Dear Morgan Historic District Denver tour Participants, generous Hosts, and Friends of the ICAA,
What a delightful Autumn morning we had last Saturday! I’m glad that so many of you enjoyed the tour just as much as I did and thank you for your feedback. It was one of those rare mornings where things just seemed to come together in a wonderful way, primarily due to the generous homeowners who gave us a glimpse into their lovely historic homes and gardens.
We would like to express our appreciation to Christian Barlock and his friends Don and Cara Bechter for inviting the entire group inside to see their renovation & addition at 855 Vine Street. If you would like to read the 5280 Magazine article that we spoke about, you may find it at http://www.5280.com/magazine/2009/03/modern-classic. Also, just for fun, there is a short CNN video clip about the project at https://archive.org/details/CNN_20090924_020000_Anderson_Cooper_360#start/3600/end/3660. Seeing the Fisher & Fisher drawings and the pendant lights originally from the “Bridge Room” at the DCC in addition to everything else was icing on the cake! Thank you Cara and Don.
Architect Elizabeth Metz and her clients Karin and Charlie Woolley gave us a whole new appreciation for the “Storybook” style through our tour of 825 Vine Street. Not easily seen from the street (and Karin likes it that way, she says), once inside the totally unique front gate we discovered lovely gardens, a picturesque exterior, and a bright and comfortable interior. The awe and appreciation generated by the beamed Living room really set the tone for the morning. Thank you Cara and Charlie.
After years of catching glimpses of Benedict’s “green house” at 910 Gaylord Street it was rather exciting to have the freedom to walk around it and see the detailed stone carving and the elegant oriel window up close. Having spent time on a ladder up near the eaves, Elizabeth was able to fill us in on some of Benedict’s distinctive details. The house, yard, and terrace were so pleasant that no one wanted to leave. Thank you Emily and Jay.
And last but not least on the tour was another Benedict design – anchored on a lovely island in the York/Josephine traffic corridor. Everyone enjoyed the calm English dignity inside 918 York Street, and many thanks to Greg Movesian for giving us a personal tour of the main floor and sunroom. The recessed entry with grillwork, the handsome yellow Living room (even Nancy Lancaster would be jealous!), and seeing the architect’s blueprints rolled out on the beautiful dining room table in the “red room” all made for an architectural treat. Thank you Greg and Jack.
To learn more about the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art or to become a member, please visit www.classicist.org To read about recent Rocky Mountain chapter activities you may visit the online Forum magazine at http://forum.classicist.org/fall2014/chapter-news/rocky-mountain.
Next month’s C&C tour will be on the 7th Avenue Parkway on November 15. Please plan to join us for that, along with Bobby McAlpine and Susan Ferrier speaking at the Cherry Hills Country Club on November 13.
Sincerely,
TOM M.
Co-chair, C&C
Most of the notes used on the tour and many of the historical photographs were from these primary resources:
1. Western History section of the Denver Public Library’s digital library
2. Denver, the City Beautiful by Barbara Norgren and Tom Noel
3. Annette L. Student’s book Historic Cheesman Park Neighborhood
4. “Cheesman Park” – Internet article by Jennifer Collins
5. “Modern Classic” 5280 magazine, March 2009 (regarding 855 Vine Street).
6. “Denver Homes a hotbed of History, ’Sleuth’ Finds” by Mary Winter Denver Post article 7-2-05.
7. A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia and Lee McAlester (available at the Tattered Cover Bookstore)
Photos from The Morgan District Denver Tour with the Denver ICAA:
