing grocery business. Henry Lee's name remains associated with this building however since he had it constructed to house his farming implement business.

This picture shows the Henry Lee Building on the left, circa 1935. Also apparent is the 16th Street Viaduct rising past the main Morey Mercantile Building (where the Tattered Cover Bookstore is located today). The corridor is also visible as is the old elevated doorway into the Morey Building. Now you know why there is an elevated door at the Tattered Cover. It was not part of the original building but was installed after the viaduct was built!

In 1954, the Morey Mercantile Company went to considerable expense to reface the Wazee Street facade of its building. They replaced it with a modern metal covering. Research indicates that the building was in need of reinforcement on that side and it is assumed that the company felt 'modern' was the way to go. I am almost certain that their changes removed the window frames and brick work and completely replaced it with metal. So there is no chance just to remove the metal to reveal the old building underneath.

Even during this renovation, the Morey Company was under growing competition from the likes of Lloyd King's King Soopers and from Safeway. By 1956, Morey Mercantile was no more. Luckily, if that word can be used in this case, the Morey Mercantile Company left the 16th Street facade alone. Although it was painted white, the picture above shows the modern facade with the old. Today, the building's 16th Street facade has been restored to its original brick color. And the only other hint of the building's association with the Morey company is the decals in the windows of Dixon's advertising Morey's Solitaire grocery line. Click here to see part of the building today!

For more information on Block 16, home of the Henry Lee Building, click here to be taken to DenverInfill.com

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Wynken, Blynken and Nod

2009-12-16T22:58:00.006-07:00

While I normally write about subjects in or near downtown Denver, I couldn't help but be struck by finding Denver's wonderful Wynken, Blynken and Nod statue in Pennsylvania!! While I was on vacation this summer in the northeast, I stumbled upon the unmistakable statue we know so well...in Wellsboro, PA!

So, how did this happen? I found it an interesting connection of two seemingly unrelated places.

Creation of the Original Wynken, Blynken and Nod statue

Mabel Landrum Torrey was born in a sod house in Colorado. She taught school in Sterling where her father was a judge. She left to attend the Art of Institute of Chicago and majored in sculpture. Her original Wynken, Blynken and Nod sculpture received praise from art critics when it was on exhibit in Chicago. Mrs. Torrey presented Denver Mayor Robert Speer with her original piece of work. He was reportedly so delighted with it that he commissioned her to sculpt one in marble. In 1918, it was placed in the children’s fountain of Washington Park. The statue was later restored and moved to a different area of the park near Exposition and Franklin next to Eugene Field’s house. He was the creator of over 500 poems and stories for children, including Wynken, Blynken and Nod. When his modest home was threatened with demolition along West Colfax, Molly Brown had it preserved by moving it to the park.

How the Statue Also Appears in Pennsylvania

Elizabeth Cameron married Fred Bailey on June 16th, 1892. Both were natives of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. They spent their married life in Denver, where Mr. Bailey became a state senator, a major stockholder in Cripple Creek gold mines as well as the Brown Palace Hotel. Following the death of his wife, Mr. Bailey honored her with a bronze statue/replica of Wynken, Blynken and Nod, placed on the Green in Wellsboro, where it has remained since its dedication on Friday, Sept. 23rd, 1938. Mabel Landrum Torrey was in attendance during the dedication.

So goes the story of how Denver’s iconic Wynken, Blynken and Nod statue is also found in Pennsylvania.

Denver's City Park and Whittier Neighborhoods

2009-11-17T00:04:00.005-07:00

Well, at long last, my super long days of research and work have culminated in a book on these two areas of Denver. I have made reference in some of my other blogs to the fact that I've been busy researching and writing. I've also been scanning our city for pictures. Some of you have suggested I write a book. Well, I've finally found a way to make that dream a reality. I have worked with the Arcadia Publishing Company to produce this book. I hope you'll stop by the Tattered Cover or Barnes and Noble and pick up a copy. I know you'll enjoy it. I found some AMAZING pictures and I'm pretty excited about it.

A presentation and book signing will be held on the following occasions. More may be in the works too:

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at the LoDo Tattered Cover (1628 16th) and on Friday, February 26, 2010 at 12:15 p.m. at the Colorado History Museum (1300 Broadway).

A book signing only will occur on Saturday, December 5 between 10 and 2 at the Colorado History Museum as part of the museum's open house festival.

Thanks again for reading and for all your questions!

The History of the Naming of Market Street

2009-10-10T19:38:00.004-06:00

I have been working on a HUGE project all year of which I will make an announcement shortly. But it also relates to my being away from this blog. Too many obligations and too few Shawns.

Last time however, I said I would follow up with the street histories of Lower Downtown Denver. But since the history of Market Street is the most complex, I'll write that below and follow up with the rest of the streets soon. Enjoy!

Following Larimer Street, we come to Market Street.

Market and Walnut: This street has the most interesting history of any downtown. Originally known as McGaa Street, it was changed in 1866 to Holladay Street. In 1858, William McGaa had been entrusted by Charles Nichols to safeguard the town claim for Saint Charles while he went back to eastern Kansas territory to officially file the town claim. No sooner had Nichols left, then William Larimer arrived on the scene. McGaa ignored the Saint Charles interests and helped Larimer name the early streets of the city. Because he was living with the Arapahoe Indians, he insisted on naming one street for himself (and others for his wife (s)). Along with Larimer, he is most responsible for the street naming system of downtown Denver. Unfortunately for McGaa, small town politics got in the way of his legacy. When he became known as the town drunk, city fathers voted to remove his name from the street in favor of Benjamin Holladay. He was the savior of Denver in the 1860s for choosing the city as the terminus for the stage coach over rival Auraria. So popular was he that the city felt justified in naming the street in his honor. The oldest building remaining in downtown Denver in fact was the stage headquarters at the southwest corner of 15th and Market (Holladay!). This building dates from 1868-72. Anyhow, by the 1880s, Denver was booming and dear Holladay Street had become the center of the city's red light district. The shocked Holladay family petitioned the city to remove their name from this street and the city complied, renaming it Market. While there were legitimate wholesale markets along the street, the more interesting flesh market was known all throughout the west, remaining a legitimate business until reform moved it underground around 1915. Furthermore, residents who lived wholesome lives north of 23rd Street (Park Avenue) and south of Cherry Creek in Auraria (west Denver) were offended to be associated with such a bawdy street as Market. They petitioned the city between 1899 and 1903 to have their sections renamed Walnut Street, a name that remains in place today. This is one of the only places in Denver where adjacent streets have two different names.

Downtown Streets

2009-08-25T19:31:00.004-06:00

In my September 2007 blog, I wrote about the origins of Wynkoop Street. Since that time, I've been meaning to write about the origins of Downtown's other named streets. I find the whole subject rather interesting as the streets and their names and orientation are just about the only thing that still ties us back to the origins of Denver. The built environment of 1858-59 is gone. The street names of old Auraria are gone. Even the numbered streets we use Downtown today were originally letters of the alphabet. Sixteenth Street for example was known as "G" Street. At the time, Auraria and Denver had their own names. By 1873, long after the two towns had joined forces, the city of Denver began enacting a long series of street naming reforms which has resulted in the street naming system we enjoy today. At that time, the city designated First Street as being the first street northeast of the Platte River and Colfax.

Sixteenth Street is therefore 16 blocks from where Colfax intersects the Platte River. In 1873, Auraria's streets were also renamed to match the other named streets of Denver proper. Even though Auraria's streets were laid out parallel to Cherry Creek, they line up pretty well with Denver's streets. Denver's main streets were named after early founders of the city and those who had signed on as members of the Denver City Town Company. They can be thought of as friends of William Larimer, Denver's founder. They tell a story of how our city was founded, which was basically by jumping an already "filed" claim for the city of Saint Charles. Larimer's group arrived in November of 1858 after another claim was on its way to being filed in Kansas to make it official. Larimer would have none of that and essentially jumped the claim and named the city after the territorial governor of Kansas at that time: James W. Denver. William Larimer built his cabin at the southeast corner of what is today 15th and Larimer. He of course named the main street in Denver after himself. Adjacent streets took on other names, including Indian names and tribes. At the time, no one could have imagined that the city would grow into the metropolis it is today. We are lucky Larimer chose to give the town some unique names other than the more common streets named after trees such as Elm, Maple and Pine.

But what are these other names and for whom are they named? Well, here are a few to get us started (beginning at Colfax and Broadway):

Cheyenne Place: Cheyenne Indians

Cleveland Place: changed to honor Grover Cleveland in 1889; it was originally named for J. T. Parkinson who had been the very surveyor who had laid out the streets of early Denver and Auraria.

Court Place: named to honor the location of the stunning Arapahoe County Courthouse; originally known as Wapoola or Wasoola Street (a name of unknown origin).

Tremont Place: orignally known as Clancy Street until 1874; possibly renamed Fremont Place to honor explorer John Fremont; Tremont stuck however with the possibility that it also honored an early Auraria hotel known as the Tremont which welcomed and housed such notables as second territorial governor John Evans.

Glenarm Place: named by early Denverite William McGaa for his supposed ancestral home in Scotland

Welton Street: N.W. Welton, an early founder of Denver City with William Larimer

California Street: honoring the '49ers of an earlier gold rush, hoping to bring the same luck to the new '59ers

Stout Street: Elisha P. Stout was the first president of the Denver Town Company as well as a town founder with William Larimer.

Champa Street: No one is sure of the origins of this street name; some have surmised that it is one of William McGaa's many Indian wives; others feel it is a corruption of the Sioux word "chapa" which means 'beaver' or that it is a corruption of a Ute word "yampa", thought to mean 'bear'. Still others relate the word back to the Chama Indians of New Mexico.

Curtis Street: Samuel S. Curtis was a founder of Denver City with William Larimer.

Arapahoe Street: named for the Arapahoe Indians who inhabited Denver and Boulder upon the arrival of settlers

Lawrence Street: Charles A. Lawrence was a founder of Denver City with William Larimer

Larimer Street: William Larimer was Denver's official founder who came up with the idea to name Denver after the territorial governor of Kansas.

Tune in next time to learn about the streets of Lower Downtown.

Information compiled in this blog can be further explored by reading Denver Streets: Names, Numbers, Locations and Logic by Philip Goldstein

Indian Memories at Colorado National Bank

2009-07-19T23:44:00.004-06:00

Painted by Denver muralist Allen True, whose works also grace the walls of the Denver and Cheyenne capitols, the expanded Colorado National Bank interior opened to the public in December 1926. Mr. True worked on the series of fourteen murals for over three years. Reflecting the changing attitudes toward the American Indians in the 1920s, Mr. True sought to portray the Plains Indians "before his contact with the white race--days when he roamed the beautiful untouched reaches of our West in deep but unconscious sympathy with the loveliness of primeval nature--days when his dignity and cruelty, his joy of living, stoic endurance and primitive integrity, as well as beauty and superstition and religious belief, made the cycle of his life an epic which has never been properly sensed or understood by the white race."

This mural is entitled "Happy Hunting Ground".

"...an old leather-dry squaw sits by the edge of a waterfall, leaning eagerly and intently forward, for there in the iridescent spray she fancies that shes sees her own girlhood beckoning to her. She imagines herself young again and splashing through the water with other laughing, dancing maidens. In the morning air a mist hangs over the water and from the mist, and the shadows of the quaking aspens, appear the figures of still other girls and young mothers smiling contentedly at the happy dancers in the water."

"The once mighty chief of a warlike tribe besats the rhythm of his war chant whle the witer snows whirl past him...."

"An old buck sits in front of his chip fire and dreams..."

This series is entitled "Youth".

All of these photos were taken by Roger Whitacre and appear in the book Growing Through History with Colorado: The Colorado National Banks by Tom Noel. The quotes are from the artist himself.

As I have not heard any differently, these murals remain in the now shuttered Colorado National Bank building (most recently known as US Bank) at 17th and Champa. These treasures must be saved and it is hoped that they will again grace the walls of this building in one of its future uses. Some of Allen True's other paintings and murals appear in Civic Center Park and at the Brown Palace Hotel. He graduated from Manual High School in 1899.

Colorado National Bank

2009-06-23T20:17:00.005-06:00

The Colorado National Bank building sits forlornly, yet proudly, at the southwest corner of 17th and Champa. The building is empty and its fate remains unknown. The photo above shows what the site looked like prior to the construction of the bank in 1915. The original home on the site belonged to Joseph P. Cofield and was erected in 1873.

Colorado National Bank was one of the last locally owned banks in Colorado, having been founded in 1866. When US Bank took over this venerable institution after 1998, the prominent building downtown was to become just another piece of excess bank real estate lining 17th Street. Unfortunately, the Champa side of the bank has been a notorious drug-dealing location since US Bank closed the building earlier this decade. And although the building is included in the Downtown Denver Historic District, no new tenant has been found to take over the building.

The third home of Colorado National Bank was opened in 1915. Designed by prominent Denver arcitects William and Arthur Fisher, the bank with the neoclassical columns was coined "the bank that looks like a bank." In 1925, Merrill and Burnham Hoyt added a seamless addition.

The 1960s were a difficult time downtown as urban renewal began to take hold of the central portions of downtown. The Skyline Urban Renewal Project eventually erased much of old Denver. Colorado National Bank determined to remain downtown however and added a modern addition to their building in 1963. In the process, they demolished the Frank Edbrooke designed Ernest and Cranmer building (1890, also above) at 17th and Curtis, the old May Department Store at 16th and Champa and other smaller structures. In their place was put a "six window drive-in banking facility and spacious parking lots." The suburbs and truly come downtown!

(photo by Ted Trainor )

The site was not empty for long however. By 1972, the Colorado National Bank tower was under construction. The 26-story tower was designed by Minoru Yamasaki who was the architect of New York City's World Trade Center. Denver's tower exhibits the idea of Formalism in modern architecture. Its vertical orientation and use of a blue-smoky glass, gives this building a dominance at the corner of 17th and Curtis. It is considered one of Yamasaki's masterpieces and is a real stand-out at the national level of Formalism in architecture.

(FYI, Formalism is a type of modern architecture that can be distinguished from the better known International Style. While International Style was very prominent in American architecture after World War II and stresses a horizonality in a building's form, Formalism, which was especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s, stresses the vertical form, among other things. )

Tune in next time to learn about the interior wonders of the Colorado National Bank building.

Information and photographs shown above have come from the following title, Growing Through History With Colorado: The Colorado National Banks by Tom Noel.

For additional information on Block 108, home of the Colorado National Bank buildings, click here to be taken to DenverInfill.com

More D & F

2009-03-29T22:42:00.003-06:00

Back in November, I blogged about the upcoming Centennial of the Daniels and Fisher Tower. You can link back to that blog here. While doing other research however on another project, I came across this fun advertisement from the December 10th, 1910 edition of Denver Municipal Facts. The caption for the above advertisement reads, "The New Store and Tower of the Daniels and Fisher Stores Company at Sixteenth and Arapahoe Streets as It Will Appear When Completed." I especially like the drawing of so many transportation choices in 1910: walking, bicycle, horse, horse and carriage, street car....and that new thing called an automobile.

Hopefully you'll be able to read the type script when you click on the picture. I couldn't get it any larger without sacrificing some of the image itself.

A Glorious Day for Denver: June 24, 1872

2009-03-09T20:07:00.005-06:00

I recently had the honor to speak at the Denver 150 Symposium, "Denver Indside and Out". Numerous subjects were discussed concerning early Denver and its growth over the past 150 years. I spoke about the struggle to build the city's first school building which was eventually known as the Arapahoe School. The picture above shows the cornerstone laying ceremony from June 24, 1872 when most of the whole town turned out for a huge celebration. The picture gives me chills when I imagine all of those people, horses and carriages gathering to celebrate the establishment of our modern school system in Denver. The fights and struggles over how the building would be funded contributed greatly to its delay in actually being built (arguments that sound just like the FasTracks discussion in Denver today). But the party atmosphere shown above was captured in this passage from the Rocky Mountain News, June 25, 1872:

…the procession probably contained not less than two thousand persons while the number of spectators who thronged the streets could not have been less than six thousand. Windows, sidewalks and every available spot on the line of the march, especially through F [15th] Street, were occupied…..an immense throng of spectators filled the space about the school building. A crowd of men and women roosted themselves upon the observatory of Tritch’s elegant mansion, where beneath the blazing sun, they endeavored…to be jolly, but were really very miserable.

What's this town you say? Well, lo and behold, the first Denver skyline. Public School One, later known as Arapahoe School (but almost called Anderson School) sits as the tallest building in Denver. For many years, visitors to Denver travelled to 17th and Arapahoe to go to the school's cupola for stunning views of the city down below. This picture above is taken from near 15th and the Platte River, not far from where the REI store is today. The school was officially ready for use on April 2, 1873. When it opened for primary grades, it was the largest school in Colorado Territory.

The beautiful Arapahoe School, designed by Chicago architect G.P. Randal, eventually contained the first high school classes in Denver and Colorado, starting in 1874. The Class of 1877 was the first to graduate from the school and included Irving Hale who went on to be a Brigadier General during the Spanish-American War. If you've heard of Hale Parkway in east Denver, it is named in his honor. This pictures shows the Henry Rietze House on the left and the Thomas M. Field House on the right.

This photo, circa 1879, shows the German Methodist Episcopal Church, looking from the corner of 18th and Arapahoe. The high school eventually left Arapahoe School when the new Denver High School was opened at 1932 Stout in 1882. This school became known as East High School.

The top photo is taken from the observation deck of the school. It shows a view looking east with a bit of the First Baptist Church under construction at 18th and Curtis. It is especially interesting to see the large home across the road complete with a fountain! The second photo is looking northwest toward Boulder. The Ezra A. Newton residence is on the left. The school was a big tourist attraction. When US Vice President Henry Wilson visited Denver in 1875, he stopped by and made an address to the high school students.

But of course, in Denver, nothing seems to last. The explosive growth experienced by the city after the arrival of the railroad in 1870 endangered the lovely old school building. By 1890, it was in the middle of a business district and people were clamoring for its closure and removal to a more suburban location. The district complied and sold the land and building. The Club Building, designed by Frank Edbrooke of Brown Palace fame, was built in front of the school. The old school acted as a back annex for the lovely Club Building. Above is a photo circa 1910.

This photo is circa 1893 and shows a tiny sliver of the Arapahoe School on the right behind the Club Building.

Even the Club Building could not survive the onslaught of the automobile. It, like numerous buildings in downtown Denver, was demolished in 1955 to make way for an expansion of the Federal Reserve Building (which was soon to be demolished too) and also for a parking lot! The photo above was taken from the alley and is the last known image of the Arapahoe School. Construction workers are lowering a wheelbarrow. The Denver Post reported that "no one even noticed or cared" that the old school was coming down. That is not true, but...that is a whole other story. Today, portions of Skyline Park takes up the space where the Arapahoe School once stood.

For additional information on Block 077, home of the Skyline Park and the old Arapahoe School, click here to be taken to DenverInfill.com

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

17th and California

2009-02-01T22:19:00.010-07:00

One of my hobbies includes looking for old pictures, papers and other ephemera associated with old Denver. A couple of years ago, I purchased a souvenir book called Denver by Pen and Picture. It dates from 1898 and has some wonderful pictures of buildings long gone from our memory and others more recently lost. The picture above actually has a couple of buildings that are still around.

The large prominent white building in the center of the picture is none other than the Equitable Building (1892) which still stands at the southeast corner of 17th and Stout. If you haven't been in the vestibule and inner lobbies of this building, you owe it to yourself to step inside and explore.

Across from the Equitable Building on the northeast corner of 17th and Stout stands a four story building known as the Albany Hotel (1885). This structure stuck around until 1977! What forces were in place to take this building down...I don't know. More research. I was only in kindergarten then. I do know it probably has something to do with the skyscraper in place today, the Johns Manville Plaza building. I just wonder if there was any move to save the Albany.

On the far left, along California Street at 16th, stands a dark brick building which still stands today, although you will not recognize it in this picture. The Hayden, Dickinson and Feldhauser Building (1891) underwent an Art Deco transformation in 1937 and was renamed the Colorado Building.

Frank Edbrooke's California Building (1892) stands at the southwest corner of 17th and California. I'm guessing it came down just prior to its replacement--the 1962 Formalist wonder known as Western Federal Savings. This was one of Denver's early skyscrapers and it still stands, although some of its Formalist elements have been removed. This linked picture from DenverInfill.com also shows the Equitable Building at the rear.

Appropriately, in the photo above, on the southeast corner of 17th and California, stands the Nevada Building. It is visible also at the photo at the top of this blog. It was replaced eventually by the Security Building, circa 1920.

Most intriguing I find are the homes, both large and small on the northwest corner of 17th and California, along with the carriages. The corner home is large and prominent and definitely a symbol for the past by 1898, as its days were numbered. Homes are also visible along Welton Street in the foreground. It is no surprise that Trinity Methodist Churc h would locate itself at 18th and Broadway in 1888 to take advantage of all of the people who lived nearby. This was a short-lived residential area however. The growing city along with the coming of the automobile forever changed the residential character of the downtown we know today. Incidentally, I haven't yet figured out who lived in the large home at this corner. I do know that by 1912, the house, if still standing or not, had a new neighbor across the street (on the northeast corner) in the form of the International Trust Company Building. It was torn down in 1974 and remains a plaza today.

This blog covers a number of blocks and buildings at the intersection of 17th and California. Click here to go to DenverInfill.com to learn more about the modern city present today at this location.

The top photo, as I stated, is from my private collection. The second photo is from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

SPECIAL NOTE: I am currently looking for personal pictures from City Park, Whittier and the Capitol Hill areas of Denver for another research project I'm involved in. My time period of interest is prior to 1950. If you know of any personal collections of such items, please email me directly at shawn@denverhistorytours.com

The Denver Club and Glenarm Place

2008-12-22T19:14:00.004-07:00

The picture above illustrates the continuing changes that have befallen downtown Denver, both good and bad. It is difficult to believe but this is the SW corner of 17th and Glenarm, circa 1889. We know that change is constant but sometimes it is heartbreaking to see all that Denver has lost over the years with the onslaught of new development and parking lots. The two buildings shown include the First Congregational Church of Denver (1880) and the Denver Club Building (1889).

First Congregational had relocated to the "suburbs", leaving its home of many years near 15th and Curtis and building a new edifice on Glenarm Place for $41,000 in 1880. It was alone on a block that was otherwise filled with homes of everyday Denverites.

This picture, circa 1888, shows the Denver Club Building under construction. Taken from the Arapahoe County Courthouse (1883), notice the numerous single family homes that populate Glenarm Place, 16th Street and adjacent areas.

This picture, circa 1889, shows the newly completed Denver Club and a very smoggy city! Take note of the new Denver High School (1881) on the far right at 19th and Stout.

By 1891, the two buildings had a new neighbor on Glenarm Place. The destruction of the houses of the area continued as the Kittredge Building (1891) joined the neighborhood.

This picture shows the Kittredge Building under construction. We are lucky to still have this lovely building grace the corner of 16th and Glenarm. The other two buildings were not so lucky. Click here to see a current picture of the block taken from 16th Street. Although we certainly appreciate and love the Paramount Theater, it was built on First Congregational's site in 1930. The old Denver Club Building suffered a different fate. In 1954, it was replaced by the new Denver Club Building--a skyscraper. Along with the Mile High Building, it was one of the first modernist buildings constucted in Denver and therefore today, is in and of itself a Denver landmark. Modern sentiment however laments the loss of yet another Victorian building in the old Denver Club. Will the "new" Denver Club suffer the same fate? Unlikely, as it is part of downtown Denver's historic buildings district.

For additional information on Block 174, home of the Denver Club Building, click here to be taken to DenverInfill.com

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

The Daniels and Fisher Tower

2008-11-16T21:49:00.006-07:00

We are just a few years away from the centennial of one of Denver's most iconic buildings. The Daniels and Fisher Tower at 16th and Arapahoe Streets opened to the public in early 1912 but began construction in 1910. Modeled after the Campanile in Venice, Italy, the building was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River upon completion. It was designed by the architecture firm of Sterner and Williamson. The hour hand is eight feet long and the minute hand is 6 feet long--designed by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. Its construction marked a new era not only in Denver's retail scene but in its architecture. Daniels and Fisher was the department store of choice in Denver until it merged with the May Company in 1957. The building was soon abandoned for new digs in the newly created May D&F Department Store located at Zeckendorf Plaza at 16th and Court Place.

The Daniels and Fisher Department Store had its roots in the very beginnings of Denver; the tower epitomizes the quick growth of Denver, having been constructed just shortly after the city celebrated its 50th birthday. William B. Daniels started his store in 1864 on Larimer Street. He was later joined by William Fisher in 1872 to form Daniels and Fisher. Daniels son, William Cooke Daniels, took over the helm in 1891.

The tower's beauty was under-appreciated as the decade of the 1960's began and with the Skyline Urban Renewal Project in full swing, the old department store's days were numbered. Miraculously, the tower was saved but the rest of the department store was gone by 1971. The red brick scar on one side of the tower shows where it used to be attached to the rest of the department store. The year 1971 was a big year in preservation awareness in Denver as the battle lines were drawn. Some successes included the continued preservation of Larimer Square and saving the Molly Brown House. But other battles were lost, including the loss of the Moffat Mansion at the northeast corner of 8th and Grant.

The comic below shows the complacency of most of Denver during this time and how close we came to losing the D & F Tower as well. Even though this comic was drawn in 1965, it was not enough to provoke the city into changing course on preservation. We might have been able to have had a few more preservation success stories such as saving the Tabor Grand Opera House, knocked down in 1965, but the planets did not align. Perhaps if the successful State Historic Fund had been present in those years, more money would have been available to shore up and preserve other structures long forgotten and since demolished but certainly worthy of being left for posterity!

The top photo is from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection. The editorial cartoon was created by Pat Oliphant of the Denver Post.

Post Script: For regular readers, I apologize for delays in posting. If I had eight hands, it would be better! However, the past months have been extremely busy and therefore, successful, in the walking and bus tour business, especially as related to Haunted Denver!!!

City Park Fountain

2008-09-01T14:58:00.005-06:00

Now that the DNC is over, we can thankfully look back on a very successful and historic convention for Denver. The city looked wonderful and conventioneers were treated to Denver at its best. While museums and other cultural attractions (including my work place) were not as busy as was projected, hopefully all visitors left Denver feeling they had come to a special place. For those who were able to venture out to City Park, a truly historic treat awaited them. Refurbished just in time for the 2008 Democratic Convention was the City Park Fountain. If you were unaware of there being a fountain at City Park, you're not alone. It has been out of commission for years. But it was originally put in place for the 1908 Democratic Convention. Read more about its rebirth here via the Denver Post.

City Park continues to bring joy to Denverites of all ages. Luckily, the city was able to eradicate the ugly green sludge that was plaguing Ferril Lake this summer. In the middle of this lake, named for Thomas Hornsby Ferril (Colorado's poet laureate and native Denverite who passed away in 1988), sits the fountain. The City Park Pavilion provides a dramatic backdrop as does the Denver skyline beyond.

While I've been busy with the convention, frequent blog visitor Bruce Quackenbush kindly provided historic post card images of the original fountain (below) as well as current photos from its recent re-unveiling, as seen above. I usually focus on changes to downtown Denver's built environment. However, I am not opposed to covering other areas of the city. And the historic fountain is certainly pertinent to this blog. If you haven't been out to see it yet, get there soon. It goes dark at the end of September. It will return to delight City Park visitors next May 2009.

This view shows the old portion of the then Colorado Museum of Natural History on the upper left side. The word Colorado was replaced by Denver about 1948. Today, after many additions, it is known as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science

As always, I appreciate all of the kind comments and blog suggestions that I receive. Thank you for reading.

Larimer Square

2008-07-23T23:33:00.010-06:00

Larimer Street circa 1960

Larimer Street, circa 2008
(photo courtesy Denver History Tours, 2008)

It was called the Skyline Urban Renewal Project. What most politicians and elected officials celebrated as "progress as promised" back in the 1960s, was viewed with skepticism by regular Denverites. The successful proposal flattened most of Denver's historic core for new structures, using Federal dollars, and therefore bypassing any need for the use of local tax money. The result was a shiny new downtown we enjoy today. But much was lost. The heartache historians feel is somewhat tempered by what we managed to save. The fight to save even one block was a monumental task which required vision and foresight. Such vision was necessary in order to see past the blighted building exteriors and see a vibrant urban setting consisting of some of the city's earliest structures (see comparisons above between 1960 and 2008). What we know today as Larimer Square was the result of one woman's tenacity and therefore, we thank Dana Crawford for her efforts. Still, if only we could have saved more. We only have pictures to remind us of our past, but if economics and politics had been different back in the 1960s and 1970s, our downtown would look much different today. Larimer Square was a big gamble and really marked an awakening in Denver for historic preservation. The area was declared Colorado's first historic district back in 1971. While we celebrate Larimer Square, few realize the tremendous built environment that was lost, not only on Larimer Street, but throughout downtown. It's no coincidence that one can find old buildings north of 20th Street, similar to those in the 1400 block of Larimer. The urban renewal line stretched up to that street. It's taken 40 years, but today, even those buildings north or 20th are starting to be renovated. Let's take a look back at a few pictures of the old "Larimer Square", to understand the difficult proposition faced at that time of saving even one block of this 'derelict' street.

This picture, circa 1960, shows that Larimer Street was suffereing the effects of urban neglect as those who could continued to depopulate downtown. Larimer was by this time, a collection of "eclecticism", or as others saw it, a kind of skid row, full of bars, porno shops, vice, drugs, pawn shops, and second or third tier retail. When urban renewal tried to erase this urban neighborhood, much of this "vice" moved to East Colfax Avenue.

Most of the structures on Larimer date from the 1880s and 1890s, other than the modern structures which have filled in the gaps. Can you find the modern buildings today? Two of the most interesting buildings on the street are the stunning Second Empire style Lincoln Hall, and the oldest structure on the street, the 1873 Gallup-Stanbury Building. Both are seen below:

A Victorian style of archicture, known as Second Empire, is exhibited at Lincoln Hall. This style, once more prevalent downtown, is now quite rare in Denver. (photo courtesy Denver History Tours, 2008)

Who knew that The Market is housed in the oldest structure in Larimer Square? (photo courtesy Denver History Tours, 2008)

The splendid 1882 Granite Building, also known as the Clayton Building for its builders. This picture is circa 1950. This building once housed the McNamara Drygoods Company, the predecessor to the Denver Drygoods Company.

This shows the same structure circa 1970. Notice the occupant of the lowest level. The Flick is assumed to be an adult movie house. This building sits on the site of William Larimer's first cabin in Denver. He founded the city on November 22, 1858. (Photo Credit: Brettell, Richard R. Historic Denver: 1858-1893, Denver, p. 204.)

A True Survivor: The Granite Building, circa 2008
(photo courtesy Denver History Tours, 2008)

This photo, circa 1960, is quite a jewel. It shows the 1600 Block of Larimer. To see the same block today, click here. Imagine if all of Larimer Street had been preserved! This would be some of the hottest property downtown today. One piece from this photo survives however. Take a look at the Manhattan Restaurant at 1633 Larimer. In front of it is a cherub statue, which welcomes visitors to Denver. For reasons unknown, this little remnant was preserved.

Located in the Courtyard of the Bear and the Bull in the rear of the Kettle Arcade on Larimer Square, we can revel in one piece of Denver's past, still welcoming all to the city. That smiling gentleman is the owner of Denver History Tours--Kevin Pharris!
(photo courtesy of Denver History Tours, 2008)

To learn more about the history of the individual buildings on Larimer Square, click here.

I generally concentrate on one block or the side of one block to coordinate best with DenverInfill.com However, for the purposes of Larimer Square's history, this current blog used the east side of Block 45 and the west side of Block 70. Click to learn more about the current state of these blocks at DenverInfill.com

Unless stated otherwise, all historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

UPDATE: Many of you have written in concerning the The Flick movie theater located in Granite Building during the 1960s. I had assumed it might be an adult movie house because the picture I have appears to show drawings of scantily clad women in its windows. However, the consensus seems to be that The Flick was an artsy type movie house. It sounds like it was the Mayan Theater of the day. Therefore, we will err on the side of those who were actually there at The Flick! However, newspaper ads from this era do indeed show that there were numerous adult movie houses not only in the areas of lower downtown but upper downtown as well.

Adams Hotel

2008-06-13T23:27:00.006-06:00

With the recent departure of the Adams Mark name from Denver, I began to think of all of the hotels that have been in Denver over the past 150 years. The longest lived are the Oxford (1891) and the Brown (1892). Others have been long gone, their buildings demolished to make way for parking lots such as the Cosmopolitan suffered in 1984 (a planned high rise never got off the ground!) Or, they were victims of urban decay such as the Inter-Ocean, lost circa 1970. Or...yet again...they were unceremoniously demolished for no good reason that I can find, such as the Windsor, lost in 1959.

Less grand, but no less part of downtown, was the Adams Hotel which once stood at the northeast corner of 18th and Welton. It was demolished around 1969 to make way for a bank drive through area and parking lot. It today exists as an abandoned bank drive through site.

The Adams Hotel opened for business in 1902. It was designed by the Baerresen Brothers Architects. It was noted for the large copper dome atop the structure. In addition, information included with this picture states that when it opened, there were innovations such as the use of a push button elevator along with there being telephones in every room. Note the bicycles in the picture above.

circa 1910

circa 1920

The two pictures above show the Adams Hotel and the Empire Hotel. The Empire stood at 18th and Glenarm. Most interstingly however, we can see a small building in between the two. This space also shows up in the picture at the top of this blog. We see a small Second Empire style home occupying the spot in 1902. Later, we see a store front on the site above. DenverInfill.com talked about this very block in July of 2007. In that blog, we learn that Shelby's Bar and Grill is housed in that same building we see in the picture. Amazingly, it bills itself as one of the oldest buildings in downtown Denver. Without more research, it's hard to say if the current Shelby's is housed in a converted Second Empire home or if that house was demolished in 1907 to make way for the current building. Either way, Shelby's currently sits alone in a sea of parking and an abandoned bank drive through!

What did we lose with the closure and demolition of the Adams Hotel in 1969? Many would argue that its removal helped add new vitality to downtown Denver as more people were able to come into the city and find a place to park or bank conveniently. But the economics of parking aside, as with so much of our lost downtown history, the removal of the Adams Hotel also removed any context we had of a once vibrant area of our city. The only reminder seems strangely out of place--Shelby's Bar and Grill at 519 18th Street.

Not even this 1953 remodel of the interior could save the Adams from its fate. The hotel interior at some point was designed by Gilbert Jaka. He was influential during the early 1930s designing the stunning Art Deco Cruise Room at the Oxford Hotel, along with some other Art Deco style homes in Park Hill. Without knowing more about Mr. Jaka, it is hard to know if the above decoration represents his work, although it is unlikely since it is definitely not Art Deco. No other interior pictures of the Adams Hotel have been located. If there were other Art Deco finishes inside, its demolition is an even greater loss for our city.

Just so we don't get too down on ourselves about changes to the city over the last 150 years, this picture illustrates that without change, our city would not be what it is today. This is Denver, circa 1880. In this picture, the direction of north is on the right. In the middle left, we see the intersection of 18th Avenue and Broadway. The Trinity Methodist Church would be constructed here in 1888. At the left center, we see a triangular piece of land that would become the Brown Palace Hotel in 1892. Across the street from that land, we see the Brinker Institute, that thankfully, we can still see today!! It is known as the Navarre Building. And in the center right of the picture, we see land that by 1902 would become the Adams Hotel. All of those homes are gone today. The closest examples are at 21st and Glenarm. See my last blog to learn about that!

At least we have pictures.....

For additional information on Block 176, home of Shelby's, click here to be taken to DenverInfill.com

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Lost Residences of Downtown Denver

2008-05-13T23:26:00.006-06:00

Recently I've been researching aspects of Denver's lost residential neighborhoods of yesteryear. It may surprise most of you to know that downtown Denver and its adjacent neighborhoods were once filled with lovely residences and some not so lovely residences--housing of all types. Many of the parking lots we see in and around downtown today were once occupied by homes. Some of these houses were later supplanted by businesses. The last home standing in central downtown is the Curry-Chucovich-Gerash House at 1439 Court Place on Block 207.

To get a sense of what this neighborhood near the Arapahoe County Courthouse once looked like, here is a picture circa 1890 to get us in the right frame of mind:

This area, between Tremont and Glenarm Places, features a now rare Second Empire designed home. That is the house with the mansard style roof. Hidden in the trees to the right is the Curry-Chucovich-Gerash House, circa 1888 with the Arapahoe County Courthouse dominating the skyline.

Just down the street at 1308 Glenarm stood the Amos Steck House:

Mr. Steck was on the first Denver School Board. He gave land to the East Denver School District that was eventually used to build the first permanent school building in Denver, the Arapahoe School.

Aside from Curtis Park, which remains remarkably intact north of 23rd Street, there isn't much residential remaining south of that line, except for the random house here and there in the Arapahoe Square area. One nearly intact block remains however. Staving off demolition during the mid-1970s when its neighborhing blocks were bull-d0zed to make way for the 1976 Winter Olympics Housing, this block formed the Clement's Historic District. Compare this link of the current street with what we can see of some of the 2100 block over a century ago:

The houses in the far right side of this picture (circa 1900) remain intact today as part of the Clement's Historic District.

The neighborhoods to the south of downtown didn't fair much better. The residences of today's Golden Triangle or Civic Center neighborhood was even more obliterated during the 20th century, first to make way for Civic Center Park, and secondly to make way for libraries, art museums, parking lots and associated businesses. The neighborhood lost so much population that by 1973, the Denver Public Schools closed down the area school: Evans Elementary. That building still stands today but is not in use. Recently, an old picture made its way to the Byers-Evans House Museum (circa 1883). This picture was interesting because it showed people smiling in front of homes that were long ago demolished to make way for the Denver Art Museum's North Building (circa 1971 by Gio Ponti). The only hold-outs from that construction project were the Evans sisters, granddaughters of Colorado's second territorial governor, John Evans. They stayed put and today, their house is a museum (and my workplace). The picture of their neighbor's house to the north at 1316 Bannock is quite a treasure to see today:

Family and friends at 1316 Bannock in 1910. The use of the rusticated sandstone and granite on the home is a hallmark of architect William Lang, notable for his many beautiful houses in Denver, including the Molly Brown House and the Castle Marne. These large homes, including the large Queen Anne on the left, complimented the Italianate style Byers-Evans House at 1310 Bannock.

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection except for the picture of 1316 Bannock.

The Masonic Building and Welton Street

2008-04-11T08:20:00.003-06:00

Ah, the Masonic Building (1889). This downtown institution almost was lost to us back in 1985 due to fire. Without the intervention of preservationists and other interested parties, the Kittredge Building would be alone. The fire damage was significant which resulted in only the facade being salvaged, but we'll take it! This building, designed by Frank Edbrooke, is one of a few of his many notable projects still left standing downtown after so long. Others include the Brown Palace and the Oxford Hotel.

In the distance in this picture, one can also see the Kenmark Hotel at the corner of 17th and Welton, and beyond that, the current Grand Hyatt at 18th and Welton. The Kenmark, known as Hotel Kaiserhof until WWI, was recently demolished in 1995. "They" said it couldn't be saved, that it had to go. And today, we have a "nice" vacant lot/parking lot on that site.

But what about the other lesser known buildings along Welton Street "behind" the Masonic Building. I spend my days and nights doing a lot of research for many different projects--that's why I can't post here everyday--but it does point to the problems inherent with historic building research. One wants to ensure accuracy and sometimes that means digging more deeply than just the online photo archive at the Denver Public Library. And sometimes, the evidence is not readily available, especially for less flashy buildings that sometimes faced the city's interior blocks. Such is the case with the even addresses found along the 1600 block of Welton.

While doing other research, I stumbled upon the picture below:

The dotted line in this picture is hovering over the Mack Building which stands along Welton next to the Masonic Building. This photo is circa 1953. The information on the back of this photo indicates that the Mack Building had been on the site since 1883. It was to be torn down and to make way for a seven story office building. This is where more research would be needed! The Denver Public Library's online photo archive is pretty scant on later 20th century architecture. The building currently on the site and adjacent sites at approximately 1630 Welton was built in 1982. You can see it at the top picture on this blog. It currently houses offices and other businesses such as the Colorado Athletic Club. Interestingly, the building is owned by one group called IEC Denver, but the land on which it sits is still owned by the Mack Family (the Louis Mack and Barbara Mack McKay Trust). This picture also gives a better view of the Kenmark Hotel and the Patterson Building (also no longer standing) at the corner of 17th and Welton.

Another view of this block, circa 1920s, is below:

And what of the other smaller buildings on this block. Well, one of the more prominent was the Columbia Savings and Loan Association Building at 1638 Welton, designed by Baerresen Brothers architects. It received a facade redo sometime after WWII and became Silver State Bank. It can be seen in the Mack Building picture further above, just to the left of the said building. This picture below is circa 1900.

The building below is circa 1897. It appears to have still been standing along with the Columbia/Silver State Building and Kenmark Buildings in the top photo from 1985. Its address is given as 1630 Welton however, so it may have been demolished when the Mack Building came down. Without more research, we might also assume that when the Kenmark came down, these two buildings came down with it. This picture is described as being a rowhouse. It states that it also contained the Formosa Tea Company and that it sold other Japanese goods.

It is always interesting to see what has come before. At least photography allows us this window into the past when the buildings are gone. Long live the Masonic Building! Click here to see the 1600 block of Welton today.

For more information on Block 174, which includes the 1600 block of Welton, check out DenverInfill.com

In addition, learn more about Downtown Denver's historic buildings and historic district at DenverInfill.com (included are the Masonic Building and Kittredge Building).

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Denver's City Auditorium

2008-03-17T00:49:00.007-06:00

What at difference a century makes. As Denver prepares to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention this August, it seems fitting to look at the city's preparation for our last and only other political convention: the Democratic National Convention of 1908!

Denver Mayor Robert Speer built a shining new City Auditorium that just happened to be dedicated on the day of his inauguration on June 1, 1908. When the convention opened in Denver in July 1908, William Jennings Bryan was the party's nominee. He later lost to William Howard Taft.

Although 2008's convention will be held in the Pepsi Center, the interior will surely bear some resemblance to the Auditorium's decoration from 1908. Pictures of George Washington, Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson (presumably), dominate the walls. In addition, the rare 46 star flag hangs on the walls and rafters signifying the recent addition of Oklahoma to the union in 1907.

This picture shows the Auditorium rising from the corner of 14th and Champa. The building was constructed in record time, the cornerstone being laid in September 1907. The beautiful buildings to the rear of the Auditorium are unknown to me. What is apparent however is the residential character was forever altered with the construction of this building. The large homes and mansions along 14th Street began their swan song as the street became increasingly commercial in nature after 1910.

The home of Dr. Charles Denison stood at the corner of 14th and Champa, specifically 1402 Champa, opposite the new Auditorium. Many stately homes lined the street including the home of former governor John Evans at 14th and Arapahoe. It was demolished in 1910 to make way for the Denver Tramway Headquarters. That building today is known as the Hotel Teatro. To see what hideous building stands on the Denison grounds today, click here.

Denver, as capital of Colorado, has always been a place of visiation of politicians of all stripes. Here, President Woodrow Wilson and his wife Edith exit City Auditorium in 1919.

While the building still stands today, the decorative domes that dominated each corner were removed in the 1950s. The renovated building is known today as the Quigg Newton Denver Municpal Auditorium. But it more commonly associated with the Ellie Caulkins Opera House which is found within its walls. Here is a picture from DenverInfill showing the renovations taking place when the Ellie was being "installed".

For additional information on Blocks 100-105 that the City Auditorium is a part of, click here.

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Republic Building

2008-01-20T23:21:00.001-07:00

The Republic Building represents another battle lost in preserving Denver's colorful built environment. Economic forces and varied business interests from the late 1970s came together to push for the building's demolition in 1981. The photos above show the Republic Building first in 1927 shortly after its construction from the corner of 16th and Tremont. The second shows it across 16th Street in a reflecting pool at Courthouse Square in 1933 shortly after the Arapahoe County Courthouse was demolished on that same site. The Republic Building housed numerous doctors offices, as well as other businesses, and was a beautiful piece of architecture. While the building was lost, the name remains tied to the site, as it was replaced by Denver's tallest building: the 56-story Republic Plaza.

While many criticize the plain and faceless nature of the current Republic Plaza building, also known as the Republic Tower, it represents well the era in which it was built. The modern style skyscraper, finished in 1984, was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merril. It remains the tallest building not only in Denver and Colorado, but the entire Rocky Mountain Region.

But its predecessor was nonetheless a sight to behold. Designed by preeminent Denver architect G. Meredith Musick, the building contained early Art Deco elements, which Musick later took full throttle, especially with his beautiful design of the Bryant-Webster Public School in northwest Denver. His Republic Building took up a quarter of Block 209, from the alley between Court Place and Tremont Place, along 16th Street. This structure definitely had a special place in the hearts and minds of Denverites. These feelings were not enough to save it, although the preservation battles from the early 1980s were certainly hard-fought and vociferous.

circa 1941

circa 1953, note that Courthouse Square park has become a parking lot.

circa 1925

circa 1926

circa 1927

circa 1927, showing beautiful detail on the Tremont Place entrance

circa 1913, the building on the upper right shows what stood on the site of the Republic Building prior to 1925. Without more research, the deeper history of this building and any predecessors is unknown, although it likely dates from the early 1890s.

For additional information on Block 209, home of the Republic Plaza, click here to be taken to DenverInfill.com

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

Another busy month here at Denver History Tours. Let us reflect on holidays past by enjoying a few pics from Denver's more recent history.

So much detail in this picture of Sixteenth Street just up from Glenarm Place. This picture is circa 1969.

If you look closely, you can see the Fontius sign still on the building at the left. This picture is circa 1966. The vintage Fontius sign was recently removed although its ghost image is still visible on the building. It is being renovated. The Cottrell's sign is still in place today on the building on the right, but the fashionable men's clothing store is long gone.

Decorating Denver's City and County Building for Christmas has always been in fashion. This photo dates from 1940.

Thanks for reading this year. Have a great winter season. I'll be back in January 2008!

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

The Barclay

2007-11-14T00:16:00.000-07:00

The Barclay circa 1883

Well, what a busy month. Our haunted tours this year were unprecedented. We were very busy. I'm still trying to recover!!! Keep them in mind next year if you like to go ghost hunting in old buildings!! Today, another creepy old building will be showcased....creepy yes, but no longer standing.....

The Barclay Building/Barclay Hotel of yesteryear stood across the street from the Windsor Hotel. Its address was approximately 1755 Larimer. This grand building, circa 1883, is best known for something positive and something negative. It was the last building used by the state legislature before the capitol building was complete enough for legislative functions. The building lost the legislature around 1894. It continued to be used as office space and as a hotel until after the Depression. By 1950, it had become known as the Barclay Apartments. It was a building very familiar to Jack Keroauc and his ilk. During the 1960s, it was known as the worst flop house in the city. Reports of the time (that I remember reading somewhere but cannot find the source) indicate that the building was full of unwed mothers, unattended children, prostitution, drug dealers and users, murders and other forms of vice. It's no wonder that by 1970, the building was enemy number one (along with numerous others). The Denver Urban Renewal Authority included the Barclay in its long list of buildings to be demolished. Its glorious past was no reason to preserve the building. Its neighbor, the Windsor, had been demolished in 1959 and it was still in good condition. The Barclay didn't stand a chance. It is only remembered in pictures today. Check out Block 48 on DenverInfill.com to see the condition of the area today. The Barclay itself eventually became the site of the Windsor Apartments. Click here for another view which also shows the Volunteers of America/Sunset Towers building in the distance (the site of the old Windsor Hotel).

If you're confused with the names, you're not alone. As with many buildings we knock down during bouts of urban renewal, we tend to forget the building but remember the name instead. So, the Tabor Block and Tabor Grand Opera House were replaced with the Tabor Center (although the old buildings were in two separate locations). The Windsor Hotel in the 1800 Block of Larimer was lost but the Winsdor Apartments were built one block down in the 1700 Block of Larimer (the site of the old Barclay). And to make things even crazier, the Barclay Apartments were built one block down from there at 1625 Larimer. See the pictures below.

circa 1910

circa 1920

circa 1933

circa 1950
This picture shows the growing changes to the Barclay as the building has been converted into apartment use.

circa 1950
This also shows the old Windsor Hotel on the far right of the picture across 18th Street. The Windor, built in 1879, was once Denver's grandest Hotel. It was lost in 1959.

circa 1967
The Barclay name is gone and the "flophouse" is now called the Hotel Clay, although the sign is strangely familiar.

circa 1970
The 1970s are very apparent in this photo. Many windows are missing and the neglect to this building is painfully obvious. Were this building still standing in LoDo today, it would be one of the most stunning structures in the neighborhood and would have been restored and protected.

The Skyline Urban Renewal Project saved the Barclay name although it was used one block away from where the original Barclay stood. This is Barclay Tower at 1625 Larimer. The shorter building is Barclay Plaza, known as Larimer Corporate Plaza today.

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Coors Field!

2007-10-24T22:22:00.001-06:00

Hello History and Baseball fans. Requests have come in asking for insight into what buildings used to be where Coors Field now stands. With the Rockies being in the World Series, what could be a more fitting blog?? My area of discussion usually coincides with the boundaries for downtown listed at DenverInfill.com. Coors Field technically sits just across the street from those boundaries in the Ballpark neighborhood, but this seems like a very fitting occasion!

Answers to these questions don't just fall from the sky but require research like all spots featured here on the Denver History Nugget. The land where Coors Field now stands has long been dominated by the railroad. In fact, much of the land where the stadium sits was used for railroad tracks and a large freight depot from the 1880s onward. Denver's first passenger depot was in this area prior to 1881. Nominal evidence suggests that small homes fronted Blake Street between 20th and 23rd Streets but these quickly were replaced after 1885 by more industrial and warehouse uses. These warehouses stored many items and had names such as Colorado Compressed Gas; Wire, Rope and Cable Headquarters, and Paper Warehouse (not the modern business!). Even the familiar Windsor Farm Dairy had some buildings fronting Blake Street and initially used the them as wagon storage for its delivery business.

The picture of the Pinhorn Fire Proof Storage is circa 1920.
This building sat at 2255-2261 Blake.

The biggest change to the street scape came in 1909 when the Denio-Barr Milling and Grain Company opened its feed mill and elevator near the corner of 20th and Blake. This building dominated the area and sat adjacent to the 20th Street Viaduct until approximately 1992 when it was demolished in preparation for Coors Field. Luckily, yours truly shot some pictures of the area back in the day, and so I am now sharing these modern photos with you as well.

This photo, circa 1930, shows the viaduct, the grain elevator and the location of Duffy's, a moving and storage company.

Circa 1992, the grain elevator remains, but Duffy's is long gone. A former gas station sits at the right of the photo.

These two photos show the old Windsor Farm Dairy buildings which at one time held their wagon storage for deliveries. These buildings are not to be confused with the other Windsor buildings that still remain just down Blake near 19th. The top picture also shows the old grain elevator. The bottom view is near where the corner gates at 20th and Blake are at Coors Field today.

All demolished! Grain elevator, viaduct--GONE. Coors Field gets underway.

As mentioned above, the grain elevator's neighbor for many years was Duffy Moving and Storage as shown in the old picture above. Here are some photos, circa 1905, showing Duffy's horses and wagons.

By the late 1920s, change was brewing as a filling station was constructed at the corner of 20th and Blake. It stood on land owned by the Cowperthwaite family until 1992. Although abandoned, it was a reminder of a bygone era, when the romance of the automobile caught the attention of residents and thus began a long exodus of people from downtown. A portion of it can be seen in the modern picture further above in front of the grain elevator.

Other buildings which stood along Blake during the 1980s include the following:

2125 Blake

2145 Blake (This old building has been retained and can still be found on Blake Street next to Coors Field).

2101 Blake

All black and white historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Cheyenne Place

2007-10-10T14:51:00.000-06:00

Apologies to my regular readers for the delay in posting. I've had an unfortunate computer issue that has now hopefully been resolved. Before that meltdown, I had been working on the little known street called Cheyenne Place. Perhaps you haven't heard of it. It is the last street on the named downtown grid as one goes toward the intersection of Colfax and Broadway. In fact, Cheyenne Place intersects both streets at the extreme southeastern tip of the original congresssional grant that made up Denver City. There were more streets past Cheyenne Place, at least on paper, but they never came to fruition. They had names such as Smith, Dudley, Platte and Saint Charles

Today, the Denver Newspaper Agency dominates the area behind Cheyenne Place on blocks 244 and 267. There is no Block Number associated with the small triangular parcel that sits on the south side of Cheyenne Place. There is no business or street address for Cheyenne Place either. The only thing on Cheyenne Place is the familiar Pioneer Monument, installed in 1910. This statue was designed by Frederick MacMonnies. That's Kit Carson who rides a horse at its top. Originally, the plans called for an Indian to be placed atop. Those plans were scrapped due to the controversial subject matter. The Pioneer Monument is the symbolic end of the Smoky Hill Trail, which brought many early settlers to Denver (something equally controversial to the Indians!).

Prior to that time, there was another building on this site. In fact, it was Denver's first "real" fire station. Here are some pictures of that early time. This building was removed around 1909 as the immediate area began to transform into the Civic Center Park area we know today. The Pioneer Monument was one of the first items to be installed.

The last two pictures above show Broadway looking north with the fire station on the left.

This picture was taken just prior to demolition in 1909.

This picture from 1910 shows the newly installed Pioneer Monument on the left center side of the photo. The monument was originally on a circular platform. It has since been sitting on a triangular piece of land.

For well over a century, until the Denver Newspaper Agency put its building there, the land on the north side of Cheyenne Place has been dominated by transporation related uses.

This photograph from 1890 shows the Denver Omnibus and Cab Company north of the fire station. To the right is a partial sign for the Palace Stables.

This photo above from 1950 shows that the stables and stage shop have been replaced by AAA!

And the ultimate in car culture from 1970, the monument is now an afterthought, as it is just a mere neighbhor to the sea of parking behind it. The Arapahoe County Courthouse land is now the Hilton Hotel. This parking lot remained for nearly 25 years until the arrival of the Denver Newspaper Agency. The Pioneer Monument once again appears to "fit in" to its corner on Cheyenne Place, even if its one side facing Broadway is home to one of the city's seedier bus stops.

All historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Street Name Histories

2007-09-27T02:08:00.000-06:00

With so much to talk about within the realm of downtown Denver history and Denver history in general, it is difficult to pick just one subject. Careful research is required on such topics in order to present accurate information. One aspect of our downtown history that is more readily accessible and, for the most part, that has remained with us from the very beginning of the city's founding, are the street names. Most of the street names for Denver City that were given back in 1858/1859 are still in place. The city was founded by General William Larimer, and with the help of William McGaa, the streets were laid out and named after other members of the Denver City Town Company. We can think of our streets as honoring the "City Fathers" and also for the Indians they supplanted. The named streets downtown generally follow a pattern of one founder name with an Indian name to follow. The streets we know today as numbered streets, such as 16th Street, were originally labeled as letters of the alphabet. Sixteenth Street, for example, was known originally as "G" Street. More information about these patterns will be periodically discussed here. Today, I will give you a bit of information on one of those early founders of Denver, Edward Wanshear Wynkoop.

Mr. Wynkoop was, among other things, the first sheriff for Arapahoe County. The street that now faces Union Station downtown was named in his honor. He was later on active duty during the Civil War as part of the Colorado contingent of volunteers. He was then posted at Fort Riley, Kansas during the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864. The leader of that atrocity, Colonel John Chivington, was later investigated by Wynkoop and others. While many condemned Chivington, others condemned Wynkoop and his ilk as Indian sympathizers. Through it all, his name remained on his street, even though he didn't remain in Denver. He died in Santa Fe in 1891.

Many today wonder what the correct pronunciation of the street is. According to Phil Goodstein, in his book Denver Streets: Names, Numbers, Locations, Logic (Denver: New Social Publications, 1994), the sheriff pronounced his name as Wine-koop. Today, the pronunciation is all over the board, some saying Wine-koop, others saying Win-koop.

All historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection.

Fontius and the Orpheum

2007-09-17T22:22:00.000-06:00

Nothing much has inspired me historically speaking the past weeks but the changing of hands of the Fontius block, you know, Block 162, got me thinking again. Westword ran a great article on this very subject (Warner, Joel. "Evan Almighty," Westword, September 13, 2007) and discussed the Steel Building AKA Fontius, as well as the lesser-known Orpheum Theater space which once stood on the parking lot to the rear of Fontius at 1513 Welton.

For years, this block at 16th and Welton has been dominated by the nearly empty Fontius Building. Prior to Fontius moving to the Steel Building (1923), as it is officially known, the store was located in the Symes Building (1906) at 834 16th Street. It sure is interesting to see a different Fontius sign after having the current 1960s version ingrained in our heads for so many years. But the Orpheum space has been off of the radar screen since being closed September 10, 1967. Subsequently demolished, along with the Tabor Grand in 1965, there were only three theaters left downtown by 1970: the Denver on 16th and Glenarm, the Denham at 18th and California, and the Paramount. Today, only one survives!

This picture, circa 1933, shows the Denver Theater, where the Denver Pavilions stands today. If you look closely, you can see a different Fontius shoe sign in the distance at Welton. Notice the Kittredge Building and Paramount Theater on the right and the D & F Tower in the distance.

Finding information on the Orpheum Theater has come from a number of places. (See Forrest, Kenton and William C. Jones. Denver: A Pictorial History, Boulder: Pruett Publishing Co., 1973.) In addition, online sources, if to be believed, indicate that the original Orpheum on Welton Street opened on October 5, 1903. It enjoyed life as a vaudeville show house, a silent movie theater and finally showed regular movies along with its numerous competitors downtown. Its multi-purpose stage hosted many acts, including those of Will Rogers, the Marx Brothers and Al Jolson.

This photo, circa 1910, shows the changing character of this once residential neighborhood. The old homes facing the Orpheum on Welton Street were not long for the world.

These two photos, circa 1920, show the unique architecture of the Orpheum. The top photo shows the future site of the Fontius Building, which was not constructed until 1923. The photo shows its predecessor, which I believe was known as the El Paso Building. The lower photo shows the Denver Dry Goods Company in the background. In addition, the Colonial/Republic Hotel is seen in the far left of the photo. This building is currently being razed.

The interior of the Orpheum was no less grand, as indicated by the photos above.

However, progress was marked by the reaffiliation of the theater around 1930 when it became part of RKO International. A remodel was in the works.

A new and improved Art Deco Orpheum greeted visitors in the top photo, circa 1930 (it is unknown what or who is being "hung" in the photo). The Orpheum was still packing people in for shows featuring Fred Astaire in the lower photo, circa 1950. However, competition from an increasingly suburbanizing public would soon spell doom to the downtown theaters, including the Orpheum. Television and drive-ins also hurt downtown movie business.

Out with the old, in with the new. This picture says it all. The First National Bank of Denver (621 17th Street) rises into the sky as one of Denver's earliest skyscrapers in this photo circa 1957. This building would become familiar to people around the world in the 1980s show Dynasty. It was one of the buildings shown in the opening credits to that show. Off to the side in this picture, the Orpheum awaits its fate, brought down by progress a decade later.

It's miraculous that the rest of Block 162 has remained intact up to this point. But now with the redevlopment of the block underway, only the McClintock and the Steel Building will remain. I think we should at least let the Fontius name remain. The Orpheum, Standish and Republic Hotel names will continue to fade away. However, the Steel/Fontius building will be made shiny again. Hopefully, the Fontius name will stick around and not soon be forgotten.

All historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection. Some of the hyperlinks above direct you to DenverInfill.com to view present day photos and maps of Downtown Denver.

The Arapahoe County Courthouse

2007-08-27T00:28:00.000-06:00

circa 1900

circa 1902

Welcome again everyone and thanks for visiting this blog and the Denver History Nugget. Since I showcased a very prominent building last time that was demolished relatively recently, I thought I'd show a treasure lost during the 1930s. That would be the Arapahoe County Courthouse.

Now you might be asking yourself the following question: Why is there an Arapahoe County Courthouse in Denver? Well, prior to 1902, Denver was the county seat of a much larger Arapahoe County, not Littleton. Due to something called the Rush Amendment, and a whole bunch of other stuff, Denver and Adams Counties were carved out of Arapahoe County and voila--the 1883 County Courthouse was suddenly obsolete. But it stayed around for another 30 years while city planners, architects, mayors and the public struggled with how, when and where to build a new city hall.

A rather famous image of the Arapahoe County Courthouse is seen below:

Many people mistake the domed building in the middle of the picture as the state capitol but it is not. This photo is circa 1894 and was taken by photographer William Henry Jackson from the dome of the capitol when it was under construction. The main road in the picture is 16th Street.

The Arapahoe County Courthouse, along with City Hall at 14th and Larimer, were both demolished in the 1930s and replaced by this familiar building, the City and County Building.

The Courthouse was put up for sale and then demolished to make way for "Courthouse Square", a park in the middle of downtown.

But no sooner had "progress" brought on the park, then a parking lot took over the park. By 1957, the land was being transformed into a skating rink called Zeckendorf Plaza, along with a new department store that combined the May Company and Daniels and Fisher into May D&F. The building is seen under construction here:

This department store and the adjacent Hilton Hotel were designed by I. M. Pei. The modernist design of May D&F was a striking example of 1950s style architecture. It was called a hyperbolic parabaloid. But Denver is not a city that dwells on the newest fad for long. The 1990s brought its demolition and an "elegant black box" along with some dancing ballerina statues replaced the structure as part of the Adam's Mark Hotel expansion which had taken over the adjacent Hilton/Radisson Hotel.

The only reminder today that anything such as a courthouse once stood here is the street name: Court Place. To see what is here today on Block 208, click here to be taken to DenverInfill.com

All historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection. Some of the hyperlinks above direct you to DenverInfill.com to view present day photos and maps of Downtown Denver.

Inaugural Denver History Nugget!

2007-08-13T18:54:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the first Denver History Nugget--a blog brought to you by Denver History Tours. Frequent posts on this blog will help you explore Denver's exciting past! My name is Shawn Snow, your blog host and local history buff. I bring a wealth of knowledge concerning Denver to the table both as a historian and as an urban planner. With degrees in history, geography, urban and regional planning and public administration, you might say I like school just a little too much. So, all that knowledge has to go somewhere!! And so I bring you the Denver History Nugget.

I have lived in Denver all my life and come from a long line of Denverites, stretching back to the 1870s when great-great grandmother Hall crossed the Dakota prairie on her way to Colorado Territory! Soon, my great-great grandfather Allen was leaving Flint, MI for Denver and the rest is history. In fact, I am the fourth generation of my family to be born here and to attend the Denver Public Schools. So yes, I am even eligible to get that pioneer plate for my car. But guess what, I don't have a car! So my bike will have to do. Anyway, I encourage you to send any comments or questions my way and I'll do my best to find you an answer. I don't know it all and haven't been around for as long as Dr. Colorado (Tom Noel) but with history, there is always more to know and learn.

Posts from the Denver History Nugget come from a live historian (me) who works for the Colorado Historical Society at their Byers-Evans House Museum (1310 Bannock) as the Manager of Interpretive Programming. Stop by and say hi! In addition, I give energetic and fun walking and bus tours for Denver History Tours, the host of this very blog. At Denver History Tours, we love Having FUN with History!

The mission of this blog is to educate new arrivals to Denver and those born here and those not. This online forum offers a new avenue for studying a subject that is around us everyday, whether we realize it or not. Our built environment has a story to tell. History isn't just about old books. Taking advantage of the benefits of computerized communication, the Denver History Nugget will work to bring our past history to a wider audience.

To that end, I am pleased to have this blog closely connected with two tremendous resources: the outstanding photographs found at the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection and the monumental compilation of material found at DenverInfill.com. Unless otherwise noted, all photos come from the library's collection. In addition, each nugget of the day entry will be tied directly to the block numbers given at DenverInfill.com so you will be able to learn about what is on the block today and see pictures from the block's past as well. For a block number explanation, click here.

And finally, I am very new to this web log thing, oops, blog, and am not as computer savvy as most of my generation, so be patient!! I have spent too much time looking into the past to be proficient at the computer stuff as well!

Now that the background stuff is out of the way, let's get started!

Today I would like to talk about Denver's grandest Victorian structure, the Tabor Grand Opera House.

Have you ever stood by the Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower at 16th and Arapahoe downtown and had a good look around? Skyline Park stretching north and south, the Federal Reserve Branch Bank on the opposite corner, where the public never enters. Well, that bank sits on the block where, once a upon a time, Denver's grandest Victorian graced the city. The block between Arapahoe and Curtis held the wonderful Tabor Grand Opera House (1881) and the US Custom House and Post Office (circa 1885). The Federal Reserve photo link above shows a picture taken from the same angle and direction as the above Tabor photo. It shows the corner of 16th and Curtis.

The photo above shows the Tabor Grand along with the Post Office. Interestingly, the Joslins Department Store (circa 1883) sits to the left. That building still stands and today houses the Marriott Courtyard Hotel.

The US Customs House and Post Office is shown above around 1941. This shot is taken from Arapahoe Street looking toward the corner at 16th Street. For a current view of this same block, same perspective, click here.

The Tabor Grand was built by famed Denverite Horace Tabor (of Baby Doe fame). The opera house was a landmark until being razed in 1965. When grand Victorian operas fell out of vogue, the building became a movie house, last showing second rate movies and Spanish language films by the early 1960s. And the Post Office served as Tabor's place of work (as Denver postmaster) after he lost it all in the Silver Crash of 1893. He died in 1899. It became the US Customs House alone after the new Post Office opened around 1910 at 18th and Stout.

Here is an interior view of the Tabor Grand from 1881.

With barely a peep from the public, these buildings were demolished to make way for the Federal Reserve Branch Bank which still resides there. Strain your ears next time you walk past the bank. Maybe you'll hear the echoes of the grand operas and unhappy ghosts from the past.

Today, we have featured half of Block 098 (16th Street between Arapahoe and Curtis).

STAY TUNED!!

All historic photos are from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection. Some of the hyperlinks above direct you to DenverInfill.com to view present day photos and maps of Downtown Denver.