The turn of the twentieth century marks the beginning of Denver's Humboldt Island residents. The neighborhood is rich in both history and folklore. By the 1890's Cheesman park, once infamously known as Denver's largest public cemetery, had been redeveloped into an exceptional example of modern green space.
Upon its formal opening in 1898, Cheesman park becoma the most desirable location fro the affluent of Denver. The 1000 block of Humboldt soon gave rise to opulent homes attrivuted with the namesake commonly know as the "Denver Square".
Inslee's Addition, as it is known by legal description, the the name sake of S.L. Inslee, one of the early settlers of Denver. Although, Inslee had give the name to the streets within the area, change is inevitable and in approximately 1893 formerly Hunt Street became Humboldt Street.
Dominating the northeast corner of tenth avenue and Humboldt, is the Stoiberhof Mansion. Built by Edmund Stoiber's widow in 1907 allegedly with funds from her good natured ability to introduce your women to miners passing through the Denver area.
Harry Tammen, former co-owner of the Denver Post occupied 1075 Humoldt along with infamous "Radical Bill Sweetsky", Denver's governor from 1921 to 1923 who resided in 1075 Humboldt. Constructed in 1911 by cigar merchant Berthoud Flesher, 1025 Humboldt was initially the home of Paul Roberts, dean of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral and later was home to beloved Jack Weil, the pioneer of modern western wear and owner of Rockmount Ranch Wear.
Nestled among its unique neighbors is 1045 H Stree. Contractor Wilford Wiborg, on behalf of John H. Gallup, was issued permit #1869 on October 17, 1905 in order to construct a two-story house with an initial projected cost of $10,000. John H. Gallup, the father of George Hittle Gallup; a major player in Denver real estate originally worked as a paymaster for Colorado Fuel and Iron and later formed his own development company specializing in commercial and elite residences. During the 1920's Gallup was a foremost booster. As president of the Real Estate Exchange. After passing awary in 1945, Adolph and Aimee Levy Mayer purchased the home in 1919.
In 1900, Adolph Mayer formed the American Furniture Company and later went on to create the Mayer Furniture Company, located at 1625 California Street. Mayer married Aimee Levy in 1914. Among the first students to attend Colorado Woman's College, Levy was known as a central figure in the ladies' auxiliary of Children's Hospital. Levy never left the area, only moving down the street to the Waldman until her death in 1965.
During Wold War I, World War II and the time of the Mayer's residency, numerous deluxe apartment houses went up in the area. Mansions were being carved up into apartments, however the 1000-12000 blocks remained the site of prestigious owner-occupied single family homes. Due to the efforts of these owners and a fierce battle to save the integrity of the area, the city declared Humboldt Street from 10th to 12th avenues the city's second landmark district after Larimer Square. Seeing themselves beleaguered by unwanted developments, residents called their enclave "Humboldt Island". Since that time in 1975, no structures may be added that are not in harmony with the existing architecture of the district..
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