The Wildcat Roller Coaster Mister Twister

E s t. 1 9 7 0
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Vol um e 3 6
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Number 2
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Fa l l 2 0 1 0
The Renaissance
of LoDo’s Ballpark
Neighborhood and
Preservationist
Karle Seydel
“By the 1990s, the poorest and
most disreputable part of 1970s
Denver had become one of the
hottest real estate and entertainment districts in the Rockies.”
- Tom Noel
Excerpt from the ‘About Denver’
pages, denvergov.org
1970-2010
The Wildcat
Roller Coaster
The recent loss of dedicated Denver
preservationist Karle Seydel (1950-2010)
saddened the preservation community
and all who knew him. Seydel, a longtime resident of the Ballpark District, the
once dilapidated neighborhood he championed, told a Denver Post columnist he
was “trying to promote this god-forsaken
place that was really a fascinating place.”
(The Denver Post, 6-1-10.) He knew
every street, became a friend and familiar
face to its residents and immersed himself
in this gritty area. He could tell endless
stories about the characters and buildings he was so familiar with, and over
the years collected an impressive amount
of archival and assorted items associated
with the area as well as Denver’s history.
continued on page 6
1926 – 1998
In 1992, the Molly Brown House Museum celebrated its
last mortgage payment and welcomed its one millionth
visitor.
Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library
Ben’s Box City
Creation, 1992
Historic Denver
Week, a celebration in the
80s and 90s,
featured, among
other events
and programs,
“Box City” - a
free children’s
crafting event
designed to educate youngsters
about city planning. In 1993
over 400 children took part.
Historic Denver archive photo.
Designer: Herbert Schmeck of
The Philadelphia
Toboggan Company
Mister Twister
1964 – 1998
designer: John C. Allen
(Schmeck’s successor at The Philadelphia Toboggan Company)
The loss of these rides is a sad note
in coaster history.
Historic Denver News, May/June 1998
In 1997, the Wildcat and Twister were nominated for
Colorado Preservation Inc.’s first Endangered Places list.
Once considered the best coasters in the west and, in their
day, among the best in the world, they were among the oldest
coasters in North America at the time of their demolition.
‘Game Time!’ A 1990 sketch by Jeffrey
Joyce, based on Karle Seydel’s vision
for Coors Field ballpark, was quite
closely realized when built in 1995.
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
Floyd, one of the Four Mile Horses, circa 1990
In 1994, Historic Denver turned over management of
Four Mile Historic Park to the Park’s owner, the
City of Denver, and dedicated Park volunteers kept
programs running.
Historic Denver archive photo
In This Issue:
Page 1
40th Anniversary 90s decade special
Page 2
From the Director
Page 3
Annual Dinner Award Recipients
Page 4
Preservation Briefs
Page 5
One Past Five
Page 6-7
40th Anniversary 90s decade special
Page 8
Historic Denver Happenings
Page 9
Molly Brown House Museum
Page 10
Preservation for Living
Page 11
New and Renewing Members
Page 12
Events; Notable Historic Residences
for Sale
2
Historic Denver Inc.
On August 6th and 7th many of
you joined us for our 40th Anniversary
Celebration, Night and Day in Historic
Denver, which was held on the Auraria
Campus. The events provided us with
an important opportunity to celebrate
where we’ve been as an organization
and to remind Denverites about Historic
Denver’s past successes.
This issue is also part of our anniversary celebration, the third in our series
looking back at past successes. These
have been achieved with a variety of
tools, from direct stewardship and investment, to reinvestment through revolving
loan funds, to methodical survey and
designation, and to defensive action. So
what constitutes success today, five years
from now and even forty years from now?
How can we focus our efforts and in these
times of tight resources, which of our
tools is most effective in addressing the
preservation issues of our time?
We are not alone in asking these
questions. Earlier this summer Richard
Moe, president of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation for seventeen years,
retired. As he did so he noted, “This is
a nation that is changing profoundly in
its demographics. We have more and
more immigrants. We have many younger people. Baby boomers are retiring.
Technology is changing. All these are
challenges to an established organization
like ours.” He went on to say, “As society
changes, so will our role... we have to
be responsive.” As the Trust welcomes
their new President, Stephanie Meeks, we
know they will also be working to define
the preservation movement for this new
era- broadening its base and better integrating our message with the issues that
resonate most powerfully today.
Here at Historic Denver we too are
an established organization with a long
tradition, but we are also excited to take
on new challenges and define and find
success in our rapidly changing world. In
fact, I believe we’ve already charted new
ground this summer in creating a few new
success stories.
First in both June and July Historic
Denver and the Molly Brown House
Museum hosted a series of teacher training programs, funded by a prestigious
grant from the National Endowment
for the Humanities. The program, called
Landmarks in American History, provides
funding for thousands of teachers around
the country to visit the historic places and
to learn how to use those landmarks in
the classroom. Eighty teachers from more
than 25 states chose our Denver-based
workshops and not only visited the Molly
Brown House but also Larimer Square,
LoDo, the Black American West Museum,
the Buffalo Bill Museum and Gravesite
and Leadville, Colorado. These teachers
learned how to use primary sources and
historic landmarks to get their students
excited and engaged in local history. I
appreciate the work of the staff, scholars
and volunteers that made our first workshops a tremendous success.
Less than a month later, on August 2
Denver City Council approved the city’s
50th Historic District- the Allen M. Ghost
District. The residents and neighbors in
this north Denver community worked
tirelessly for more than three years to
achieve this goal and I am proud to say
that Historic Denver was able to help by
providing technical assistance and grant
management services. I am also proud
to see that the preservation message,
when spread consistently and effectively,
is being heard, as no one testified in opposition of the district at the public hearing.
While these neighbors were certainly not
the first to put their efforts behind the
designation process, the Ghost District is
a model in proactive and positive preservation that we hope to replicate.
Later in August two more recent
landmarks received recognition for their
innovative designs. On August 15 City
Council approved landmark status for
the Mary Holland House in University
Park. The home was designed by architect Eugene Groves in the 1930s. Its
history and architecture were carefully
researched by Historic Denver intern
Annalise Kehler. Then, On August 25th
the 16th Street Mall Steering Committee
announced a final recommendation for
the rehabilitation of the 16th Street
Mall, and their recommendation includes
retaining all the key design features that
make the mall iconic- including the granite pavers, block patterns, light fixtures
and trees. Both these efforts demonstrate
Historic Denver’s commitment to modern
resources, and one of our tasks in the
coming years will be to identify many
more such places that have special meaning to the city.
As we enter our fifth decade, and
as I enter my second year as Executive
Director, it is obvious that change is the
only constant, but that our advantage as
a small non-profit organization is that we
can adapt, find innovative strategies to
address new challenges and continue to
make preservation a relevant part of our
civic conversation.
Annie Levinsky
Exeutive Director Historic Denver, Inc.
[email protected]|
303.534.5288 x 1
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
Phillip Barlow 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.
Fall 2010
You are Invited to
Historic Denver Inc’s
Annual Dinner & Awards
Award Recipients
= Community Preservation Awards
Brown Palace Hotel & Spa
The Community Preservation Awards are given annually to a handful of projects,
institutions and individuals that have made an exceptional contribution to the preservation of Denver’s heritage. These projects exemplify high quality restoration, the
careful consideration of the city’s historic fabric and a commitment to community.
The winners of these awards are essential to Historic Denver’s mission and the organization takes great pride in recognizing those who assist us in enhancing Denver’s
built environment.
2010 Community Preservation Award Recipients
Cornwall Apartments
16th Street Mall Steering Committee
Curtis Park Neighbors
Ghost Historic District Friends & Neighbors
Sage Building
= Ann Love Award
For sponsorship information or to reserve your ticket
please contact
Michael Schlut at 303.534.5288 x 6 or
[email protected]
The Ann Love Award was established in 1997 to honor individuals who may not
consider themselves traditional preservationists but have shown initiative, creativity,
and commitment in preserving the history, culture and architecture of Denver. The
award is named for Ann Love, wife of Colorado Governor John Love. Mrs. Love
was instrumental in saving the Molly Brown House and establishing Historic Denver
but never considered herself a preservationist. She had remarkable determination
and garnered support for projects she felt were essential to making Colorado and
Denver one of the country’s best places.
2010 Ann Love award recipient
Historian, teacher, author and 15-year Denver Landmark Commissioner
Stephen J. Leonard
= Molly Brown Award
The Molly Brown Award was created to honor women who live in Margaret “Molly”
Brown’s spirit today by devoting many years to civic life in all its forms, actively
engaging themselves in politics, philanthropy, arts and cultural endeavors and historic
preservation as Mrs. Brown did. Each year this award honors a woman who demonstrates this same level of passion about the world and who is willing to take the lead,
speak her mind and make Denver a stronger community for everyone.
2010 Molly Brown Award recipient
Preservationist and community activist Susan Barnes-Gelt
= Keystone Award
This award was created to honor people who have made significant contributions
over their lifetime to historic preservation in Denver
2010 Keystone Award recipients are
Denver preservationists, authors and community leaders Carolyn & Don Etter
Historic Denver Inc.
3
Historic Denver News
Preservation
Briefs
The Holland House Individually Landmarked
On August 16th,
2010 Denver City Council
unanimously approved the
designation of the Holland
House in the University
Park Neighborhood as an
individual landmark, protecting it from demolition
in perpetuity.
In the 1930s, architect
Eugene Groves constructed
four concrete houses using
a building technique he patented in 1937 - the Holland
House (1932/1933), the
Sherman House (1935), the
University Park’s newest individually landmarked house – Eugene Groves’
Nordlund House (1938),
Holland house
and 1350 Ivy St. (1941).
The system utilized pre-cast concrete studs and beams, concrete slab floors, and concrete
stucco over wire mesh walls. This patented technique eliminated the need for wooden
structural members. His goal in this invention was to design for “simplicity, economy,
and efficiency.” Groves established the Concreter Corporation to build structures using
his patented system. Each home has a variety of built-in concrete cabinets and cubbyholes.
Even kitchen countertops, tables, seating, and bed units were made of reinforced concrete.
The Holland House was the first of these unique structures to be built and the first to be
designated an individual landmark. The project was made possible by the home’s committed owner and the donors of the Partners in the Field program.
environmental design. It will also be a model for environmental stewardship of National
Trust-owned properties. (Excerpt from a press release written by Jim Lindberg.)
Learn more
Read the entire article at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s www.preservationnation.org blog
Denver’s Newest Historic District
Neighbors in Northwest Denver, with support from Historic Denver, have been working for over three years to nominate the blocks from Irving to Lowell between 29th and
the alley between 31st and 32nd as a locally designated Historic District.
On Monday, August 2, 2010 the Denver City Council unanimously approved the designation application for the proposed Ghost Historic District. Over a dozen citizens spoke
in favor of the application and no one opposed the proposal- a great testament to the hard
work of the community. Historic Denver offered technical assistance and grant management services for the project, funded in part by the Colorado State Historical Fund, and
research was conducted by Front Range Research Associates. Congratulations to all these
owners of “new” landmark homes!
The new district includes just over 200 structures and very few non-contributing
structures, making it a very intact area representing the early character of Northwest
Denver. ;
The Greening of the Emerson School – The
Soon-to-be Home of Colorado’s Preservation
Organizations
Recently, National Trust for Historic Preservation President Stephanie Meeks
announced that the National Trust will accept the donation of an 1885 school building in
Denver’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. The Emerson School, a designated Denver
landmark also known as the Frank B. McGlone Center, will become the new headquarters for the National Trust’s Mountains/Plains Office and two preservation partners in
Colorado: Historic Denver, Inc. and Colorado Preservation, Inc.
Over the coming months, the Mountains/Plains Office will undertake a $2.3 million
rehabilitation of the school, with a particular focus on making the building a model for
how older structures can meet – or exceed – the highest standards for energy efficiency and
Denver’s 50th Historic District – NW Denver’s Ghost District
Molly Brown House Museum
Wicked Writings of Long-Dead Authors
Tales of vampires and ghouls in a setting so real it will thrill you! Edgar Allan
Poe, Bram Stoker, and others will tread this mortal plane and entrance visitors
with a fresh round of terrifying tales from ages past. Dress your spookiest and
win the best costume prize offered on every tour.
Scary Nights: October 15,16, 22, 23
Admission
$15 for seniors, children & members • $18 for non-members
Photo Courtesy Denver Public Library
Tickets
On-line at www.mollybrown.org or by calling 303-832-4092 x16
Walk-ins welcome during the event • Advanced purchase is suggested
Performances begin every 15 minutes from 6 - 9 p.m.
Bring your ticket from Colorado Ballet’s or Denver Center Theatre
Company’s Dracula and receive $3 off your admission.
Sponsors
4
Historic Denver Inc.
Fall 2010
Tickets Available at ~ HistoricDenver.Org
Historic Denver Inc.
5
Historic Denver News
1990
Central Bank Wake
Central Bank
Building
1990
1911-1990
Architect:
Jacques Benedict
Crawford Hill
Mansion Stunning
in Her Comeback
Debut
A Slip Here, a Dollar Crunch There, and
Bye Bye to Old Buildings
Historic Denver News, May/ June 1990
Historic Denver News, October /
November 1990
Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library
In 1998, Historic Denver and others in the preservation community fought successfully
to name the grand structure at 15th and Arapahoe
a
Denver
Landmark.
However the city’s young
zoning provisions were
not enough to save it. In
1989 the financially unstable British firm that owned
the building filed a petition
for demolition, completely
disregarding the landmark
status despite pleas from
outraged members of the
community. 90 days later
crowds watched in horror as the stately building came down exposing
the spot that sat as an empty parking lot for nearly 20 years.
See More
Karle
Seydel
1950-2010
Dedicated
Denver
Preservationist
See the Historic Denver
Happenings section, page 8,
for a recap and photos of
Historic Denver and the Colorado
Vintage Baseball Association’s
“Karle Seydel Memorial
Baseball Game”
Historic Denver Inc.
This French renaissance style
1906 home designed by architect
Theodore Boal was added to the
growing list of saved landmarks,
thanks to Historic Denver’s
efforts.
Removal of the 20th Street
Viaduct, 1992
1992
The 1990s saw the ongoing removal
of many late 19th / early 20th century
downtown Denver viaducts (a process
begun in the 1980s) that once straddled
the buildings of the old lower downtown area. The removal of the viaducts
completely changed the feel of lower
downtown. Many of the viaducts were
replaced with pedestrian-friendly streets
and walkways more suitable for the
increased “leisure” foot traffic, buses and
light rail that would follow as LoDo was
transformed into a popular destination
for dining, shopping and entertainment,
including Major League baseball games
at Coors Field. Photo Denver Public Library/Roger Whitacre
The Renaissance of LoDo’s
Ballpark Neighborhood...
Karle Seydel’s office building, still
standing in the midst of the demolition frenzy. Its neighbor - torn
from the row of historic warehouses - was not as lucky.
Photo courtesy of Kim Allen
6
Many remember the Central Bank Wake – a public
demonstration organized by Historic Denver to mourn the
loss of the only known commercial building by Denver’s
foremost Beaux Arts architect, Jacques Benedict. The
staged wake, which included a funeral procession carrying
a coffin, was attended by historian and early HD Board
Member Tom Noel and Mayor Frederico Peña among an
outraged crowd from the preservation community.
With neighborhood buildings being torn down
in droves, Seydel was a fierce proponent for preservation. He was described by friend and former HD Executive Director
Kathleen Brooker as a natural researcher and educator who was “bullish
on Denver.” Together with Historic Denver, Dana Crawford and other
community preservationists, Seydel successfully lobbied for the preservation and beautification - rather than demolition - of the character-rich
warehouse district and its historic facades. Victory came when the Ballpark
Historic District was created and a moratorium passed on demolition.
In the early 90s, Karle’s love of baseball and his historic Ballpark neighborhood came together in the city’s
“pro-preservation” choice for the design of the incoming Coors Field
- one that would complement the historic character of the surrounding
environs. The rejection of the very contemporary design that had been initially proposed exemplified the shift in popular thought. “(Karle) always
pushed for better, for more. He was able to visualize what could be and was
effective conveying his passion.” recalls Brooker. “If not for his persistence
and charm and tenacity, we wouldn’t have a Ballpark neighborhood.”
continued from page 1
Fall 2010
1995
1996
Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library
Zeckendorf Plaza Hyperbolic
Paraboloid
1960 – 1995
Architect: I.M. Pei6
Preservationists Deserve Praise for
Attempt to Save Zeckendorf
Joshel Façade
Easement to be
Donated to
Historic Denver
Historic Denver News, July/ August 1995
Sadly, Historic Denver’s attempt to designate architect I.M. Pei’s incredible downtown Denver structure (considered a modernist masterpiece by many) failed. Soon after, the demolition of this, one of Denver’s most outstanding examples of Post World War II architecture, is distinguished as one of our city’s great losses. Pei (Pei, Cobb, Freed & Partners) is an internationally important firm whose notable
buildings include Paris’ glass Louvre Pyramid, the National Center for Atmospheric research in Boulder and our own 16th Street Mall,
among legions of others.
1999
Historic Denver News,
September 1996
Notable because this was
the first time HD’s façade easement program was used to preserve a mid-century modern
structure, the Joshel House,
built in 1951 by architects
Joseph and Louise Marlow,
sold recently to a couple
committed to good preservation stewardship of the
historic property.
Schools, HD to Work Together for Preservation
Historic Denver News, September 1991
Historic Denver and the Colorado Historical Society reached agreement with Denver Public Schools to
analyze historic school buildings for preservation and reuse. As a result of HD’s advocacy and education, DPS
declared two new goals: to put a package of buildings to be designated together, and teach children the history
of their school buildings and neighborhood. Historic Denver went on to earn an award from the National Trust
for this effort.
Restoration Begins on Ferril House
Historic Denver News, May/ June, 1996
HD received an $82,800 grant from the State Historical Fund to begin
restoration work on the 1889 Queen Anne home located at 2123 Downing.
Designed by Franklin Goodnow and built by Hughes and Llewellyn, the
Ferril House is now used by community non-profits.
1995
Light the Lights! Chamber of
Commerce Building Reopens in
January
Historic Denver News, December 1999
Historic Denver helped secure a grant from the
State Historical Fund to restore the century-old building located at 1726 Champa, the work to include
replacing and repairing the 410 lights on the façade,
restoring the granite columns and terracotta decoration
and removing the pink panels that were added in 1950s.
Longtime friend and colleague Kim Grant
(formerly served on the Mayor’s Advisory
Council for Economic Development and as LoDo
District Director) remembers Seydel fondly:
“Karle was a quiet, determined
neighborhood activist who put his
money where his mouth was and
invested in the future of the area. It is a much better
place today because of his efforts. I remember how he
1998
Historic Denver
Guides Published
Historic Denver News, Oct/Nov 1995
“Historic Denver Inc. is proud to
announce the publication of Historic Denver
Guides, a series of books designed as walking tours, covering a wide range of topics on architecture, geology and the histories of two Denver neighborhoods.”
To date, there are 23 guides in the popular
series. Get yours! From Washington Park to
Curtis Park, Guide to Architectural Styles of
Denver to Denver Women in Their Places – buy
one intriguing title or the entire set of awardwinning HD Guides at historicdenver.org
Denver
Post
Building
Circa 1940 – 1998
Architect:
Temple Buell
One Down- Thirty-Two to Go?
forcefully argued against the decision by the Colorado
Historic Denver News, May/ June 1998
Rockies to expand the seating by 5,000 seats from
Yet another downtown Denver parking lot was
created when the Denver City Council permitted
demolition of this post World War II building, a fine
example of the International Style, despite its being
identified by the city’s Planning Department as one
of 33 remaining downtown buildings eligible for
Landmark status.
the original designs of the ballpark. Karle knew this
decision would compromise the upper deck concourse
above 20th & Blake with its dramatic, sweeping views
of the downtown Denver skyline.”
- Kim Grant
Historic Denver Inc.
7
Historic Denver News
Historic denver
Happenings
70s & 80s attire & good fun at Night in Historic Denver, Saint Cajetan’s Center.
Night & Day in Historic Denver
Our August 6 & 7 40th anniversary celebrations included an incredible pre-party in
Larimer Square, a journey through the decades at our St. Cajetan’s gala, a home run of a
vintage baseball game and family celebration at the 9th Street Historic Park. Many thanks to
all who made the weekend memorable! We look forward – thanks to your continued support – to our next 40 years of preserving and protecting places that matter.
See more
Visit our online gallery of photos from all of our 40th anniversary events at
www.historicdenver.org. ;
Thanks to our Night & Day in Historic Denver
sponsors: CBIZ
Gay & Lesbian Fund of Colorado
Miller Coors
The University of Colorado – Denver Public History and Preservation Program
Three strikes and you’re out! The Karle Seydel Memorial Baseball game at the Tivoli Field.
And our generous supporters:
Al’s Barber Shop
Fleur Décor
Marlowe’s
The Denver Post
Chile Verde
Baur’s Ristorante
Halcyon House
MiniBar Restaurant & Lounge
Jenny Thompson Graphic Design
Denver Council women Carla Madison and Jeanne Robb at the Night in Historic Denver VIP pre-party in
Larimer Square
8
Historic Denver Inc.
Professor Tom Noel conducts a tour of the 9th Street Historic Park at Day in Historic Denver
Fall 2010
Molly Brown
House museum
Unraveling the ‘90s
By Andrea Malcomb
The 1990s at the Molly Brown House
Museum saw many changes, all of which
became catalysts to improve much of the
programming and interpretation still in
place today. Our last mortgage payment on
the house was made; all part of the efforts
by Art Leisenring, the last owner, to make
sure the house would not be demolished.
The renovation of the third floor was completed in 1991 and allowed our Victorian
Eating Experiences to take on even more
mission-related teas and dinners and create more revenue for the museum. The
1990s also saw the creation of one of our
most popular events, Victorian Horrors.
Now in its 17th season, this event brings
to life tales of the macabre throughout
the museum. Denver voters helped to create the Scientific and Cultural Facilities
District in 1989 and added historic sites
to the roster of eligible fund recipients in
1993, which has helped fund thousands of
cultural institutions throughout the sevencounty area, including the Molly Brown
House Museum. The Museum underwent
significant restoration in 1998 as part of
a $442,940 two-phase State Historical
Fund grant which included a main floor
Carriage House renovation. This project
brought the Carriage House in compliance with ADA standards and created a
great Visitor’s Center. Perhaps most significant however, was the work being done
throughout the decade by a scholar named
Kristen Iversen.
As a young girl, Iversen grew up
with the story of Molly Brown,
passed down by her mother
who loved the Unsinkable Molly
Brown movie with its toe-tapping
songs and larger than life characters. While attending graduate school at the University of
Denver, Iversen began exploring
the real stories behind women
such as Molly Brown and Baby
Doe Tabor and found they had
similar stories, told in a similar
narrative art. And in fact, the two
women were often confused for
one another in Colorado history.
This research grew into a biography of Molly Brown that took
8 years of dedicated work and
was eventually published in 1999.
When Iversen began her project, she
was told by many that it was a pointless
task, as she would not be able to find
any factual information about one of
Kristen Iversen was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and grew up in Colorado. She holds
a Ph.D. in English and has taught at universities around the country. Her books include
Shadow Boxing: Art and Craft in Creative Nonfiction, and Full Body Burden: Growing
Up in the Shadow of Rocky Flats. She currently teaches in the graduate creative writing
program at the University of Memphis.
Now updated and reprinted in 2010 by Johnson Books, Dr. Kristen Iversen’s Molly
Brown: Unraveling the Myth is available for sale at the Molly Brown House Museum
Store, online, and from your independent book retailer.
Colorado’s most infamous women, and
that no one cared anymore about her
story. In contrast, as Iversen began digging
she found a wealth of information spread
across the city, state and even country
which helped her to paint a whole new
portrait of a woman who was in reality
never even called Molly in her lifetime.
Iversen gained access to archives here at
the Museum as well as at the Colorado
Historical Society, Denver Public Library
and in Leadville, CO, Newport, RI and
Hannibal, MO. Most unprecedented was
the access she was granted by the family
who would finally break over 50 years of
silence. When Margaret Brown’s son Larry
and daughter Helen became disillusioned
by the overwhelming amount of negative
publicity which swarmed around after
their Mother’s death, the family refused
to allow access to any memorabilia and
stopped even telling her story amongst
themselves. Iversen was able to gain their
confidence and access to boxes and boxes
of scrapbooks, photo albums and papers
which allowed her to fill in many of the
gaps left in the story of the mythological
Molly Brown.
As Iversen explains in her biography,
the myth of Molly Brown grew out of the
writings of two Colorado authors, Gene
Fowler and Caroline Bancroft. Both it
seems were aware of the actual stories of
Margaret Tobin Brown, but instead chose
to create their own salacious tales about
a woman who didn’t follow conventional
domestic roles. Both played into the ste-
reotypes of women in the west and created
a brash, uneducated woman who became a
victim of her own personality and wound
up dying alone. This mythologized woman
was taken as fact and even taught within Colorado History curriculum. When
Iversen’s son brought home his 4th grade
studies on this melodramatic, unloved
Molly Brown, Iversen’s passion was further fueled to help Margaret Brown take
her rightful place in history.
Published in 1999, Molly Brown:
Unraveling the Myth was warmly received
and award-winning. This new biography
has allowed the Museum to update its interpretation, broaden its scope and dictate
curriculum. Two National Endowment of
the Humanities awards have used Iversen’s
biography as a tool in creating a new tour
script and producing a documentary, both
of which have “helped set the context for
the world in which Margaret Brown lived.
The life story of Margaret Tobin Brown,
while extraordinary in many ways, is
also a quintessential American story and
reflects the ways in which America, as a
nation, changed dramatically in the postCivil War era. Now when visitors come
to see the Molly Brown House Museum
in Denver, they get a much more accurate
sense of who Margaret Tobin Brown was,
what she accomplished, and the political
and social context of her remarkable life.”
Final Quote taken from Molly Brown:
Unraveling the Myth, forward page v. ;
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.
9
Historic Denver News
preservation for
Living
“Wonderful Witkinland” brochure, publisher and date unknown. Photo courtesy of Dixie Brown
Preservation for
Living: Arvada’s
Pattern & Design
Idea Book
Historic Denver, Inc. has partnered
with the City of Arvada and graduate
architectural students at the University of
Colorado-Denver to launch the Preservation
for Living project in four Arvada neighborhoods. This project, funded in part by the
State Historical Fund and the National
Trust for Historic Preservation Partners in
the Field Program, includes a series of free
informational workshops on topics such as
historic preservation tax credits, the responsibilities and rewards of historic preservation, window and masonry repairs, and
energy efficiency measures in older homes.
Pattern books, which describe the historic
characteristics of the neighborhoods and
homes and include suggestions on how to
sensitively remodel or design additions to
older homes, are part of the program. Two
older pre-World War II neighborhoods in
Arvada - the Stocke-Walter and Reno Park
historic districts – and two post-World
War II neighborhoods – the Alta Vista and
Allendale subdivisions – are the neighborhoods chosen for this exciting initiative.
The Reno Park and Stocke-Walter
National Register Historic Districts, which
developed to the east and west of Olde
Town Arvada, consist mainly of pre-war
housing styles ranging from turn-of-thecentury Victorian and Edwardian designs
to historic bungalows and early modern
houses. One of the goals of the pattern book is to help educate homeowners
about character defining features of their
neighborhoods and homes, while helping them to visualize appropriate design
solutions to enhance livability in the 21st
century. When the FasTracks Gold Line
returns commuter rail service to these
neighborhoods in the near future, development pressures on the areas will likely rise.
A second goal of the project is to discourage speculative, scrape-off type development resulting in out of scale housing
that threatens the unique character and
integrity of the neighborhood. These early
Arvada neighborhoods still maintain the
sense of small town charm and pedestrian
friendly character that Arvada residents in
the area value and appreciate.
The Alta Vista and Allendale subdivisions were two of the early postWorld War II housing developments that
characterized Arvada’s rapid growth and
development in the mid-20th century. In
the post-war years, Arvada was quickly
transformed from a small farming community to a booming modern town. The
opening of the nearby Rocky Flats nuclear
weapons plant and other economic development activities created an opportunity
for housing developers to plat large sub-
divisions to meet the growing demand
for housing. Increased efficiency, low-cost
materials and mass-production technology
developed during the war allowed entire
subdivisions to be platted and built within
a matter of months. Witkin Construction
Company and the Hoskinson Brothers
were two of the prominent homebuilders
who helped put these subdivisions on the
map. Many of Alta Vista and Allendale’s
modest but imminently livable homes were
featured in the decade from 1953-1963
on the Annual Denver Area Parade of
Homes. Fifty years later, many aspects that
attracted the original owners to Alta Vista
and Allendale are still desirable today.
The first workshop, which introduced
the draft pattern and design idea book for
post-war housing, was held on August 19,
2010 in Arvada. Over 40 members of the
community were in attendance, including a few original homeowners from the
Allendale and Alta Vista neighborhoods.
A brief overview of Arvada’s history as
well as a closer look at the evolution of the
two post-war neighborhoods was presented by Phil Barlow, from Historic Denver.
Steve Cole, from UCD’s Colorado Center
for Community Development, presented
six different housing styles with sympatric
Cover of the new Pattern & Design Idea Book.
remodels and sensitive additions, including a house with an attached accessory
dwelling unit. All of the designs were rooted in the Secretary of Interior Standards
for Rehabilitation (of historic properties),
utilized Universal Design concepts for
aging-in-place and accessibility considerations, and reflected the use of sustainable
building materials and practices.
With the community workshops and
pattern books, this project will demonstrate ways to adapt the dream homes of
the past into homes that once again fit the
needs and desires of today’s residents.
“The great turnout we had at the
meeting illustrates recognition by the community that these neighborhoods are truly
valued and that the homeowners have significant interest in both remaining in their
neighborhoods as well as preserving their
charming character,” said Cheryl Drake,
Senior Planner with the City of Arvada. ;
Image from the Hoskinson Brothers Alta Vista brochure, 1955. Photo courtesy of Dixie Brown
10
Historic Denver Inc.
“This project has been a wonderful collaboration among the
homeowners and realtors in
Arvada, the city’s staff, UCD
architectural students and
Historic Denver,” comments
HD’s Director of Preservation
Advocacy, Alice Gilbertson.
“Pattern and design idea books
are such a terrific preservation
tool – they provide current and
prospective owners with a wide
range of creative suggestions
for sensitively modifying older
housing stock to meet the needs
of today’s and tomorrow’s families. For anyone interested in a
smaller home but who is struggling to figure out how to make
it ‘fit’ their lifestyle, the ideas
presented in the book will spark
their imagination.”
Details
Details on the final workshop for the post-war pattern
and design idea book will
be available on both Historic
Denver’s (historicdenver.org)
and the City of Arvada’s
(arvada.org) websites. The
schedule for the draft pattern and design idea book for
early pre-war neighborhood
patterns and the first in the
series of preservation workshops will also be announced
shortly on those websites.
This article was authored by Kim Grant,
Grants Administrator, City of Arvada, and
Alice Gilbertson, Director of Preservation
Advocacy, Historic Denver, Inc.
Fall 2010
Thank You
BEC OME A
MEMBER OF
To Historic Denver’s New and Renewing Members
HISTORIC DENVER
April through August 2010
Craig and Ann Archibald
Daniel Barrera
Cheryl Barry
Mary Bergstrom
George and Ann Bermant
Tina Bishop
Mary B. Blue
Sandra Botarelli
Donald Braden
Bradley Cameron
Amy Carbone
Thomas Carlisle
Linda Carlson
Josephine Carpenter
Barbara Chapman
Marilynn Chapman
JoAnna Chrisco
Nancy and Robert Clark
Sheila Cleworth
Maryellen and Nathan Clifford
Peg Clover and Michael Stipek
Peter Cohn
John and Margie Conway
Ara Darakjian and Sheila
Murphy
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JoVonne and Jerry Fitzgerald
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Adams
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Dennis Gallagher
Ron Garrison
Irene Gay
Kenneth Geist
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Dennis Hamann and Thomas
Hawkey
Carole Harrison
Duke and Pam Hartman
Tobie and Jolie Hazard
Judith Headley
Gary Henriksen
L. Michael Henry
Ann Heyler
Pat and Verle Hill
Sandra Hinkle
Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld
Tim and Kris Hoehn
Benjamin Hrouda
Ivy Chapel, Fairmount Cemetery
Marguerite Johnson
Maxine Johnson
Stephanie Johnson
Brent Jones
Marion Jordan
Jerry Kerkhove
Rebekah Kik
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Kronke Sports Enterprises
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Megan Lee
Betty and Burton LeMaster
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Merrilyn Leuthold
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John Longmire
Carolyn Longmire
Rhonda Maas
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Jan Mayer
William Merriken
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Mark and Ardis Miller
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Sandra Nearpass
H. M. Oeknigk
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Paul and Carol Ann Rothman
James Rothney
Tom Salutz
Carl E. Sandberg
William S. Saslow
Peggy and Donald Schaller
Alan Scheer
Sandra Scherer
Paul and Carolyn Schrader
Brad Segal
Seventh Ave Congregational
Church
Shirley Sheets
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Phillip Sterritt
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Vincent Szafranko
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Mr. Trompeter
Judy Trussell
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Patricia Untiedt
Ellen Van Ness-Seymour
John Venhoff
Jane Wainwright
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Whitlock
Cathy Wessling
William West
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Ronald O. Williams
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Robert Wilson
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Ann Yrisarri
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Titan Woods
Michael Zoellner
JOIN
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benefits of Planned Giving, please contact
Annie Levinsky, Executive Director, at 720.891.4957
Historic Denver Inc.
11
Fall 2010
calendar of
EVENTS
October 11, 2010
November 13
One Past 5 Historic Happy
Hour
Cinnamon & Spice Full Tea
Olinger Mortuary
1575 Boulder Street, Denver
Come explore this hauntingly historic
landmark and its Highlands neighborhood and learn about Denver’s new Ghost
Historic District at our marvelously macabre happy hour. Member tickets $20.01;
non-members $25.01. Food, drinks &
tours included; attire: black. Purchase tickets online at www.historicdenver.org or call Heather Quiroga at
303.534.5288 x5
October 15, 16, 22, 23
Victorian Horrors
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Be spooked for the first time, or return
and be spooked again by a fresh selection
of wicked writings of long-dead authors.
Classic stories are brought to life in the
dim, flickering candlelight as Edgar Allan
Poe, HG Wells and others haunt you
with their tales of the macabre. Bring
someone to hold on to! Performances
begin every 15 minutes from 6:00 pm to
9:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for members,
seniors & children, $18 for non-members, visit www.mollybrown.org or call
303.832.4092 x16.
October 30
Halloween Full Tea
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Halloween was a favorite Victorian
holiday. Come explore our traditional
decorations, enjoy special tea treats and
show off your spookiest or wackiest costume. Best costumes win prizes! Saturday,
October 30, 11:00 am & 1:00 pm.
Tickets are $20/person, visit www.mollybrown.org or call 303.832.4092 x16.
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Stay warm & cozy in our Victorian
retreat with a tour of Mrs. Brown’s home
followed by warm tea and yummy treats
on Mrs. Brown’s Third Floor. Saturday,
November 13, 11:00 am & 1:00 pm.
Tickets are $20/person, visit www.mollybrown.org or call 303.832.4092 x16.
Thanksgiving High Tea
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
A great way to express thanks! Bring
friends and family to walk off the turkey day calories on a guided tour and
then enjoy tea sandwiches and desserts
on Mrs. Brown’s Third Floor. Friday,
November 26, 10:45 am & 12:45 pm.
Tickets are $25/person, visit www.mollybrown.org or call 303.832.4092 x16.
Select Dates in
December
Holiday High Tea
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Step back in time to a true Victorian
Christmas. Lush garlands, mistletoe and
twinkling lights will greet you as you
enjoy a special holiday tea with family,
friends or co-workers. This event is our
most popular, so be sure to purchase
your tickets early, and don’t forget to
shop for one-of-a-kind gifts in our awardwinning Museum Store. Friday, December
10 & 17, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00
pm; Saturday, December 4, 11 & 18,
11:00 am, 1:00 pm, & 3:00 pm; Sunday,
December 5, 12 & 19, 1:00 pm & 3:00
pm; Wednesday, December 15, 11:00 am,
1:00 pm & 3:00 pm; Thursday, December
16, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm.
Tickets are $25/person, visit www.mollybrown.org or call 303.832.4092 x16.
A Charles Dickens
Candlelight Christmas
Tour
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
A grand holiday tradition started by
none other than Mr. Dickens himself,
come hear excerpts from “A Christmas
Carol” in our festive home. Learn about
the Brown’s happiest Christmas and
enjoy cookies and cider on Mrs. Brown’s
Third Floor. Scrooges welcome! Friday,
December 17, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 18, 5:00, 6:00 &
7:00 pm. Tickets are $13 for members,
seniors & children, $16 for non-members, visit www.mollybrown.org or call
303.832.4092 x16.
Historic Denver Inc.
Built in 1958, the property at 3481 East Kentucky Avenue is a lovely example of mid
century modern elegance. With Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and over 6,800 square
feet of house on over an acre of prime Belcaro neighborhood land, this home (located
just steps from the famed Phipps Mansion,) is waiting for just the right modern-minded
dweller to appreciate its many original details. Listed for $2,300,000 by Coldwell
Banker Devonshire’s Cramer Group, Mark or Lisa Cramer, 303-378-5618.
November 26,
December 17, 18
12
Notable Historic Home
For Sale
Molly’s Birthday Bash…
Visitors enjoyed games, treats and
stories at Molly’s Birthday Bash at
the Molly Brown House Museum
on July 18th. Thank you to all our
volunteers for their hard work.
Thanks also to the Denver Dumb
Friends League’s Pet Carevan
Crew for sharing in a fun day!