Historic Homes of Denver: People Who Shaped Denver’s History - William Byers and the Divorcee Part 2 - 02/28/11 07:47 PM
When we last left off, William Byers had just escaped the rage of his long time mistress Hattie Sacomb.  Elizabeth and William Byers son, Frank, had met Hattie at the gate of their home with a loaded shotgun when she followed his parents home that fateful afternoon.  I guess the threat of a butt full of buckshot was enough to persuade her to leave the premises.                                                                       The police had already been called and they arrested Hattie 3 blocks away from the Byers' home.                                                                                    As it turned out, Elizabeth had known about the affair between … (6 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: People Who Shaped Denver’s History - William Byers and the Divorcee - 02/28/11 04:36 AM
William Byers was many things.  He was one of the original settlers in Denver.  He started the Rocky Mountain News.  He was politically ambitious.  William Byers was an attractive, married man, and, he was a player.
In early 1870, William Byers received a letter from an attractive divorcee in Lawrence, Kansas by the name of Hattie Sancomb.  Hattie wrote to William Byers asking him whether he thought that she should relocate to Denver.  "Yes" was Byers' answer, and Sancomb moved to Denver soon thereafter.Once Hattie Sancomb had set up residence in Denver, it wasn't long before she and William Byers began … (6 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Entertainment Series - Adams Mystery Playhouse - 02/27/11 09:08 PM
The Adams Mystery Playhouse is located at 2406 Federal Blvd, in Denver's Historic Highland Neighborhood.  The Adams Mystery Playhouse was named Denver's best playhouse by Denver's KMGH 7 television in 2010."Murder at the Speakeasy" is presently playing at the handicapped accessible Adams Mystery Playhouse.  "Murder at Deadman's Gulch" will premier in April.Doors at the Adams Mystery Playhouse open at 6:30pm, as is the "casket bar"!  Prior to the show, you can enjoy a cocktail and participate in a scavenger hunt, or have your palm read by Denver psychic Lawrence Woodson for $5.At 6:35pm, the actors enter and mingle with you and … (2 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: People Who Shaped Denver’s History - Buffalo Bill Cody - 02/27/11 04:33 AM
Buffalo Bill Cody was born William Frederick Cody in February of 1846 in Iowa.  The family moved west in 1853.  The Cody family was against slavery, a belief that made them enemies of slave owners back east. Bill Cody's father often spoke of the evils of slavery, and on one occasion, he was stabbed and nearly killed.  11 year old Bill Cody dragged his father to safety, but, the injury eventually killed his father.  After his father's death, Buffalo Bill Cody went to work to support his family.                                                                               
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At 19, Buffalo Bill … (0 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Entertainment Series - The Murder Mystery at The Lumber Baron Inn - 02/22/11 01:10 AM
I recently blogged about the gorgeous Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens Bed and Breakfast in the Historic Highlands neighborhood of Denver.  Located at 2555 West 37th St, the Lumber Baron Bed & Breakfast Inn is also host to the Lumber Baron Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.The cost of the murder mystery is $39.99 per person although that price can change depending on season and individual show.  The lumber Baron staff are personable and accommodating as they work to get the entire audience involved in the mystery "at hand".For the cuisine itself, you can expect a lovely meal catered by Food Guy Catering.  … (13 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Historic Homes and Buildings - The Perrenoud - 02/20/11 10:20 PM
The Perrenoud has to be one of the most gorgeous and well preserved turn of the century apartment buildings in Denver.  Located at 836 East 17th Avenue in the Uptown area Capitol Hill, The Perrenoud was designed by architect Frank Snell and was built in 1901.

The Perrenoud family arrived in Denver in 1862.  The patriarch of the family, John Perrenoud died in Denver in 1900 at the age of 91.   Perrenoud had 3 daughters.  Together the 3 sisters built the grand and beautiful Perrenoud building in 1901, operating it initially in the style of a private club.  The Perrenoud … (4 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Entertainment Series - Red Rocks Parks - 02/18/11 11:27 PM
Red Rocks Amphitheater is one of Colorado's great nature wonders, in fact Red Rocks was once considered one of the Great Natural Wonders of the World.300 million years ago, give or take a million or so years, Colorado was an active seismic center.  That was how our beautiful Rocky Mountains were formed.  But on the east side of those mountains just outside of the town of Morrison there once was a prehistoric ocean.  Massive ledges of rock in varying colors of red, pink, rust and crimson were pushed up from within the Earth, exposing layer upon layer of the beautiful, colored … (13 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Happenings in Denver’s History - The Olympics that Never Were - 02/18/11 03:33 AM
                                                                                                                                                   Cities around the world get downright competitive with each other when vying to host the Olympic Games.  It makes sense though considering the huge economic benefits and worldwide notoriety that come with the Olympic games.It's kind of ironic then that Colorado voted DOWN hosting the 1976 Olympic Winter Games in 1974.  It's not like Denver didn't get the Olympic nod.  In fact, for years Denver had campaigned and worked to win the 1976 Olympic bid, and we WERE chosen.Denver citizens partied and celebrated their brains out when the announcement was made.  The US Forest Service had proposed that the winter … (8 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Wine & Food Series - Denver Restaurant Week 2011 - 02/17/11 07:18 PM

Denver Restaurant Week 2011 is coming!  Denver Restaurant Week is one of the best times of year for Denver gastronomes, especially my friend Diane Bambrick who introduced me to the event.
Initially, Denver Restaurant Week was only one week long.  But it was such a hit, that it has been expanded to two weeks.  In 2011, Denver Restaurant Week will run from February 26th – March 11th, 2011.
In a nutshell, participating Denver restaurants (and there are a lot of GOOD ONES!) will provide dinner for two for the price of $52.80.  Now for those of you not in Denver, and … (8 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Happenings in Denver’s History - The Denver Mint Robbery - 02/16/11 03:11 AM
I often drive by the Denver Mint.  Each time I do, I marvel at the large Historic Building with the huge wrought iron fence around it.  As impressive as the building is, I have a hard time wrapping my head around how much gold is stored there.  The Denver Mint is the second largest gold depository in the nation.  Since moving to Denver in 1978, I haven't heard a peep about anyone robbing the joint.  That was not true in 1922.                                                                                 
 
Although the Old West and Denver saw plenty of bank robberies (even today!) the Denver Mint was only … (4 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Happenings in Denver’s History - The Great Blizzard of 1913 - 02/14/11 10:08 PM
Denver's Great Blizzard of 1913 really makes me think twice about complaining about the cold weather we had last week.
What normally happens in Denver is that it snows, usually just a few inches, and the next day the weather warms up and the snow melts away.  But the Great Blizzard of 1913 wasn't like any ol' normal Denver snow storm.  It started on Monday, December 1st of 1913, and snowed for three days.  On December 3rd, there was 8 inches of snow on the ground.  Even by today's standards, 8 inches of snow would throw a wrench into things in … (12 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Happenings in Denver’s History - The Silver Crash of 1893 - 02/12/11 05:59 AM
Gold and Silver are both valuable metals.  Denver grew by leaps and bounds in the mid 1800's because of the discovery of Silver and Gold in the mountains west of Denver.In 1890, the Federal Government made the decision to buy silver to back United States currency. 4.5 million ounces of Silver were bought by the government each month.  This took the price of Silver from 84 cents per ounce to $1.50 per ounce.  Shooting the mining and production of silver into the stratosphere.  Silver was King in Colorado and passed gold in terms of production, making millionaires out of people like … (6 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Historic Homes and Buildings - Jennie Rogers & the House of Mirrors - 02/12/11 03:56 AM
Jennie Rogers was one of Denver's early "Madams" and she had a temper.  Jennie Rogers was a tall, pretty woman.  Standing 6 feet tall, she never hesitated to use her stature to ruthlessly intimidate and blackmail Denver businessmen that had visited her "soiled doves".Jennie Rogers once went so far as to bury a human skull in the backyard of one of her customers yards.  Jennie's lover was the Denver's Police Chief, and he "discovered" the skull.   The man faced legal prosecution, or, handing over a ton of hush money to Jennie Rogers.  The man paid Jennie the money.                                                                                                      With the money … (8 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Neighborhood Series - The Hop Street Neighborhood Riot - 02/10/11 07:51 PM
In 1880, there was an occurrence in Denver that came to be known as The Hop Street Riot.  Hop Street was a neighborhood in early Denver that was close to Denver's "red light district", and was primarily populated by Chinese immigrants.  Chinese immigrants were not welcome in Colorado's rural mining communities.  So, most migrated to the larger city of Denver and the semi-familiar feeling of Hop Street where Chinese was spoken.   The name "Hop Street" was coined because Opium use was quite common in the area and people became hopped up on the drug.
From 1869 to 1880, approximately 500 … (3 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Entertainment Series - Romantic Valentines Day Get Aways - 02/09/11 12:18 AM

                                                                                                                                        Valentine's Day is a time when you want to spent time with your sweetheart.  I have a few options for you to celebrate the occasion in one of Denver's most beloved Historic Hotels.
The Brown Palace Hotel has a couple of different ideas for you to spoil your sweetheart
A Kiss to Build a Dream On (starts at $259)An overnight stay in the gorgeous Brown Palace Hotel.A $50.00 credit that can be used towards hotel … (7 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Hot New Listings - 1029 East 8th Avenue #1302 - 02/08/11 02:02 AM
Park Place TowerShort Sale
$225,000
Penthouse unit on Southwest corner with panoramic views
2 Bedrooms2 BathroomsSpacious study with Cherry Built-ins1455 square FeetUpdated Kitchen with:  Cherry Cabinetry  Granite Countertops  Stainless Steel Appliances  Side-by-Side Refrigerator  Bosch Dishwasher  Amana oven and cooktop  Built-in microwaveWalk-in ClosetsInlaid tile floor entryBuilt-in Cherry Entertainment center in the living room
 
Secured Entry2 reserved underground parking spacesSecure code elevator access
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rooftop pool with panoramic views of downtown Denver
Club House/Pary Room also available
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                    
 
 
 
 
 
… (2 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Happenings in Denver’s History - The Sand Creek Massacre - 02/07/11 02:40 AM
Early on the morning of November 29th, 1864, a regiment of mostly volunteer soldiers attacked a group of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at Sand Creek, CO. There had been increased tensions between the Indians and the white settlers. Governor John Evans appointed Colonel John Chivington, a Civil War Hero, to lead the attack.                       |
Chivington had political aspirations and thought the assignment would help his career. He was not only a military man, but also a minister. Oddly, as a minister, he saw the Indians as "heathens" that had attacked white settlements. He saw the eradication of the Indian as … (2 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Happenings in Denver’s History - The Cherry Creek Flood of 1864 - 02/06/11 01:21 AM
You have to give it to Denver's early pioneers...they were TOUGH and RESILIENT.  Just one year after most of Denver burned down in Denver's Great Fire of 1863, the town suffered another huge blow in the form of a flash flood that killed 20 people.
We have a Historic Neighborhood in Denver called Cherry Creek.  Of course this neighborhood was named after the Cherry Creek waterway which a majority of the time is a beautiful and peaceful tributary that meanders from through Denver.
Early Denver settlers listen to what the Native Indian's and early mountain men warned them of.  They just … (4 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Historic Homes and Buildings - Denver's Great Fire of 1863 - 02/05/11 05:36 PM
When Denver was first settled in the late 1850's, buildings were built up fast and cheap.  That meant using the easily found lodge pole pine that is prevalent up and down the front range.  Denver's buildings had one, maybe two story's at most with false fronts to make them look larger then they really were.  Most were built right next to one another.  Personal homes at this time were just log cabins.  Even wealthier citizens in Denver built their homes from wood. 
There was no electricity in those days, so, when the sun went down, Denver was lit up by oil … (4 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Tips at Altitude - Where Can I Recycle Electronic Waste? The E-Cycle Coupon Program! - 02/03/11 01:05 AM
I am a fanatic when it comes to recycling. I whole heartedly believe in recycling everything humanly possible. I am the crazy person that takes empty wine bottles home from parties to recycle! That's why I am so pleased to tell you all about the Denver E-Cycle Coupon Program!  Normally if you were to recycle a computer monitor, it would cost you between $12-$18.  However, Denver residents are now able to recycle their old electronic garbage (let's face it, that's what it is!) instead of allowing it to either pile up in their garage or go into our landfills.
What type … (4 comments)

Historic Homes of Denver: Historic Homes and Buildings - The History of the Denver Mint - 02/01/11 03:37 AM
Back before the Denver Mint was a reality, gold dust was used as the predominant form of currency in Denver.  A pinch of gold dust was equal to 25 cents and bought you a shot of whiskey at one of the local saloons.   It didn't much matter how big your hands were, a pinch was a pinch.  Any larger quantities were weighed out.  Much gold was lost in the transactions as dust fell on the floors of the places of business.  Savvy pioneers obtained jobs cleaning stores and saloons, sweeping the floors and carefully recovering the lost gold dust.The Gold … (1 comments)

 

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