Montclair, Denver facts for kids
Montclair is a cool neighborhood in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States. It's a part of Denver where people live, work, and go to school. The U.S. Post Office in Denver (with the ZIP Code 80220) handles mail for Montclair.
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How Montclair Started
Montclair began as a small community just outside of Denver. In 1885, a group called the Montclair Town and Improvement Company bought the land and started building. One of the founders, Matthias P. Cochrane, named the new place after his hometown, Montclair, New Jersey.
The other founder was Baron Walter von Richthofen. He was a German nobleman and the uncle of Manfred von Richthofen, who was a famous pilot in World War I, known as the 'Red Baron'.
The founders had big plans for Montclair. They wanted it to be a fancy, spacious place.
- Homes had to be built on lots that were twice as big as standard Denver lots.
- Houses needed to be at least three stories tall.
- They had to be made of strong materials like brick or stone.
- The town leaders had to approve all building plans.
- Saloons and alcohol were not allowed.
Montclair officially became a town in 1888.
Challenges and Changes
In 1893, a big economic problem called the Panic of 1893 stopped all building in Montclair. Baron von Richthofen then tried to make Montclair a health resort, calling it the 'Carlsbad of Colorado'. He imagined a health spa, an art museum, a hotel, and other fun places.
However, Baron von Richthofen sadly passed away in 1898. Because of this, his plans for the health resort never happened. By 1900, only eighty-eight families lived in Montclair.
In 1902, the City and County of Denver wanted to make Montclair part of Denver. Montclair's residents did not want this and even fought it in the State Supreme Court. But Montclair lost, and it officially became part of Denver in 1903.
The mayor at the time, Robert W. Speer, helped make the change smoother. He improved the parkways and boulevards that Baron von Richthofen had started. He planted many trees and added fountains and monuments. In 1907, a group called the Montclair Improvement Association was formed. They worked to get Denver to provide better streets, water, gas, sewers, and other services for the neighborhood.
Montclair's Historic Status
In the 1960s, many cities, including Denver, faced problems like urban decay, where parts of cities became run down. In 1968, a new group called the Montclair Community Association (MCA) was created. It later became the Historic Montclair Community Association, Inc. (HMCAI).
A Montclair resident named Jane Smith started pushing for the idea of a historic district in 1973. A historic district is an area with special buildings or history that is protected. In 1975, the people living in Montclair and the Denver City Council voted to make the center of Montclair a historic district. This made Montclair one of the first neighborhoods in Denver to get this special protection. It was the fifth area in the city to be named a landmark district.
The same rules that made Montclair special long ago helped it become a historic district. It has beautiful old trees, large lots, and unique houses. You can find homes built in the 1800s with styles like Victorian architecture and Queen Anne style architecture in the United States. There were even special 'TB houses' designed for people with tuberculosis. Over time, other styles like bungalows, cottages, Tudor revival, and modern Ranch-style houses were also built.
Being a historic district helps protect Montclair's beautiful architecture and keeps the community strong.
Where is Montclair?
Montclair is located at 39°44′06″N 104°54′32″W / 39.73500°N 104.90889°W. The neighborhood has clear boundaries:
- To the north: Colfax Avenue
- To the south: 6th Avenue
- To the west: Holly Street
- To the east: Quebec Street
There's also a part called East Montclair. It's east of Quebec, north of 11th Avenue, south of Colfax, and west of Yosemite. The Montclair Post Office is in East Montclair. This area is next to Lowry to the south and Aurora to the east.
Parks in Montclair
Montclair has four city parks where you can play and relax:
- Montclair Park, found at Richthofen Place Parkway and Oneida Street.
- Mayfair Park, located at 10th and Jersey Street.
- Kittredge Park, at 9th Avenue and Olive Street.
- Denison Park, at Richthofen Place and Quebec Street.
Schools in Montclair
Montclair is home to several schools:
- Montclair Elementary School is at 1151 Newport Street. It's a Denver Public School for grades K-5. More and more neighborhood kids have been attending since 2005.
- Palmer Elementary School is at 955 Grape Street.
There are also private schools:
- St. James Catholic School, which serves students from preschool to 8th grade.
- Paddington Station, a preschool.
