A Brief History of South Denver & University Park

by Fisher, Steve

• ISBN13: 9781609492335
• ISBN10: 1609492331
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-01
• Publisher: History Pr

Summary

South Denver and University Park have always been unconventional. The founders of Colorado Seminary, now the University of Denver, wanted to build an oasis for education-away from the urban blight of the city and the temptation of its saloons. In the nineteenth century, South Denver grew around University Park, radiating out from Observatory Park and the famous Chamberlin Observatory. From the university's founding through the return of GIs after World War II to the developments of the twenty-first century, local historian Steve Fisher chronicles the fascinating history of University Park and South Denver. Join Fisher as he travels down the old trolley tracks to discover the history of one of Denver's most vibrant neighborhoods. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. 9
Introduction	p. 11
The Move to the Park	p. 17
The New Century	p. 59
Between the Wars	p. 75
Boom Times	p. 85
The '60s and Beyond	p. 93
Millennium	p. 113
University Park and South Denver Today	p. 131
South Denver Street Names	p. 141
Bibiography	p. 145
Index	p. 155
About the Author	p. 159
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

University Park was founded in the 1880s when the University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) moved from downtown Denver to land donated by potato farmer Rufus Clark. The University, founded by Methodists, wanted to escape the urban blight of the city and build an oasis for education. Liquor production or consumption was not allowed, and though today the area has many pubs a number of home mortgages to this day contain old covenants forbidding the making or selling of spirits. Around University Park grew the town of South Denver, which was annexed to the city of Denver in the early twentieth century. For many years in the late 1800s the primary employer was the University of Denver, but over time others moved into the area for its attractive homes and well respected schools. The area has traditionally been upper middle class and has enjoyed one of the lowest crime rates in the city. At the geographic center of University Park is Observatory Park, named for the famous Chamberlain Observatory, built in the 1890s and still fully operational with popular public viewing nights. In the early part of the century Colorado Governor Henry Buchtel lived in the park, as did a number of famed early DU faculty such as Ammi Hyde, who beat the freshman boys in an annual foot race well into his 90's. The area boomed after World War II as many from other parts of the country who were stationed in Colorado chose to remain and make it their home. The area has remained prosperous and continues to grow, sharing in the overall success that the Denver metro area has experienced.