is 40 - Historic Denver

E s t. 1 9 7 0
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Vol um e 3 5
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Number 4
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Winter 2010
Historic Denver’s
40th Anniversary
and the Birth of a
Movement
Historic Denver
is 40,
and we’re waxing sentimentally.
Hasn’t preservation always been about
IDENTITY?
If Denver is your home, every one of our
historic buildings, streets and stories
belongs to you.
When you enjoy a downtown dinner or
baseball game or street
fair, the grand facades and bricks and
character speak to you. That’s why
2.
you are
Historic Denver.
Top image: Three of Historic Denver, Inc.’s Silver Dollar
Girls promote A Night in Old Denver, 1974. L to R: Diane
Dinsmore, Susan Taylor and Connie Carlson
Now that we’re an organization of a certain
age, we don’t mind telling it like it is.
And how it is, is that Denver is
#1 Trustees Bob Sheets and Carolyn Etter
#2 Trustee Ken Watson
#3 President James Judd
a great place
#4 Summer 1971, Governor John Love, his wife
Ann Love (a founding member of HD) actress Carol
Channing (honorary Chairman of the 1971 Night in Old
Denver) and an unidentified gentleman.
to call home.
For this, we take some credit, but not
without a nod to the members who have
made us tick for four decades.
Please help us continue the great
tradition of preserving a great city.
Become a
member today at
3.
1.
Much of Denver’s early architecture
was lost in the1950s, 60s and 70s in the
name of “urban renewal”. The spectacular Tabor Opera House (1881-1964), the
Windsor Hotel (1889-1959), the Mining
Exchange Building (1891-1964) and the
Old U.S. Post Office (1916-1965), notable
mansions and entire neighborhood blocks
were razed to make way for parking lots
and civic spaces. Denver’s story was one
echoed across the country as the1970s
bore witness to unprecedented destruction of historic fabric and a subsequent
reaction from the burgeoning historic
preservation movement. Denver’s historic
buildings continued to fall at unprecedented rates as the debate about the
meaning of progress raged on nationally and locally, and concerned citizens
organized to protect and preserve what
remained. The 1970 birth of Historic
Denver, Inc. marked the beginning of
our city’s proud preservation history – a
history we will share with you over the
course of this anniversary year via four
decade-dedicated issues of the 40-yearold Historic Denver News. Here we begin
with the 1970s.
Denver, Colorado, 1970. By all
accounts, it was a grass roots gang of a
few who ran with the idea
that saving Denver’s threatened places mattered. Ken
Watson, who had no formal
preservation experience, along
with several of Denver’s preservation pioneers (Dana Crawford,
Barbara Norgren, James Judd, Ann
Love - wife of Governor John Love and many others), led the initial effort
to save the Molly Brown House and the
Moffat Mansion. An early advertisement
in the paper – something to the simple
effect of: “Send in $10 to save the Moffat
Mansion” - elicited a great response, a
continued on page 10
#5 A sign of the times; Historic Denver’s first success
story was the restoration of the Molly Brown House.
#6 Demolition of The Majestic, 1977
5.
4.
www.HistoricDenver.org
6.
Denver, CO
Permit No. 756
Historic Denver, Inc.
P.O. Box 480491
Denver, CO 80248-9900
PAID
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Historic Denver News
from the
director
50-cent beers flowed at Historic Denver’s 1973 Night
in Old Denver
In This Issue:
Page 1
40th Anniversary 70s decade special
Page 2
From the Director
Page 3
Preservationist Sets Up Shop
Page 4-5
Preservation Briefs
Page 6-7
40th Anniversary 70s decade special
Page 8
Historic Denver Happenings
Page 9
Molly Brown House Museum
Page 10
Urban Living
Page 12
Events
In 2010 Historic Denver will celebrate
40 years of working to protect, preserve and promote the places that define
our community. As we will celebrate this
important milestone during my first year
as Executive Director, I’ve been reflecting
not just on Denver’s preservation story,
but on my own. This is because for me
preservation has always been personal.
While the places and spaces we work to
protect and promote are often public, it
is our own experiences of them that resonate: walking past Union Station on the
way to the office, running through City
Park, strolling through Highlands, or sipping coffee in Larimer Square.
My preservation story began early.
I grew up in a historic district in south
Capitol Hill and attended Dora Moore
Elementary, the city’s first landmark-designated school. During my years there the school
prepared for and celebrated its 100th birthday. It was impossible to not become engaged
with the story of Dora Moore herself, a long-time principal, or to feel the grandeur of
the grand staircase, or to imagine Mamie Dodd (later Eisenhower) climbing those same
steps. Even now, when I drive by the school, I search for the shadows of its original name,
Corona School, hidden high on the west facade.
After I left Moore I attended two other historic schools, ultimately graduating from
East High. It’s a point of pride for me that I attended one of the four “compass” schools,
and that Denver invested in such grand places for its youth. East, like Moore, is a place
where the past and present rub elbows everyday, where you take a calculus exam in a
classroom with elegant windows, perform on a stage in an auditorium that has remained
the same for 90 years, and where generations of Denver residents had the same angst-filled
teenage experiences. Even if only through osmosis, a connection to that kind of legacy
stays with you.
As a result, I quickly realized that history was the right direction for me, and when
I later returned to Denver to begin a career, I gravitated backwards, to the past, landing
in a very logical place, working for Historic Denver at the Molly Brown House Museum.
There is really nothing like working each day in the home of a legend. Each morning I’d walk up the front steps, under the watchful eyes of Mrs. Brown’s famous lions,
and feel lucky. How many people get to stand alone where the Unsinkable dined, handle
her belongings or figure out how to care for woodwork, masonry and windows that will
hopefully outlast us all.
Now visiting this type of historic home, commercial structure, civic landmark or landscape is a part of my daily job. In 2010, in addition to celebrating our 40th birthday, the
staff and board attention will be directed to iconic landmarks that include Union Station
as we manage a historic structure assessment amidst the chaos of mass-transit construction, the 16th Street Mall as a design team evaluates how to best reinvigorate downtown’s
defining feature, the Equitable Building as it undergoes restoration managed by Historic
Denver, and of course, all our unique urban neighborhoods as the new zoning code is
rolled out and as we expand our field services to mid-century modern communities in the
metro-area. As always, you can find up-to-date information about our initiatives at www.
historicdenver.org/what-we-do
Experiencing these places and contributing to their care are the perks of being a
preservationist. Each time I reconnect with one of these structures, and each time I come
across an older part of Denver I didn’t know existed, I am grateful to Historic Denver’s
founders who had the foresight forty years ago to build an organization that would ensure
that the places we loved as children, and the places we enjoy today, are here tomorrow.
I encourage you to join us in celebrating our preservation mission - and 40 years of
sweat and tears - throughout 2010. In addition to special events, programs, and exhibits,
we will explore each of the organization’s four decades in a separate issue of the Historic
Denver News. This issue we’re going back to the beginning - the 1970s.
You’ve indulged me by sharing my preservation story. We at Historic Denver would
love to hear yours! I encourage you to be in touch with our city’s incredible history, and
with us.
Annie Levinsky
Exeutive Director Historic Denver, Inc.
[email protected] | 303.534.5288 x 1
Architectural Photography
303.825.5280|Denver, CO
pb5280.com
2
Historic Denver Inc.
Historic Denver, Inc.
1628 16th Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
303.534.5288 tel.
303.534.5296 fax
www.historicdenver.org
Officers
Chair
Robert E. Musgraves
First Vice Chair Sarah S. Krause
Second Vice Chair Thomas (Tobie) E. J. Hazard
Treasurer
Michael (Mike) Coughlin
Board of Trustees
Margy Anderson
Katrina Benes
Anne Wainstein Bond
Tamara Campfield
Bar Chadwick
Michael P. Coughlin
Holly Bunch Dencker
Catherine C. Gale
Fabby Hillyard
Thomas E. J. Hazard
Dennis Humphries
Karen J. Jonas
Sarah S. Krause
James Kroll
Holly Kylberg
Thomas A. Lorz
Christie G. Murata
Robert Musgraves
David Pfeifer, AIA
Holly Price
Mark Sheldon
Rosemary Stoffel
Cynthia M. Stovall
Margaret Toal
Elizabeth “Liz” Walker
HD Central Office
Executive Director Annie Levinsky x1
Director of Development and Membership
Michael Schlut x6
Director of Communications
Heather Quiroga x5
Director of Preservation Programs
John Olson x4
Director of Preservation Advocacy Alice Gilbertson x3
Preservation Programs Assistant
Marcy Cameron x 7
Preservation Advice and
Referrals
A Program of Historic Denver
303.534.5288 x 4
Molly Brown
House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania St.
Denver, CO 80203
303.832.4092
www.mollybrown.org
Director of Operations Andrea Malcomb x15
Curator
Kelly Rasmussen x12
Volunteer and Program Coordinator
Samantha Sands x10
Director of Programs
Alison Salutz x17
Historic Denver News
Managing Editor
Heather Quiroga Graphic Design
Printing
Mailhouse
303.534.5288 x5
Edgellworks
Southeast Denver Graphics
Direct Mail Concepts
Historic Denver News welcomes your letters,
contents of which may be edited for length and
clarity. Please include your name, address and
telephone number in correspondence to:
Editor, Historic Denver News,
1628 16th St., Suite 200, Denver CO 80202.
Winter 2010
A Busy
Preservationist
Sets up Shop in
Denver
You know your love of preservation
runs deep when you spend a year restoring
a historic log cabin with your bride-to-be
so that you can wed there – something
Boulder architect and historic building
redeveloper Tom Thorpe and his wife
and preservation partner, Kathleen, say
“taught them to work together.” After
a distinguished career in architecture,
Thorpe has decided to dip his toes in a
new pond – Denver. We decided we might
learn something picking the brain of Tom
Thorpe, whose contributions to Boulder’s
historic preservation scene are many. But
before we take a peek at his first Denver
project, here’s the story that put this dedicated preservationist on the map.
To say that the circa 1875 Victorian
mercantile building at 1212 Pearl Street
in Boulder was deteriorating is an understatement. The once grand building originally sported cast-iron Corinthian columns, large windows and elaborate trim,
but in the 1930s the exterior was stripped
and the building was given a “modern”
façade. At this time, the second floor was
sealed in what would be a 75- year sentence of seclusion. Historic photos of the
exterior show numerous incarnations over
the following decades, including many
years as Bergheim’s store. By the 1960s
it had a rather nondescript façade – one
that did not resemble its original self in
the least. When purchased by Thorpe and
his business partner Paul Eklund in 2006,
the sealed second floor was opened. Along
for a historic first peek (with entry through
a window, to be specific) was Historic
Denver’s own Alice Gilbertson, who was
working with Boulder’s Landmark Board
at the time. She recalls the exploratory
team’s unorthodox entry, and the incredible
experience of seeing an interior absolutely
untouched for three quarters of century.
“While working for the City of Boulder, I,
along with Historic Preservation Planners
James Hewat and Chris Meschuk, were
lucky to be among the first to tour the
building with Tom. Climbing up the ladder to enter the second story was exciting
enough. But when we entered the building,
it was like walking into a time capsule.
Everything was still intact. It was very easy
to understand the prior uses of the building from the records and other items left
behind decades ago.” From there, the fire
was lit. Thorpe went to work completely
restoring the once-grand building to its
original splendor based on historic photographs and unearthed original elements,
such as doors and hardware, found in
the well-preserved second floor. The main
level’s original tin ceiling was restored, as
were its wood floors and plaster walls.
Patagonia (a well-known supporter of
sustainable practices whose hallmark it is
to occupy historic spaces when possible)
became the rehabilitated building’s first
retail tenant. And because it is the 21st
century and there are the undeniable realities of Boulder real estate, the basement
was remodeled into “Historic Character
Suites” – leasable office space for tenants.
The “new” façade, closely resembling its
original appearance, now lives up to its
Landmark Designation status. For taking
the real estate rehab road less traveled,
Thorpe’s and Eklund’s work at 1212 Pearl
Street has gained attention and accolades
galore, including Historic Boulder, Inc.’s
1212
Pearl
Street
1875
2008 Award of Excellence.
Fast-forward now to Denver, 2009,
and a new office in the historic Equitable
Building, a place with its own colorful
past (which includes extravagant, rooftop champagne parties, Denver’s ‘high
society’ soirees…stories for another day.)
From his new perch, Thorpe has found
another intriguing project, partnering
with Colorado Preservation, Inc. (CPI)
in the rehabilitation of the MathewsGotthelf Mansion in one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods - Curtis Park, a part
of the city that contains Federal, State
and Local Historic Districts. The mansion is an example of High Victorian
Second Empire style that, like so many of
its contemporaries, had fallen into disrepair during the last century. Neglected,
deteriorating, painted grey from rooftop
to foundation and divided into ten apartments, the mansion faced an uncertain
future until Colorado Preservation Inc.
(CPI) purchased the property in 2007 with
the intention of restoring, rehabilitating
and “returning to service” the architecturally and socially significant structure. As
a consultant, Thorpe is now helping CPI
manage the mansion’s rehabilitation. “The
greatest challenge facing us in the restoration of the Mathews-Gotthelf”, notes
Colorado Preservation, Inc. Executive
Director James Hare, “is the current state
of the real estate market, not just in
Denver, but across the country. Leveraging
the available tax credits for the project is
the key to keeping the mansion a financial realistic investment for the buyer we
are seeking and Tom’s knowledge in this
area has been invaluable to us, as has that
of HDI’s board member, Karen Jonas.”
Mathews-Gotthelf Mansion
1212
Pearl
Street
Now
“Of the many
‘embedded’
things I
appreciate
in historic
buildings,
most enjoyable
to me are the
stories.”
Tom Thorpe
Now “For Sale During Rehabilitation”,
both parties hope they will attract an
“empathetic buyer” who will renovate the
interior into residential space, professional
office space, or a mix of the two in the
same spirit in which the exterior is being
preserved. Thorpe is quick to point out
that both he and CPI are ready and willing
to assist a new owner with the fine points
of the historically important job.
Of his earlier project at 1212 Pearl
Street, Thorpe says “That was my most
interesting rehabilitation project so far,
but certainly not my last.” The move to
Denver and the creation of Townscape,
LLC, his new preservation consulting firm,
was an attempt at an interesting semiretirement, but he’s not sitting very still
so far, characteristically. “What interests
me most” he says, “is that every project
presents a unique set of issues in order to
arrive at a successful preservation. Of the
many “embedded” things I appreciate in
historic buildings, most enjoyable to me
are the stories.” ;
Tom Thorpe was the founding
President (and now consultant) at DTJ
Design, Inc. (formerly Downing, Thorpe
and James, Inc.) and is a co-owner of
Older Boulder, LLC. His newest venture
– Townscape, LLC – has him specializing
in various aspects of the rehabilitation of
Denver’s and Boulder’s historic buildings.
Tom Thorpe may be contacted via [email protected] or at 303.579.4068.
Historic Denver Inc.
3
Historic Denver News
Preservation
Briefs
Colorado National Bank Building Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library
The Colorado National Bank Building
and Allen Tupper True Murals – Saved!
O
n December 15, 2009 Stonebridge Companies purchased the Colorado National
Bank Building at 17th and Champa Streets in downtown Denver for 4.5 million
dollars.
Historic Denver, Inc. and others had been significantly concerned that the iconic
building was vacant for many years. During the summer of 2009, HD documented the
condition of the building, which is a contributing structure in the Downtown Denver
Historic District, and met with Stonebridge prior to the sale. We are pleased to report
that they plan to adaptively reuse the building as a hotel, which will allow the public
access to sixteen important murals by Colorado artist Allen Tupper True in the spectacular lobby area.
An excerpt from Denver: The City Beautiful (authored by by Barbara Norgen and
Tom Noel) explains a few of the reasons the building, designed by famed Colorado
architects Fisher and Fisher, is important and unique: “Fisher and Fisher prepared more
than 135 pages of typed specifications and 44 architectural drawings on waxed linen
paper for this classical 1915 composition in snow-white Colorado Yule marble. With
typical thoroughness, the Fishers specified pure marble, containing not less than 96
percent pure carbonate of lime...free from stains, heavy markings, large cloud streaks,
discolorations or other imperfections. They insisted that the quarry provide three markable samples showing the extreme variations of material that would be furnished
and required full sized plaster models for all ornamental work ...by skilled modelers
selected by the architects.” In a case of history repeating, the planned renovation will
provide much-needed jobs in a tough economy, just as it did when originally constructed in 1915.
To view a slide show of the building’s famed interior visit www.historicdenver.org.
A close call for the
1918 Byers Branch
Library - An Update
Church of the
In mid 2009, Historic Denver members and staff were concerned to learn
that the city planned to sell the 1918
Byers Branch Library - an irreplaceable historic asset with a 91 year history. As explained in the Mayor’s initial letter to citizens regarding the 2010
budget, the library closure would save
operating dollars, while its sale would
garner revenue. However, on October
12th, Mayor Hickenlooper announced he
would restore approximately $910,000
in proposed cuts from library funding, a
move that granted the threatened Byers
Branch Library a one-year reprieve. Since
then, Councilwoman Judy Montero has
spearheaded a task force of La Alma
and Lincoln Park neighbors (whose first
choice it would be to keep the library
functioning as a library) to find a solution
acceptable to the city and the neighborhood.
The library is a designated Denver
Landmark and earns this stature for its
architectural and historical significance.
Designed by well known Denver architects
Varian & Varian it is a Spanish eclectic
style with a single reading room complete with fireplace and vaulted ceiling.
The library was constructed as part of
the Carnegie library program. Funded by
steel-magnate and philanthropist Andrew
Carnegie between 1883 and 1929,
Carnegie Libraries are known for their
quality architectural design in a variety
of styles. Denver received Carnegie’s support for eight libraries before the program
ended, five of which are still in operation
and serve as anchors in diverse Denver
neighborhoods.
Historic Denver often enthusiastically
supports the creative reuse of buildings
when their original function is no longer
viable. However, the highest and best use
for the Byers Branch Library is to remain a
library, and the sale of the structure would
signify the transition of a building that has
belonged to the public for nearly a century
to an uncertain future in the private sector,
negating the long investment and stewardship of Denver’s citizens. For this reason
Historic Denver applauds the mayor’s
decision to keep Byers open for another
year. We will be sure to stay actively
involved in the coming months to ensure a
good outcome for a community gem.
Historic Denver, Inc. is proud to
announce the completion of a State
Historical Fund Grant for the Church
of the Holy Redeemer at 2552 Williams
Street in Northeast Denver’s Whittier
neighborhood. The goal of this project
was to further investigate critical deficiencies identified during a previous historic structure assessment, completed in
September of 2007. The church, originally
known as St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church,
is a significant example of Gothic Revival
designed by the prominent architecture,
Denver firm of William E. Fisher and
Arthur A. Fisher. Arthur Fisher had a
particular fondness for church architecture which led him to form a bureau and
issue a publication on the design of small
churches for the Church Art Commission
of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado.
However, St. Stephen’s was one of only
three churches designed by the Fishers in
Denver.
An early sanctuary, constructed in
1896, is now used as the fellowship hall. In
1910 the congregation constructed a new
sanctuary. The 1910 building is significant
due to its association with events that
made a significant contribution to history.
Bill Porter, Holy Redeemer congregant
born in 1924 in Denver, recalls that one of
the most influential members of the church
was Dr. Clarence Holmes. Dr. Holmes was
an early civil rights advocate who founded
the Denver Interracial Committee in 1916.
At that time, Dr. Holmes, along with a
group of whites and African Americans,
also formed the Denver branch of the
NAACP, the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People. It was in
keeping with the church’s philosophy of
reaching across the “color lines” that were
prevalent in this part of Denver during the
early 20th century.
Beyond its own racially integrated
congregation, the Church of the Holy
Redeemer serves a diverse community in
northeast Denver. The grant funds have
provided the church with a comprehensive
preservation plan. The findings of the earlier HSA identified many areas that required
further, in-depth investigation before the
church could truly address the critical
needs of the building systematically and
holistically. They are now at a point where
the congregation can move forward with
confidence and conviction in their efforts
to maintain and utilize their great historic
asset. We would like to thank SlaterPaull
Architects, JVA Inc., Belfay Engineering,
the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, the
Colorado State Historical Fund and representatives from the Church of the Holy
Redeemer for their hard work completiing this successful grant.
Historic Denver regularly manages
grants on behalf of Sacred Landmarks
and community buildings across the city.
Historic Denver’s John Olson,
Director of Preservation Programs, has
been representing preservation on a task
force dedicated to the library’s future.
February, 1915 – The Colorado National Bank Building Under Construction,
Courtesy Denver Public Library
4
4
Historic Denver Inc.
Holy Redeemer
Grant Completion
Winter 2010
Historic Denver
Receives State
Historical Fund
Grants For
Survey Work
and Technical
Assistance
Historic Denver was the proud recipient of two State Historical Fund (SHF)
grants related to the National Trust for
Historic Preservation Partners in the Field
program. The first grant provides partial
funding to conduct research and develop
recommendations for designing and implementing a cost-effective, citywide survey
initiative. The need for this comprehensive
survey is critical because for the first time
in the City’s history, we will gain a holistic
understanding of the historic resources
scattered across our community.
Currently, Denver has approximately
175,000 primary buildings, 95 percent
of which have never been surveyed. The
City has no efficient process for researching properties to determine if they are
significant and, therefore, worthy of protection. The SHF grant will allow Historic
Denver to conduct research and develop
recommendations for designing and implementing a cost-effective, citywide survey
initiative. Using a best practices model, the
research will address survey standards and
historic resource criteria, the development
of historic contexts, community involvement, use of survey data by both private
and public sector stakeholders, geographic
information system and database requirements, and funding sources for survey
implementation. The City and County of
Denver generously provided the SHF cash
match for this initiative.
The development of a survey strategy,
survey implementation plan, and, ultimately, a citywide preservation plan will
help guide the planning, maintenance, and
investment decisions of property owners,
developers, city staff, elected officials, and
neighborhood groups while educating all
stakeholders about Denver’s history and
their role in preserving its legacy.
The second SHF grant awarded to
Historic Denver, in support of the Partners
in the Field initiative is the Preservation
for Living program. Through this effort
Historic Denver will educate metro-area
homeowners about proper maintenance
and energy efficiency techniques, the state
historic preservation tax credit, and compatible modifications and additions to
their historic homes. The first part of the
program includes a series of neighborhood
workshops led by subject-matter experts
covering maintenance, energy efficiency,
and tax credits. The second portion of
the program will utilize the well-regarded
concept of neighborhood pattern and idea
books, which will be developed for select
historic neighborhoods in the Denver
metro area. The intent of the books is
to educate homeowners about characterdefining features of their neighborhoods
and homes, while helping them visualize
appropriate design solutions to enhance
livability. The City of Arvada provided
a generous cash match in support of this
new metro-area program.
Preservation in the
Schools Expands
For over a decade Historic Denver,
primarily through the Molly Brown House
Museum, has been a leader in history and
architecture education in local elementary and middle schools. In 2010 Historic
Denver has been awarded two significant
grants to expand this piece of our mission.
First, in June and July, 2010 Denver
will host two National Endowment for
the Humanities Landmarks in American
History Teacher Training Workshops.
Teachers from around the country will
spend a week exploring the lives and
legends of western icons, including Molly
Brown. A grant of more than $150,000
will provide teachers with stipends, support the costs of guest scholars, and provide exciting field trips. For more information on how teachers can participate visit
www.mollybrown.org. The deadline for
applications in March 2, 2010.
Then, over the next two years Historic
Denver, with nearly $35,000 in funds from
the State Historical Fund and more than
$18,000 in matching funds, will develop
and publish a fourth-grade level Denver
history book and teacher resource packet,
focused on exploring our local heritage
through the built environment. The final
release date is anticipated in 2011.
To learn more about this effort or to
donate to either project contact Director
of Programs Alison Salutz at 303-832-4092
ext. 17 or [email protected]. ;
Carriage House
Museum Store
Tuesday-Saturday 10-4:30, Sunday 12-4:30
1340 Pennsylvania Street
303.832.4092 x13
*Bring in this ad to receive 10% off your total purchase
What’s the Story?
We want to hear your story.
Call Denver Story Trek at
303.562.2407
Be a tourist in your own town by exploring Denver’s historic places
on Denver Story Trek. Story Trek is a self-guided tour of the city, with
stops organized geographically and by theme. All sites are accessible
by foot, bike or auto. Pick up a brochure at the Molly Brown House,
the 16th St. Mall Visitors Center or visit www.denverstorytrek.org.
Free audio information on each site is available 24 hours a day by
calling 303.562.2407.
You can also add your story to the Trek. Simply call 303.562.2407
and follow the instructions.
Denver Story Trek lead sites include the Molly Brown House
Museum, Black American West Museum, Byers Evans House
Museum, Four Mile Historic Park and Kirkland Museum of Fine and
Decorative Art.
Historic Denver Inc.
5
Historic Denver News
1970
1971
“When we started
out 40 years ago,
Historic Denver
Buys First Property
the Urban Renewal Authority
was trying to tear down Larimer
Square. Now we have a strong
preservation ethic here. Many
of the things we lost in the 70s
would never be lost now.”
“A concerned group calling themselves Historic Denver came together
to purchase the threatened 1889 home
of Margaret ‘Molly’ Tobin Brown,
located at 1340 Pennsylvania Street.”
Historic Denver News, December, 1971
Once restoration work was completed, the home became the Molly Brown House Museum, which Historic Denver, Inc. continues to own
and operate and use as educational tool, maintaining stewardship for the benefit of future generations.
These beginnings were humble - a 1971 “Historic Denver News Memo” released during restoration
of the house reported that “the charming little carriage house on the Molly Brown premises has been
partially restored thanks to Explorer Scout Troop #28, and its leader, Mr. Gordon. The boys and girls
spent Saturday cleaning and hauling in preparation for our use this summer. Now, on the north side
of the carriage house, we have ‘Molly Brown’s Trunk’, a delightful little gift shop.” Almost forty years
later, the not-so-humble house museum ranks as one of the most popular in the country, with approximately 45,000 visitors each year helping to generate operating revenue for Historic Denver, Inc. And
the Carriage House Museum Store (so lovingly launched by Scout Troop #28) carries one of the most
intriguing collections of historic-themed gifts in the state.
Dana Crawford
November 2009
Larimer Street circa 1951 (photo courtesy Denver Public Library)
mentioned that…she feels, as
stated at our first meeting, that
this committee has capabilities
to do marvelous things in the
historical preservation area and
that this is just the start.” 1972
1970
- excerpt form the Minutes of the first meeting at
the Molly Brown House, December 2, 1970, in
which the group voted unanimously to incorporate as Historic Denver, Inc.
Moffat Mansion
1901-1971
Moffat Mansion Destroyed
James Judd, January 2010
“We would not be an organization if not for Ken Watson.”
“Dana [Crawford]
Built in 1909 and lost amid widespread protest in 1971, the fledging Historic Denver’s attempt to purchase and save the famed home
failed. The Moffat Mansion’s demolition ignited support for Historic
Denver and the city’s preservation movement. “Shortly after,” recalls
early Historic Denver Board Member and well known preservation
advocate Dana Crawford, “a group of us - perhaps twenty or so - went
to San Antonio. Our primary motivation was the loss of Moffat. We
learned about their tremendously successful fundraiser,
A Night in Old San Antonio”
says Crawford. “They were
extremely generous, sharing
their notes and ideas. We
came back on that airplane different people, that’s all. We quickly
went from a budding organization to 2,000 members.” The early
Historic Denver Board’s determination to raise enough money to prevent other demolitions resulted in,
among other things, HD’s wildly
successful “Night in Old Denver” a three night spectacle in historic Larimer Square during
which Denver was transported back to its living, breathing past. In his call-out for the necessary 500 volunteers needed each night of the event, then HD Executive Director Ken Watson
said “Historic Denver now faces its biggest challenge, making money for preservation.”
When asked about the incredible planning for the first Night in Old Denver, Watson replied:
“Cecil DeMille created smaller productions.” The effort paid off, and for several years the
popular event helped fund Historic Denver’s preservation successes.
Historic Denver News, July, 1971
6
Historic Denver Inc.
Tramway Cable Building Saved
“Denver Urban Renewal Authority accepted an offer from HD
president James Judd and Mr. William Teel to purchase the 1911 building designed by William E. and Arthur A. Fisher, located at 1100 14th,
to save it from demolition.”
Historic Denver News, June/July, 1972
The Use of Easements for Historic Preservation
“Owners of the 1887 Richtofen Castle, located at 7020 E. 12th, gave
Historic Denver a façade easement, guaranteeing the perpetual protection
and maintenance of the exterior of the structure.”
Historic Denver News, March, 1973
Historic Denver Saves Croke-PattersonCampbell House
Historic Denver intervened and gave Mr. John Rae the time needed to
get the necessary finances in order to purchase the rare 1890 Chateau-esque
Style home located at 428-430 E 11th, with the intent to restore. The Raes
are to give HD a façade easement.
Historic Denver News, March, 1973
Sheedy Mansion Saved
1115 Grant Street will continue to be a visual part of our heritage. The
mansion...built in 1880...has at times been a touch and go proposition.
However, many months of hard work and perseverance by several people
have brought this happy ending.”
Historic Denver News, April, 1974
City of Denver Has New Historic
Preservation Office
Located in the Majestic Building at 16th and Broadway, it was created
when the Denver Planning office received a grant from HUD.
Historic Denver News, January 1973
Winter 2010
Preservation
for the People
Old Kassler
Building
1898-1978
16TH ST. MALL: OLD KASSLER
BUILDING TO GO
“The Kassler Building was demolished to make way for the new uptown terminal for RTD to anchor
the new 16th St. Mall.”
Historic Denver News
September, 1978
1978
1977
1975
Majestic Building
1890-1977
Four Mile House is Saved
“The City and County of Denver, using bond issue funds,
is in the process of purchasing the structure and land around
the Four Mile House.
‘Four Mile House’ was so named because it stood exactly
4 miles from the last stage stop in ‘Denver City’. This stage
stop is very precious to Denver and to preservationists, for it
is there!”
Historic Denver News, February, 1975
In 1975 the City of Denver purchased the house and 12
surrounding acres, designating the property a Denver City
Park. Historic Denver was among several organizations that
restored the property, and continued to staff and manage
the park until a selfgoverning Board of
Directors was established in the early
1990s.
What is Happening to Our City?
“Designed in 1890 by Frank E. Edbrooke, The
Majestic Building at 209 16th Street was demolished by
developers to make way for surface parking and later,
Denver’s World Trade Center II.”
Historic Denver News, March 1977
Shall I say, “Yes, I remember it” or
Labor Day 1974:
“Here it is, I helped to save it”
Historic Denver News, April 1973
Historic Denver’s ‘float’ in the
Platte River Park Opening”
1973
1974
Montclair School
Saved. A Happy
Ending
Historic Denver and citizens of Montclair community
found a purchaser that agreed
not to demolish the 1891
school located at 1301 Quebec.
Opportunities Industrialization
Center took over the lease and
will hold courses for students
in the building.
Historic Denver News
March, 1974
Ghost Building to be Relocated by Public Service
$100,000 Pledge Lays Groundwork for Auraria
Preservation Project
An anonymous donation was given to Historic Denver to begin restoration work of the 9th Street Historic Park - a block of Victorian era residences
built between 1873 and 1905.”
Historic Denver News, January, 1973)
Longtime historian, preservationist and early HD Board Member Don
Etter brought attention to “Auraria - The Place Where Denver Began” in
his excellent book of the same name (which 1973 HD News writer Sandra
Dallas called “an eloquent photographic plea to save a few of those little
houses in Auraria.”) Thanks to the jump-start of a generous anonymous
pledge, Historic Denver assumed the obligation to raise additional funds for
the project. As a result, the 9th Street parkway now serves as the physical
and sentimental heart and soul of the downtown campus shared by U.C.
Denver, Metro State University and Community College of Denver.
Public Service Company and Historic Denver reached an agreement that the
1891 Ghost Building designed by William Lang will be taken apart piece by piece
and moved to another site to avoid demolition - a better compromise than complete
demolition.
Historic Denver News, October, 1979
1973
Historic Denver Inc.
7
Historic Denver News
Historic denver
Happenings
Young professionals at the historic Denver
Press Club for a One Past 5 Happy Hour,
photo courtesy Kstrand Photography
Historic Denver’s new
Executive Director Annie
Levinsky with Denver
Mayor John Hickenlooper,
one of the evening’s award
recipients and the event’s
honorary chair.
Historic Denver’s 39th Annual Awards Dinner
October 21st, 2009 - In keeping with a beloved tradition, the Brown Palace Hotel
& Spa was transformed for our biggest evening of the year. Community award-winners
were honored for good preservation work and spirit amongst our usual A-list crowd,
comprised of Denver’s biggest supporters of our city’s historic resources. An album
of the evening’s photos and awards video are available for viewing on our website at
www.historicdenver.org.
Congratulations to our
2009 Award Winners
One Past 5 Happy Hour Series
November 5th, 2009 - The historic and storied Denver Press Club set the stage for
what many say was our most interesting OP5 yet. Our third in an ongoing series of
happy hours (co-hosted with our OP5 event partners at the National Trust for Historic
Preservation) attracted a dynamic group interested in learning about the role preservation plays in making our city great. With doorstep paparazzi snapping arriving guests, an
old school caricaturist capturing profiles and a basement games room that lived up to its
hush-hush past, the place that has offered sanctuary to the legends of pen and politics was
rocking, all in the name of preservation.
Stay tuned for our next One Past 5 in late February.
We wish to thank our
One Past 5 – Denver
Press Club supporters:
The Denver Press Club
Solera
Nordstrom
Ann Love Award:
The Honorable John W. Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver
Molly Brown Award:
Sean Tolliver
Al’s Barber Shop
Jerri’s Tobacco Shop & Fine Wines
Georgianna Contiguglia
Svdeka Vodka/Republic National
Distributing Company
Keystone Award:
Peter H. Dominick, Jr. (posthumous)
Community Preservation Awards:
Aromor Building
Rocky Mountain Seed Company Building
Dry Ice Factory Building
Clayton Campus
Wazee Exchange Building
Many thanks to our Annual Awards
Dinner supporters:
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck L.L.P.
Spectrum General Contractors Inc.
MAVDevelopment Company
CBIZ MHM L.L.C.
City and County of Denver
Colorado Historical Society - State
Buchanan Yonushewski Group L.L.C.
Historical Fund
BOA Construction Inc.
Mercy Housing
Burt-Hilliard Investments
Clayton Early Learning
CMC Group
Humphries Poli Architects, P.C.
JE Dunn Construction
Northern Trust
OZ Architecture
Sage Hospitality Resources
Sherman & Howard L.L.C.
Steele Street Bank & Trust
Wells Fargo Bank
Shames Makovsky Realty Company
JohnstonWells Public Relations
Seed Acquisitions L.L.C.
Jerry Glick
Union Station Neighborhood Company
Art In Action
Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti
Havey Productions Brown Palace Hotel & Spa
Johnson & Wales University
8
Historic Denver Inc.
OP5 Committee Members greet arriving
guests at the Denver Press Club door, photo
courtesy Kstrand Photography
Looking
Ahead
2010 is our 40th anniversary year and our calendar is not
short of celebratory events! Here are a few of the things we have
in store:
On May 19th we’ll honor Historic Denver’s 40th anniversary
with a members-only opening of “Pieces of our Past: Denver’s
Preservation Story” – a traveling exhibit showcasing the physical artifacts of some of
Denver’s most iconic buildings, and telling the stories that define our preservation past.
The exhibit will be open to the public at the Denver Public Library’s main branch through
May and June. The monumental bronze doors from the Denver Theater, remnants of the
lost Zeckendorf Plaza and a grand torchiere form the demolished Tabor Theater (both
courtesy the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art) and many other pieces of our
architectural past will tell our city’s story in an unusually tangible way. And a companion
exhibit at the world class Molly Brown House Museum called: Pieces of our Past: 40 Years
of History at the Molly Brown House Museum will launch and run concurrently.
Stay tuned because late this summer, Historic Denver (in conjunction with our
acclaimed Denver Story Trek program) will host a city-wide scavenger hunt in which
scavengers will scour the city and be rewarded with grand prizes. Though top secret
contest details will not be released just yet, the high-tech and family friendly contest will
entail the release and hunting down of clues to Denver’s architectural past. Please visit
www.HistoricDenver.org for emerging details.
And finally, you might want to keep this issue for posterity! Each of our four 2010
issues of the Historic Denver News will be dedicated to one of our four fabulous decades.
At the end of the year, it will provide a 40-year picture of Historic Denver’s - and our
city’s - preservation history.
Winter 2010
Molly Brown
House museum
A Black-a-Moor returns to the Museum
Restoring 1340 Pennsylvania Street –
Denver’s Most Unsinkable House
Andrea Malcomb
Molly Brown House Museum
Director of Operations
Historic Denver, Inc. began in 1970
as a private non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the historical
and architectural heritage of Denver. The
first project and primary reason for the
organization’s formation was the preservation and restoration of the Molly Brown
House Museum. The house was opened
to the public in March of 1971 in unrestored condition. 751 people visited on
the first day with over 1,000 people on the
weekend days.
Historic Denver’s goal was to restore
the house to the period of 1894 - 1910
when the Brown family was primarily in
residence. After 1910 the house had many
occupants and owners and each seems to
have either added or taken away from the
home. The restoration process was undertaken while remaining open to the public
with the first floor being completed in the
early 1970s followed by the second floor
hallway. The bedrooms were restored in
1978-1979 and the kitchen completed
by 1980. The restoration was funded
through admission dollars, donations and
grants. The back porch and parlor weren’t
restored until 2003-2004 and was funded
through a State Historical Fund grant.
In order to accurately restore the
property, Historic Denver relied on period
publications, historic photographs of the
rooms, books of historic interiors, original
William Lang floor plans, and analysis
of paint and wallpaper samples. Historic
Denver also created an official restoration policy, deciding against using any
markers, labels or museum-type displays
in the house as they felt it would distract
from the historic atmosphere. Instead they
would rely on docent-led tours to tell the
story of the house and the woman who
had lived here.
The first floor of the house went
through the most dramatic alterations
after Mrs. Brown’s death, as ceilings were
lowered and rooms were chopped up to
create separate living spaces and to conserve heat. Only in the entryway, dining
room and back parlor can the original
hardwood floors be found. In the parlor
and library only the fir subfloors remain.
The most original space in the house,
the entryway, features the original lightfixture and staircase constructed of golden
oak. The anaglypta paper on the entryway
walls is original but has been re-painted.
The fireplace is also original with the
exception of the wood mantle and overmantle which have been replaced with the
over-mantle piece from the Everett house,
a William Lang structure that stood next
door.
When the drop ceilings were removed
in the Parlor, a portion of the decorative
cornice was found intact. Under the false
ceiling in the dining room evidence of the
decorative conservatory ceiling was found.
A paint analysis was done to determine
the color scheme and the original artwork
was reproduced on a protective cover of
gypsum board. At some point prior to
1910, Margaret switched the library and
the back parlor. The location of the back
parlor also had a dropped ceiling and
when it was removed remnants of an arts
and crafts border and ceiling paper were
found. It was determined that the paper
was beyond repair and a wallpaper reproduction company was hired to reproduce
the progressive 1905 design.
The original kitchen had been replaced
by two sub-divided modern kitchens during the boarding house years. This area
was the most difficult to interpret because
there was very little of the original historic
fabric remaining and the original Lang
drawings were missing during the restoration. Paint analysis revealed that the
earliest color was the mustard gold color
seen today.
The Browns replaced the two original
wood back porches sometime prior to
1910 with today’s brick all-season porch
and the original staircase to the basement was inside the house at the maid’s
pantry window, a door at the time. The
servant stairs had been removed during
the boarding house years and walled over.
Two stairs were left in place between the
first and second floor indicating where the
staircase had once originated.
At the top of the main stairs in the
sunroom, a wall was installed during the
boarding house years which closed off the
sunroom from the rest of the hallway. The
wall cut through a portion of the bottom
step of the second story staircase. The
replacement wood is visibly different than
the original old growth timber used on
the rest of the stairs. The sunroom stained
glass was restored in 1974. The original
window had been removed and scraps of
the stained glass were found in the basement boiler room in 1971. 72 pieces were
found out of the 493 required to reconstruct the window.
The three front bedrooms, originally
belonging to Helen, Margaret and J.J., all
showed evidence of silk tapestry-covered
walls from the small nail holes of the
furring strips used to attach the fabric
to the walls. This reproduction fabric
cost $16,000 for all three front rooms in
1978. Margaret’s notation on the back of
the photograph of her room read, “Silk
Tapestry master bedroom”. Without the
color scheme for her room, workers had
to rely on a paint analysis to distinguish
the tan and hunter green colors seen today.
The wall-to-wall carpet was reproduced
to match the original seen in the pictures.
While the Tobin room is interpreted
to 1894 because the earlier painted walls
could be accurately identified, the study is
interpreted to its 1910 appearance. Four
layers of wall paper and ceiling paper were
discovered behind a modern partition
when it was removed to restore the room
to its original dimensions. The geometric
patterned wallpaper now on the walls was
typical of the 1910 period and was reproduced by the Scalamandre Silk Company
in New York.
From the onset, the Third Floor has
been a conundrum to restorers. While
newspaper accounts tell of balls held in
Mrs. Brown’s Ballroom, and she did have
the main stairs enlarged all the way up,
it is still a smaller space that must have
been divided for most of the house’s history. Former residents and neighbors tell
of a play room for the children as well
as several bedrooms and closets for the
servants and storage. Ghost marks on the
walls and floor hint at the existence of
multiple rooms, painted different colors
or with different wallpaper. Plumbing,
heating and electrical remnants point to a
fairly cold and dim space with little or no
running water. Servants would most likely
have used a bathroom in the basement or
chamber pots.
The mystery of the Molly Brown
House Museum has been slowly unraveling over the last 40 years through careful research and restoration- a process
continuing today. We are still learning
about all that Mrs. Margaret Tobin Brown
accomplished within her lifetime, providing a strong role-model for future generations. Through the foresight of a few
concerned citizens in 1970, the home of
one Denver’s most famous residents stands
today as an example of the importance of
preserving the history of place. ;
STICHE S
& Scissors
The Importance of
Victorian Crafts
February 1 – April 30
MOLLY BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM
1340 Pennsylvania St.
Denver, CO
mollybrown.org
Historic Denver Inc.
9
Historic Denver News
Urban
Living
by guest author Gail
Hommertzheim
H
ere we present a renovation story
with all the elements requisite of
a good tale: an incredulous challenge of a beginning, a lot of work and
a little frustration along the way, and in
this case, a happy ending. Ultimately, it’s
a story that plays out across Denver’s historic neighborhoods every day – a couple
of old house enthusiasts balancing the
practicalities of modern space and comfort
with the desire to preserve the historic
character, elements and integrity of a great
old house.
We bought a house that the neighbors pitied and even scorned. The 1936
Georgian Colonial in Denver’s Hilltop
neighborhood sat empty, we believe, for
nearly a year – neglected, exposed and
open to the elements, inviting nature to
make its way inside its once stately walls.
English Ivy crept across a plaster wall,
taking advantage of the half inch gap
where the original metal casement window would not close. The “master” bath,
added possibly twenty years ago, had no
heat. The toilet water froze in winter. A
bird skeleton lay in the fireplace, which
I discovered while stripping a rainbow of
paint off the original mantel tile. In other
words, if the lot were larger, the house’s
chances of surviving demolition would
have been slim.
I think our realtor was surprised we
bought the house. We had no regrets. It
was exactly what we wanted - a traditional
home with character, close to Cherry
Creek and downtown, with a decent sized
backyard for gardening - all within our
budget.
Initially, we thought the remodel
would be easy with no foundation work
and a simple floor plan to work with, but
of course unseen challenges arose. Trying
to weave plumbing for two new upstairs
baths through the original walls was like
trying to navigate through a maze blindfolded. Matching the original door hardware became an obsession that lead us on
a Denver-wide tour of salvage shops.
A potentially nice expanded kitchen/
10
Historic Denver Inc.
family room addition was added about ten
years prior to our purchase, but the previous owner’s Italian décor was completely
out of character with the style of the
house. Furthermore, this addition had created a second story “deck” across the back
of the house which we enclosed to create
two historically sympathetic bathrooms,
dual master closets (back to the original
location, we think), and an additional
bedroom/study. We eliminated the original
upstairs bath to create a graciously lightfilled hallway more in tune with the scale
and proportion of the original Georgian
style footprint, which features a central
staircase flanked by symmetrical sets of
rooms.
Rather than start over with the kitchen, we chose to reuse and restore what
elements we could. We painted the cabinets pale yellow and the hardware was
replaced with polished chrome and glass.
The dizzy, rather garish, granite counter
top became soft Carrara marble, and
the tumbled “Tuscan” back-splash was
replaced with crisp white subway tile. We
also added a fire-clay farmhouse sink with
a polished chrome bridge faucet. Our goal
was to create a classical and functional
space—our aesthetic emerged naturally
from these choices.
We had to make several difficult choices throughout the process. Though we
have thus learned that it has been proven
time and again that repairing old windows
is more heat efficient and economical than
replacement with new windows (whose
lifespan is a fraction of that of good, original windows), ours were unfortunately
damaged beyond repair. We did reuse all
the interior doors, although the door salesman strongly encouraged us to replace
them, along with our charming front door
and stair banister. We politely declined his
offer. I suppressed the urge to tell him that
I bought that home’s old door and banister because I liked them. When a few new
doors were needed, we were able to match
the original 8-panel style.
Trim was custom milled to match the
original, since what was available looked
more like pieces of shim than our home’s
original molding. When necessary, we
repurposed the original base boards from
one room to another. We were able to save
and reuse every piece of original wood
molding.
Fortunately, our carpenter understood
what we were doing. He showed us even
more ways to salvage and enhance rather
than tear out and replace. When adding a custom wood-paneled wainscotting
to the dining room, for example, we
worked around existing base and archway
moldings. He also disassembled, striped,
repaired or custom milled replacement
parts, then reassembled the wood molding
around the front door exterior.
The backyard landscaping, consisting
of sand and loosely scattered flagstone
(about 1400 sq/ft. of which we donated to
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s
Home Improvement Outlet), was removed
and replaced with a salvaged brick tiered
patio, lawn, and gardens. During the
renovation, we discovered a house almost
identical to ours scheduled to be demol-
ished just a few blocks away. While heartbreaking to see the house go, we tried to
negotiate for the brick and at least keep its
pieces in the neighborhood. After chasing
its remains down to the used brick yard,
we believe it is the brick that created our
patio - a near perfect match.
A neighbor’s house was simultaneously being restored rather than scraped.
This act inspired another neighbor to
remodel verses move - then another, and
another. I believe the unspoken rule on our
block has become: stay and fix, rather than
scrape or move. Generally, the facades
have remained original. Additions have
been added to the backs of several of the
homes, but generally speaking, the scale of
the homes has remained proportional to
each other and to the lot size – something
that is prized by preservationists.
Smooth as it may sound, there were
plenty of bumps along the way. We separated from our contractor midway through
the project, and ended up contracting
much of the project ourselves, learning a
lot in the process.
I would now tell anyone that no
remodel is easy, but if you can visualize
the end result from the very beginning and
fix it in your mind, it will keep you going
throughout what is almost always a trying process. You’ll know you’re doing the
right thing and that you’re saving something special and unique.
If someone asked: “was it worth it?”
Of course I would say yes. We now have
our historic dream house. Though Denver
is not a really old city like Charleston, for
example, it is still worth preserving our
“old”. What would Historic Charleston
look like today if its historic homes were
not preserved when they were “young”
in the 19th and 20th centuries? There is
a charm to old homes which is virtually
impossible to replicate, and details that are
mostly irreplaceable.
We like to look at our home, not as
an individual, but as part of our block.
Our living space is not just our 6250 sq/
ft lot. I think our neighbors feel the same
and have been equally committed to preserving our block of history. Some would
say that Hilltop has been ruined by new,
large, glitzy mansions and historic losses
too many to fathom. But, we know there
are historically intact areas of Hilltop with
homes that manage to meet the demands
of modern life while maintaining the size
and scale intended by their original urban
planners. Come to the three-hundred
block of Albion Street and you’ll see one
proud street boasting a variety of original
homes (and quite a few tasteful remodels
and additions, if you peek from the alley),
and without the ghosts of demolition.
Guest author Gail Hommertzheim and
her husband Tim were first runners-up
in the Resourceful Renovation and Best
Exterior Renovation categories of Historic
Denver’s Restoration for Living Awards
this year. ;
Birth of a
Movement
continued from cover
quick $2,000 and a seed group of supporters that would soon become Historic
Denver’s first members. The Molly Brown
House was saved, the Moffat was lost,
and the passion was ignited. The group
met to officially organize, but this was no
suit and tie meeting. Original founding
member James Judd recalls that he and a
few others gathered in Dana Crawford’s
backyard to create a 501(c)(3) organization while Barbara Norgren served iced
tea. They emerged with Dana Crawford
as President and an ambitious agenda.
During this heyday of preservation politics, Crawford was soon called away
from her post to fight another battle –
that to save Larimer Square. Judd, who
was surprised to have been “elected”
(in absentia, while skiing in Canada)
replaced her as President in 1971. “Our
purpose was simple: to educate the public
of the value of preservation.” says Judd in
retrospect. “So I became President and I
had a ball.” What followed was a decade
of monumental fundraising, educating
and instituting a city-wide ethic that
championed the preservation of our historic resources – one that helps define our
city and our skyline to this day. ;
Winter 2010
Thank You
BEC OME A
MEMBER OF
To Historic Denver’s New and Renewing Members
HISTORIC DENVER
August through December 2009
Tom Abbott
Susan Glassmacher
Loudon and Lavergne Nimmo
Barbara Adams
Terry Glaze
Tom and Violet Noel
Dorothy Ambler
Joyce Gledhill
Philip Normand
Kelly Ambler and Dale Brown
Leon and Marla Graber
Alice Norris
Terry Amicone
Steve and Mary Gumm
Nina O’Kelley
Alice Bakemeier
Margie Hahn
Elizabeth O’Sullivan
Donita Banks
Rick Hall and Don Wood
Camille and John Palmeri
Louis and Pamela Bansbach
Cathey Hansen
Ruth Parker
Gordon and Gerri Baron
Alexandra and Ian Happer
Pat Pascoe
Thais Bastron
Harry and Vicki Sterling
Ernest T. Pelikan II
Erika Beerbower
James Havey
Bruce Peterson
Diane and Paul Behm
Kathleen G. Hayward
Carol S. Prescott
Don A. and Marge Belden
Mary Heesacker
Kathleen Price
Andrew Bell
Randal and Norma Heinz
Marjorie Ellen Pryor
Margaret Benedict
L. Michael Henry
Patty Pugh
Arthur and Marilyn Berlinger
Winifred Boge Herbert
Marilyn Quinn
Regina Black
Julie Hock Noble and Joel Noble
Ralph and Ingeborg Ratcliff
Mary B. Blue
Marguerite and John Holden
Elaine Reese
Marie Bond
Tim and Lelania Howard
Jerry and Roma Rehkow
Virginia Bowman
Barbara Hughes
Barbara S. Rigel
Bonnie Boyer
William and Michele Hughes
James Roberts
Teri Brines
Ed Hurry and Dr. Roberta Shaklee
William Robertson
Silvia Brown
Sherrill Ice
Mark Rodman
Norman Cable
Stephanie M. Ittner
Patricia Romero
Susan Card
Michael Johns
Eric Rosenfeld
Susan M. Carlson
Maxine Johnson
Paul and Carol Ann Rothman
Josephine Carpenter
Will and Marcia Johnson
Manny and Joanne Salzman
Daria Castiglione
Ann Jones
Rosalee Sarell
PastorMyers/Church of the Holy
Redeemer
Leslie Karnauskas and Vincent Busmire Sandra Scherer
Terry and Alice Kelly
Ruth Schoening
Betty Clarke
Sheila Kirchhof
Ira Selkowitz
Jane Clevenger
Ken Kirkpatrick
Jep Seman
William B. and L. Alice Collister
Anne Klenk
Carl Shushan and Sandi Hill
Robert and Georgianna Contiguglia
Walker Knight
Joseph S. Sinisi
William Cook
Linda Z. Kohut
Shirley Smiley
Friends at Cornwall Association, LTD. Sarah S. Krause
Michael Coughlin
Dwayne Kurth and Deanna Mosley
Lois Court and Patrick Reynolds
Mary Lanius
Robert Snow
Thomas and Suzanne Coxhead
Carole Leight
Harry and Ruth Starkey
Edwin and Sally Crabtree
Linda Levin
Stuart Steers
Melvin Cruger
Carolyn Longmire
Mary and John Steinle
Ara Darakjian and Sheila Murphy
Dan Love and Cameron Wolfe
Patrick and Emily Strong
Christine Dea
Irene Ludwig
Diane Sypher
Mary Donahue
Lisa Lumley
Mary Ann Tavery
Holly Dupree
Don Mackison
Kenneth and Jane Taylor
Rick Nearman
Don and Karen Mackison
Lynn Taylor
Don Elliott
Pamela Mahonchak
Ruth Telea
Christopher Erskine
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JOIN
TODAY
Our Supporters are the Foundation
of Historic Denver. Thank you.
Please circle a membership level and your preference of benefits within that level.
Standard level benefits are included at all membership levels.
Standard Level
Student $25 Senior (65+) $25 Annual $40
Subscription to Historic Denver News
Discounts on select events, tours and programs
Friendship Level $100 Standard Benefits plus:
Two passes to the Molly Brown House [or]
Two passes to the Annual House Tour
Sustaining Level $250 Standard Benefits plus:
Four passes to the Molly Brown House [or]
Four passes to the Annual House Tour
Higher levels of support are available, please call.
Please circle which program you would like
to support.
Molly Brown House Museum Sacred Landmarks Urban Living
Preservation Advocacy Efforts
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If you have remembered Historic Denver in your will,
thank you. If you are interested in learning about the
benefits of Planned Giving, please contact
Annie Levinsky, Executive Director, at 720.891.4957
Historic Denver Inc.
11
Winter 2010
calendar of
EVENTS
To purchase tickets for Molly Brown
House Museum events visit
www.mollybrown.org or call
303.832.4092 x16.
February 2 – April 30
Exhibit Opening
Stitches and Scissors:
The Importance of
Victorian Crafts
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Explore the world of Victorian crafts
and their impact on the crafts of today.
The Museum will feature its collection of
quilts, needlework and paper crafts with
hands-on demonstrations, workshops
and after-hours craft events in partnership with Denver Public Library’s Fresh
City Life Program.
February 13, 14
Valentine’s High Tea
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Cupid will strike at our romantic
Valentine’s High Tea, a great way to
treat the one you love.
Saturday, February 13, 11:00 am, 1:00
pm & 3:00 pm. Sunday, February 14,
1:00 pm, 3:00 pm
Tickets are $25 / person
March 13
Quilter’s Cream Tea
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
A quilt tells a tale of home, love and
family. Explore the quilt collection of
the Molly Brown House Museum, learn
quilt history and see how the quilt has
evolved. Bring your own quilt project
to work on and share while you nibble
fresh scones with tea. Saturday, March
13, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Tickets are $20 / person.
March 9, 16, 23, 30
Stitches and Scissors
Craft Events
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Partnering with the Denver Public
Library’s Fresh City Life program, we’ll
explore different craft mediums in a
series of Crafting Hours at the Molly
Brown House Museum in conjunction
with our winter craft exhibit. March 9,
16, 23, 30, 5:30 – 7:30pm.
12
Historic Denver Inc.
March 24
Meet the Women in
Denver’s History
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Celebrate Women’s History month by
meeting some of Denver’s most prominent women. Mrs. Brown and her compatriots will tell their tales throughout
the home of Denver’s most outspoken
citizen. Have tea and shortbread to
conclude the evening on Mrs. Brown’s
Third Floor. Wednesday, March 24, 5:00
– 7:00 pm. Tickets are free for members,
$10 / person for the public.
April 10
Bon Voyage Titanic
Dinner
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Experience the excitement and opulence of 1st Class Titanic dining with a
seven course meal, wine pairings, costumed stewards, and a candlelit tour of
Denver’s own Unsinkable Mrs. Brown’s
home. This event includes a membership
to Historic Denver, our parent organization. Saturday, April 10, 6:00 pm.
Tickets are $100 / person.
April 17
“Milliner-for-a-Day”
Hat Workshop
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Create a true Victorian millinery masterpiece with the help of our historic
fashions experts. We’ll provide the hat,
materials, and refreshments. A tour of
the museum is not included. Saturday,
April 17, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Tickets
are $55 / person.
May 7, 8, 9
Mother’s
Day Full
Tea
Molly Brown
House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania
Street
Show Mom your appreciation with a
cozy tea on Mrs. Brown’s Third Floor
and an afternoon of shopping in the
Museum Store. Gift certificates are
available! Friday, May 7, 1:00 pm.
Saturday, May 8, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm
& 3:00 pm. Sunday, May 9, 1:00 pm &
3:00 pm. Tickets are $20 / person.
NEH Landmarks of American
History Teacher Workshop
Molly Brown: A Look at Life and Legend
You’ve probably heard many tall tales of western women: a sharp shooter splitting a hair with her rifle, an old woman freezing in a mine waiting for the rediscovery
of gold and a rags-to-riches red head who couldn’t read or write. These iconic figures
- Annie Oakley- Baby Doe Tabor and Molly Brown, have long dominated our perception of women’s experiences in the West. As a result of a competitive grant awarded by
the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Molly Brown House Museum
will be exploring these concepts through a series of teacher workshops which focus on
the difference between life and legend in western women’s biographies. As part of the
workshops teachers will visit the real life places where these women lived, study archival
materials and learn from scholars. Master teachers will help workshop participants to
develop classroom resources that are effective for students ranging from Kindergarten
through 12th grade.
The Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop Grant awarded by NEH
will allow the Museum to conduct week-long workshops. The workshops will offer
80 spots for K-12 educators (including librarians, substitute teachers, administrators
and paraprofessionals) in public, private, parochial and charter schools, as
well as parents home-schooling their children. Participating teachers will receive
a $1200 stipend to help cover the costs
June 20-25 and/or July 11-16
of travel and lodging in Denver for the
who is eligible?
week of the workshop. In addition teachK-12 educators; including librarians,
ers will have the option to receive three
substitute teachers, administrators and
continuing education credits and a cerparaprofessionals in public, private,
tificate of completion with contact hours,
parochial, charter schools, and parents
which they can submit to their districts/
home-schooling.
states individually according to their own
Workshop Dates:
requirements.
Completed applications for participation are due by March 2, 2010 to the
Molly Brown House Museum. Further
application information can be found
at our website: www.mollybrown.org/
learn/ ;
stipend and travel costs:
Participants receive a $1200 stipend
to cover the cost of travel and lodging
expenses.
professional development and college credit:
The course offers three credits for continuing education will be available through
Adams State College in conjunction with
the Teaching with Primary Sources Program.
how to apply:
Download application materials online
at www.mollybrown.org or email [email protected]
www.mollybrown.org/learn/