Doesn’t the name Quality Hill Historic District just roll off the tongue? It certainly did for Denver’s elite in the late 19th century. This is where they built their stunning mansions. It’s a testament to Denver’s past. Capitol Hill was originally named Quality Hill. It attracted the city’s most affluent residents.
Today, we’re exploring a section of Capitol Hill. You can find beauty on every block of Quality Hill. The district is only one block wide. It stretches from 9th to 10th Avenues. The area runs from Logan St. east to the Washington/Clarkson St. alley.
Let’s talk about some key spots within Quality Hill Historic District. First, there’s the Molly Brown House at 1340 Pennsylvania. Molly Brown survived the sinking of the Titanic. She also survived being shunned by Denver’s society. She lived here with her husband in this Queen Anne-style home. The house faced hard times as a boarding house. It deteriorated before being restored.
Then there’s the Dunning Benedict House at 1200 Pennsylvania. This Romanesque Revival home was designed by William Lang in 1889. Walter Dunning sold it to Mitchell Benedict. Benedict helped design the state capitol. He also helped create Riverside Cemetery. It became apartments but has since been restored.
The Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast Inn at 1207 Pennsylvania was built in 1891. It was once known as the Keating House. The Keatings founded the McPhee and McGinnity Lumber Company.
The Pennborough spreads across almost an entire block at 1165 Pennsylvania. David Dodge and his wife built the first mansion at 1173 Pennsylvania St in 1889. His friend Joseph Gilluly built its twin at 1143 Pennsylvania St. Later, it became a tuberculosis home.
The Patterson Historic Inn was constructed in 1891. It is a Chateauesque building. Thomas Croke was an experimental plant breeder. He sold the property to Thomas Patterson. Patterson published the Rocky Mountain News.
Don’t miss the Grant-Humphreys Mansion at 770 Pennsylvania St. It was built in 1902. Grant made money in the smelting industry. Humphrey discovered oil in Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. His sons started Denver’s first airfield.
The Brind Mansion is at 825 Logan St. Joseph Fitz and Mary Evaline Brind built it in 1895. Brind worked for Judson Dynamite & Powder Co. He gave his first wife a famous diamond from Spain. It has never been found.
The Daly Mansion at 1034 Logan is made of rusticated sandstone. Thomas Daly brought apartment living to Denver. He designed The Helene Apartment Building.
Quality Hill Historic District displays a variety of styles. You’ll find single-family homes and apartment houses. The Craig House at 605 E. 9th Ave. has a tiled hipped roof. The Granada and the Cardenas at 607-615 and 707-715 East 10th Avenue flaunt Moorish and Spanish Colonial designs. They feature tile pent roofs and iron balconies.
As you wander through Quality Hill, remember its evolution. This neighborhood has adapted. It reflects the changing needs of its residents. The historic buildings stand as reminders of Denver’s rich past. Take a moment to appreciate the architecture. Imagine the lives of those who once called these mansions home. Quality Hill remains a cornerstone of Denver’s heritage.