Historic, architecturally significant structures are essential to Denver’s intellectual vitality and cultural enrichment. CHUN is committed to preserve existing historic structures with an emphasis on adaptive reuse, restoration, and innovative design. Community assets that offer historical, architectural, geographic, or cultural significance, and located within CHUN’s geographic boundaries, are of particular interest to further neighborhood character and promote civic livelihood. CHUN works actively to preserve architecturally significant landmarks, supports effort to revitalize historic properties, and is committed to celebrating the rich history of the greater Capitol Hill community.
CHUN History Matters Moment: East High School[June 2024} East High hasn’t always been East High. As you look at its magnificent architectural features and Esplanade, you can feel the history. But you might be curious to know more.
For example, the school began, according to East High’s own website, as a “leaky, mud-roofed, one-room log cabin schoolhouse” that sat on 12th Street near Market Street in 1859 — so far back that Market was still named McGaa Street. (William McGaa was a founder of Denver, but also a bad dude who’d sullied his name so that in 1866 the city changed the street's name.) “The Union School,” enrolled thirteen children in its first year. In 1861, the new territorial government established the office of Superintendent of Schools that oversaw two Denver districts: East and West, with Cherry Creek dividing them. In 1882 the East student body moved to a new home at 19th and Stout streets, which doubled as the Denver Public Library. “New East,” as pictured above, was ready for use in 1925. East graduate George Herbard Williamson designed the building at 1600 City Park Esplanade. He chose to pattern the school after elements of both Independence Hall in Philadelphia and Old Hall at the University of Oxford in England. It is one of four original high schools in Denver. The other three are West, North, and South. Williamson also helped design the Daniels & Fisher Tower. A few famous East High students and graduates:
CHUN History Matters Moment: Mammoth Skating Rink / Fillmore Auditorium[May 2024] At the turn of the last century, when streetcars were plying the route along Colfax Avenue, and its transition from a residential to a commercial street was well underway, roller skating came into fashion. In 1907, the Mammoth Skating Rink Company, headed by Samuel Cohen, purchased a vacant tract of land at Colfax and Clarkson and erected a $32,000 recreation facility at the same time the Colorado State Capitol Building was nearing completion (in 1908).
The building also included an “up-to-date” restaurant serving soft drinks. One newspaper noted, “Roller skating is all the rage over the country at present, and this will be the first high-class rink to be opened in Denver.” Architect Edwin H. Moorman provided this “mammoth” building with a design you might expect to see in an English resort town or an amusement park. But the skating craze faded, at least for awhile, and in 1911, the Fritchle Automobile and Battery Company leased the building for its car manufacturing operations. In subsequent years the building saw use as an automobile storage and repair facility, an ice- and roller-skating rink, a place for sporting events, a multi-purpose recreation center, and a warehouse. In 1970, George Green of New Jersey turned it into a famous venue for rock concerts, hosting such performers as Jethro Tull, the Grateful Dead, and Joe Cocker. In 1987 it became the Mammoth Events Center, accommodating concerts, sporting events, and conventions. In 1991, a new entrance plaza and ticketing area were created facing the avenue. Since 1999, the building has been known as the “Fillmore Auditorium,” in tribute to the entertainment venue in San Francisco, and it continues to serve as one of Denver’s best live entertainment music venues. CHUN History Matters Moment: Showcasing One of Capitol Hill's Finest Historical Streets - Vine Street[March 2024] William Lang, a renowned architect, left an indelible mark on the urban landscape of Denver with his home designs on Vine Street in Denver's Capitol Hill. The residences at 1415, 1429, 1441, and 1453 Vine Street were built between 1890 and 1893. Each home showcases Lang's distinctive style, characterized by a harmonious blend of classical and contemporary elements. Each structure stands as a testament to Lang's mastery in creating timeless and elegant homes.
The house at 1415 Vine Street (shown above) showcases intricate detailing and well-proportioned facade. Moving along the street, 1429 Vine Street incorporates unique architectural elements, showcasing Lang's ability to innovate within traditional forms. At 1441 Vine Street, Lang's design emphasizes functionality without compromising on aesthetic appeal. Finally, 1453 Vine Street exemplifies Lang's commitment to creating homes that integrate into the neighborhood while maintaining individual character. Collectively, these houses contribute to the architectural legacy of Denver. CHUN History Matters Moment: Wyman Historic District[February 2024] Named a Historic District in 1993, the Wyman Historic District is a thriving, diverse, and well-loved part of Capitol Hill in Denver. The Tears-McFarlane house sits in the Wyman Historic District.
It got its start when George Fryer, who was the first to discover silver in Leadville purchased this section of land for $200 from Elias G. Matham and then turned around and sold it for $3,000 to John H. Wyman in 1866. It wasn't until 1882 that the area was officially platted with streets and lots, and now is bordered by Franklin to the west, York to the east, East 17th Avenue to the north, and East 13th Avenue to the south. Most of the homes in the Wyman Addition were built between 1882 and 1896 in grand Victorian style by noted architects William Lang, Frank Edbrooke and Robert Roeschlaub. It was later that Post-Victorian and Early Modern homes and apartments were built. It was considered a premier area to live due to the beautiful homes being built and its hilltop position a safe distance from Cherry Creek and the South Platte River floods. The Wyman addition was also just far enough away from the Capitol and downtown that many later residents took streetcars to and from their grand homes on the routes built along Colfax, York, and Broadway. CHUN's History Matters Committee Working with Historic Denver on Seed Program to Help Residents in Historic Denver Homes[July 2023] History Matters Committee members Bruce Caughey and Kevin Kelly represented CHUN at a meeting in July with Historic Denver to discuss the significant grant given to Historic Denver by the 1772 Foundation. The History Matters Committee identifies historic preservation and revitalization opportunities within CHUN' boundaries, monitors landmark designation activities, drafts position statements for board review and approval, and hosts periodic enrichment opportunities for the community. As the grant helps provide small and medium sized loans to people who live in historic houses, CHUN will work with Historic Denver to help them create the rules for the program and help identify possible loan recipients.
As Denver’s leading community-driven voice for historic places, Historic Denver, Inc. works every day to protect and promote Denver’s historic places in support of our diverse, dynamic and distinctive city. CHUN and Curtis Park Neighbors Collaborate on a Walking Tour of Curtis Park
Landmark Preservation Commission Discusses Landmarking and New Initiatives at CHUN's October 2022 Board Meeting
CHUN History Matters Members Enjoy Tour of Historic Patterson Inn
CHUN Members Support MLK Day and ParadeDenver Public Library to Archive CHUN Documents[November 2021] Peggy Randall, CHUN board member, and our president, Travis Leiker, have been working over the last months to find the best place to archive the many documents and materials that have been stored in the basement of the Tears-McFarlane house over the years.
On Friday November 19, Jamie Seemiller, Acquisitions Archivist for the Western History and Genealogy Department of the Denver Public Library, picked up boxes of documents and other artifacts from the Tears-McFarlane House. The documents included CHUN board minutes, archival materials, posters from Capitol Hill People's Fair and other memorabilia. CHUN signed a 'deed of gift' to the Denver Public Library and these will now be a part of the CHUN archives spanning 50 years of Capitol History. CHUN History Matters Submitted 5 Nominations to Historic Denver’s '50 Actions for 50 Places Campaign'[March 2021] CHUN History Matters submitted 5 nominations to Historic Denver’s '50 Actions for 50 Places Campaign'. We solicited nominations from the CHUN Board and History Matters Committee members and came up with some terrific historic buildings that everyone should consider visiting.
Activating Neighborhoods
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CHUN and Historic Denver Honor Women's Month with 'Women in Herstory' Event[April 2024] Thank you to all our friends and neighbors who joined our sold-out event on April 13.
Extra thanks to our partner, Historic Denver, and our local incredible women and speakers Rowena Alegria, Denver's Chief Storyteller, Andrea Malcomb, Museum Director of the Molly Brown House Museum, Dr. Marica Goldstein, woman's historian and Daphne Rice Allen, a board member of the Black American West Museum. Rowena introduced us to her film and many other local incredible women in her I AM DENVER documentary film 'Chicanas: Nurturers and Warriors' . Andrea then led our panel of "Women in Power" where we learned more about the history of some of our earlier powerful women and some historic buildings for women, like the Denver Woman's Press Club. CHUN Supports Landmark Designation for 1741 Gaylord Street[February 2024] CHUN offered a letter of support and gave testimony in front of the Denver Landmark Commission to support the Landmark Designation application for 1741 Gaylord Street that has been filed on its merits. It is our hope that there is a long-term solution for this home so that it is here for future generations and to allow for adaptive reuse of the spaces around it. It is always difficult to support an owner- opposed landmarking, but we believe that if people approach this decision with the care it deserves that we can work together to find a new and permanent solution.
RESULT: The Landmark Designation was applied to this property and was upheld by the Denver City Council despite owner opposition. This was a big win for historic preservation in our neighborhood! CHUN and Historic Denver Host Walking Tour of Cheesman Park, Humboldt Street Historic District and the Tears-McFarlane House[November 2023] Thanks to all of our friends and neighbors who joined CHUN's History Matters Committee and Historic Denver for a sold-out walking tour event in November.
The tour dove into the history of Cheesman Park, from its early days as the city cemetery, to its conversion into one of the city's beloved parks. We then walked over to the nearby Humboldt Street Historic Denver District and heard the history of several of the grand houses that grace the 2 blocks that make up this historic district. The district reflects the type of residences owned and occupied by some of the city’s most influential and wealthy citizens of the period. We then toured the recently completed interior and exterior renovation of the magnificent historic Tears McFarlane House on Chessman Park and heard about plans for a new on-site cafe at the house. Tears-McFarlane House Renovations
Rowena Algeria honors the Chicano and Latino roots of many Denver neighborhoods.
Revitalizing properties through preservation and adaptive reuse[May 2022] As 2021 draws to a close, CHUN continues to work with City Street Investors and Semple Brown Design on the renovated and restored Tears-McFarlane House and new annex cafe.
This year has seen significant milestones for the project including approval from the Landmark Preservation Commission on September 7th and the preparation of final design documents for the project. Semple Brown Design is currently working with the City of Denver to obtain the necessary site development plan and building permit approvals for the project. A building permit is expected in the first quarter of 2022 and work will begin once a permit is received and a contractor is selected. Expect to see big changes in 2022! CHUN History Walk in Curtis Park / Five Points[May 2022] Members of the History Matters Committee participated in a history walk in Curtis Park/Five Points led by CHUN Board member and St. Francis Center employee Amanda Pennington.
Participants gained a perspective on homelessness and witnessed the major changes in one of Denver’s oldest neighborhood. Pennington shared that some of the changes are welcome and yet there are major concerns. Many have endured tough years in this area, but now are having difficulty being able to afford to stay. Welton Street in Five Points has long been a cultural hub for the African American community and remains and important geographic area, but its future is also changing. CHUN Members Join 7th Avenue Governor's Park Conversations[March 2022] CHUN History Matters representatives and Travis Leiker have been in dialogue with neighbors and business owners in the Governor's Park area, which is experiencing a great deal of change.
CHUN will continue to have a key voice in discussions about maintaining the character and history of this important neighborhood. CHUN board members compete in City-Wide Scavenger Hunt; Raise Funds for Historic Denver[June 2021] 2021 marks 50 years since Historic Denver began preserving the places that matter in Denver, starting with the Molly Brown House Museum.
The annual Capitol Crossroad hunt raises funds to help support the amazing work of Historic Denver. The hunt was an innovative way to uncover more about the city we love while enjoying a fun activity with other members of the CHUN board. |
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Join Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods today, and help preserve the history of Capitol Hill.
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