The proposed district, located roughly between 32nd and 35th Avenues, Lowell Boulevard and the alley between Osceola and Perry streets, includes an original portion of the original Packard’s Hill subdivision, developed beginning in 1886.
Many houses are Queen Anne style structures primarily built before the Silver Crash of 1893. As the economy recovered, the changes in popular architectural styles are seen in turn-of-the century classic cottages and Denver squares.
Preferences continued to evolve as bungalows, English cottages, and terrace type buildings became more prevalent. Packard’s Hill shows Denver’s history of building predominantly in brick, while following nationwide trends in popular building styles. It also contains structures designed by noted architect William Quayle and master stonemasons David Cox and Tilden Cox.
In addition to being representative of the movement of residents from Denver to West Highland, the proposed district is also significant for its strong association with Denver women’s history and women’s suffrage activists. Early residents included Minnie Ethel Luke Keplinger, an artist active in the movement to establish Denver’s first art museum; Spring Byington, an acclaimed Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress; Mary E. Ford, a doctor; and Bird Bosworth, a writer and newspaper reporter who was active in women’s rights and temperance.
For complete information about the proposed district, including the application, staff report, and public comment for and against the proposal, visit
DenverGov.org/historicdesignations
.
