Montclair, Denver
Encyclopedia
Montclair is a neighborhood in the City and County of Denver, Colorado
, United States
. The Denver
U.S. Post Office
(ZIP Code
80220) serves Montclair postal addresses.
. The land was purchased and developed by the Montclair Town and Improvement Company in 1885. One of its founders, Matthias P. Cochrane, originally came from Montclair, New Jersey and named the new community in its honor. The other founder, Baron Walter von Richthofen
, was a German nobleman and uncle to Manfred von Richthofen
, the celebrated World War I flying ace known as the 'Red Baron'. The community was originally designed to attract wealthier residents who were turned off by Denver's "400 saloons and forty Market Street bordellos". To this end, homeowners were required to purchase and build on lots that were twice the Denver standard size of 25 feet by 125 feet. Homes were required to be at last three stories high, made of brick or stone. In addition, town trustees had to approve all plans and saloons and alcohol were forbidden.
The community became the incorporated town of Montclair in 1888. In 1893, the crash of the silver market and the ensuing Panic of 1893
brought all development to a halt. Baron von Richthofen then began to promote the town as a health retreat, calling it the 'Carlsbad of Colorado'. However, due to his sudden death from appendicitis
in 1898, plans for a health spa, art museum, hotel, casino and pavilions never materialized. By 1900, the US Census recorded only eighty-eight families living in Montclair.
In 1902, the newly created City and County of Denver began to incorporate the town of Montclair. The town objected strongly to its inclusion and fought the City of Denver all the way to the State Supreme Court. Montclair lost and annexation was made final in 1903. Then-mayor Robert W. Speer
eased the transition by beautifying and extending Richthofen's system of parkways and boulevards from the central city into the suburb, planting many trees and erecting fountains and monuments. In 1907, the Montclair Improvement Association was formed to push the City of Denver into providing "graded, curbed, oiled and lighted streets, water and gas mains, a sewer system, parks and parkways and other services."
and suburban flight. Crime, welfare, unemployment and overcrowding rates all rose. In 1968, a successor to the dormant Improvement Association was created, called the Montclair Community Association (MCA) which eventually became the Historic Montclair Community Association, Inc. (HMCAI).
Jane Smith, a Montclair preservationist, began pushing the idea of a historic district
in 1973. In 1975, residents and the Denver City Council voted to make the central heart of Montclair a historic district
. This made Montclair one of the first neighborhoods to seek landmark designation, and the district was the fifth city-designated landmark district.
Precisely the same requirements that made Montclair exclusive at the turn of the century became a driving force behind the establishment of the district - the neighborhood includes grand old trees, large lots, and distinctive houses, including nineteenth-century Victorian architecture
and Queen Anne Style architecture
as well as 'TB houses' designed specifically for tuberculosis
sufferers. However, during the twentieth century these original homes were joined by bungalows, cottages, Tudor revival, and modern Ranch-style houses.
In addition to land marking the architectural merit of Montclair, the historic district designation served as a means of community preservation and revitalization.
The neighborhood boundaries are Colfax Ave to the north, 6th Ave to the south, Holly Street to the west and Quebec to the east.
What is commonly known as East Montclair is located east of Quebec, north of 11th Ave, south of Colfax and west of Yosemite. Montclair Post Office is located in East Montclair, which borders Lowry to the south and Aurora to the east.
St. James Catholic School (preschool - 8) and Paddington Station (preschool) are both private schools located in the Montclair neighborhood.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
U.S. Post Office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
(ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
80220) serves Montclair postal addresses.
Neighborhood history
Montclair was originally developed as a small suburban community east of DenverDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. The land was purchased and developed by the Montclair Town and Improvement Company in 1885. One of its founders, Matthias P. Cochrane, originally came from Montclair, New Jersey and named the new community in its honor. The other founder, Baron Walter von Richthofen
Richthofen
Richthofen is the surname of a prominent German aristocratic family. The most famous member is the air ace Manfred von Richthofen , also known as the "Red Baron", but a number of other members of his family are also notable for various reasons....
, was a German nobleman and uncle to Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
, the celebrated World War I flying ace known as the 'Red Baron'. The community was originally designed to attract wealthier residents who were turned off by Denver's "400 saloons and forty Market Street bordellos". To this end, homeowners were required to purchase and build on lots that were twice the Denver standard size of 25 feet by 125 feet. Homes were required to be at last three stories high, made of brick or stone. In addition, town trustees had to approve all plans and saloons and alcohol were forbidden.
The community became the incorporated town of Montclair in 1888. In 1893, the crash of the silver market and the ensuing Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
brought all development to a halt. Baron von Richthofen then began to promote the town as a health retreat, calling it the 'Carlsbad of Colorado'. However, due to his sudden death from appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
in 1898, plans for a health spa, art museum, hotel, casino and pavilions never materialized. By 1900, the US Census recorded only eighty-eight families living in Montclair.
In 1902, the newly created City and County of Denver began to incorporate the town of Montclair. The town objected strongly to its inclusion and fought the City of Denver all the way to the State Supreme Court. Montclair lost and annexation was made final in 1903. Then-mayor Robert W. Speer
Robert W. Speer
Robert Walter Speer was elected the mayor of Denver, Colorado three times. He served two four-year terms in office from 1904 to 1912. He died from pneumonia in 1918 while halfway through a third term in office that had started in 1916.-Biography:...
eased the transition by beautifying and extending Richthofen's system of parkways and boulevards from the central city into the suburb, planting many trees and erecting fountains and monuments. In 1907, the Montclair Improvement Association was formed to push the City of Denver into providing "graded, curbed, oiled and lighted streets, water and gas mains, a sewer system, parks and parkways and other services."
Historic District and Community Association
In the 1960s Denver, along with many cities across the country, began to experience problems with urban decayUrban decay
Urban decay is the process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude...
and suburban flight. Crime, welfare, unemployment and overcrowding rates all rose. In 1968, a successor to the dormant Improvement Association was created, called the Montclair Community Association (MCA) which eventually became the Historic Montclair Community Association, Inc. (HMCAI).
Jane Smith, a Montclair preservationist, began pushing the idea of a historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in 1973. In 1975, residents and the Denver City Council voted to make the central heart of Montclair a historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
. This made Montclair one of the first neighborhoods to seek landmark designation, and the district was the fifth city-designated landmark district.
Precisely the same requirements that made Montclair exclusive at the turn of the century became a driving force behind the establishment of the district - the neighborhood includes grand old trees, large lots, and distinctive houses, including nineteenth-century Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Queen Anne Style architecture
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
as well as 'TB houses' designed specifically for tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
sufferers. However, during the twentieth century these original homes were joined by bungalows, cottages, Tudor revival, and modern Ranch-style houses.
As Denver architect and architectural critic Tom Morris puts it, "Montclair buildings are a catalog of architectural styles from 1885 to the present. If a person is interested in what the American suburban dream might look like if ever brought to fruition, Montclair is its living model."
In addition to land marking the architectural merit of Montclair, the historic district designation served as a means of community preservation and revitalization.
Geography
Montclair is located at 39°44′06"N 104°54′32"W (39.734914,-104.908769).The neighborhood boundaries are Colfax Ave to the north, 6th Ave to the south, Holly Street to the west and Quebec to the east.
What is commonly known as East Montclair is located east of Quebec, north of 11th Ave, south of Colfax and west of Yosemite. Montclair Post Office is located in East Montclair, which borders Lowry to the south and Aurora to the east.
Parks
Montclair has three city parks:- Montclair Park, located at Richthofen Place ParkwayRichthofen Place ParkwayRichthofen Place Parkway is a historic parkway in Denver, Colorado. On September 17, 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places....
and Oneida St - Kittredge Park, located at 9th Ave and Olive St
- Denison Park, located at Richthofen Pl and Quebec St
Schools
Montclair is home to Montclair Elementary School in the 1151 Newport St. Montclair Elementary is a Denver Public School serving grades K-5. Starting in 2005 Montclair has seen a rebound in neighborhood attendance.St. James Catholic School (preschool - 8) and Paddington Station (preschool) are both private schools located in the Montclair neighborhood.