“A Swiss Chalet in the middle of Denver?” That’s what they say about the Montclair Civic Building. It is also known as The Molkery. Let’s explore the story of this unique landmark.
Montclair was originally developed as a small suburban community east of Denver. It was designed to attract wealthier residents. Homes had to be large and built of brick or stone. Saloons and alcohol were forbidden.
The Montclair neighborhood includes the Montclair Designated Historic District. Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission oversees building projects here. The neighborhood has grand old trees. It also has large lots and distinctive houses. You will see Victorian and Queen Anne styles.
In 1885, the Montclair Town and Improvement Company purchased the land. Matthias P. Cochrane, from Montclair, New Jersey, co-founded it. He named the new community in honor of his hometown. The other founder was Baron Walter von Richthofen. He was a German nobleman. He was also the uncle of the Red Baron, a famous World War I pilot.
Richthofen built the Richthofen Castle and the Molkery. He created a deer park and planted hundreds of trees. The Molkery is German for Milk House. It was built around 1888. The Baron intended it to be a dairy barn, restaurant, and hotel. It promoted healthy living. It even served as one of the original tuberculosis facilities in Colorado until 1893.
The Molkery was modeled after German health spas. These spas offered milk-cure treatments for tuberculosis. Locals called health seekers “chasers”. They lounged on the sun porches. They drank mugs of fresh milk. They breathed in the supposedly health-restoring air from the basement cattle barn.
In 1902, the Molkery became an insane asylum. But, it closed after neighborhood protests. Residents complained about women in nightgowns roaming the streets. In 1903, the City of Denver annexed Montclair.
In 1908, Denver acquired the Molkery as part of Montclair Park. It became Denver’s first community center. The Montclair Improvement Association remodeled it. The second story became meeting and dance space. The first story had reading and lounging rooms. The basement was a kitchen and dining room. It hosted wedding receptions, classes and even a library branch.
The Molkery is a 4900 square-foot building. It features rhyolite stonewalls and wood framing. There is an open wood porch that wraps around the building. Brick pilasters support the porch. Neoclassical columns and ornamental wood railings add to its charm. Diamond patterned balusters provide unique detail. Originally, the building had four masonry chimneys and an elaborate wood cupola. These were lost between 1912 and 1920. The city enclosed the decorative porch in 1912. Later, the Molkery was restored to its 1909 appearance. This included the return of the chimneys and cupola.
Today, the Montclair Civic Building stands as a reminder of Montclair’s unique history. It reflects the dreams of its founders and the community’s perseverance. From health spa to community center, it has always served the people of Montclair. It is a true landmark in Denver.