Westminster Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Westminster University
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The Stanford White-designed Westminster Castle around 1908
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| Location | 3455 W. 83rd Ave Westminster, Colorado |
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| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | E.B. Gregory and Stanford B. White |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000572 |
| Added to NRHP | August 10, 1979 |
The Westminster Castle is a famous old building in Westminster, Colorado. People also call it "The Big Red Castle" or "The Pillar of Fire." It is located northwest of Denver, near 83rd and Federal. This special building is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Westminster University.
Contents
How the Castle Was Planned and Built
The Idea for a New University
The idea for Westminster University started in 1890. A man named Henry T. Mayham from New York thought of it. He owned land on Crown Point, which was the highest spot in Arapaho County back then. Mayham convinced a church group called the Denver Presbytery to build a university there. This university would be for the Presbyterian church.
Designing the Big Red Castle
At first, an Architect named E.B. Gregory designed the main building. He even laid the first stone, called the cornerstone. The plan was to use gray stone from the Coal Creek area. But there were problems because they ran out of money.
Later, Mayham hired a famous New York architect, Stanford White, to finish the design. White changed an important part of the plan: the stone. He decided to use red sandstone instead. This red stone came from the Red Rocks area.
White's design was finished by 1893. The building was 160 feet wide and 80 feet deep. It had three stories and a tall, unique tower that was 175 feet high. The castle's style is a great example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.
The "Princeton of the West" Opens
Challenges Before Opening
Even though the castle was finished in 1893, the university did not open right away. It took a long time, until September 17, 1908. This delay happened because of a money crisis in 1893, called the Panic of 1893. There was also another Presbyterian college nearby, which created competition.
First Students and New City Name
Henry Mayham worked hard to raise money. His efforts paid off when the first 60 students started classes in 1908. The cost for school was $50 per year, and it even included indoor plumbing!
In 1911, the small farming town around the university was called Harris. The people living there voted to become a city. They decided to change the town's name to Westminster. They did this to honor the university. The school kept running until 1917. Enrollment dropped a lot because of World War I.
The Pillar of Fire Church Takes Over
A New Owner for the Castle
The Crown Point property, where the castle stands, was once worth almost half a million dollars. But after the university closed and was empty for three years, it was sold. Bishop Alma Bridwell White bought it for $40,000 on January 31, 1920. She was part of the Pillar of Fire Church. The sale included the main college building, 45 acres of land, a power plant, and two houses. One house was a student dormitory, and the other was for the President.
Restoring the Building
Even though the price was good, the buildings needed a lot of work. The church had to spend $75,000 on repairs. Many windows were broken, walls were cracked, and plaster was falling off. The once grand building had even been used like a barn! There were thousands of chickens in the basement and farm machines on the first floor.
Despite all the hard work needed, the new Westminster University opened for students very quickly. It opened on September 7, 1920, just eight months after the church bought it. Within six years, the school, now called Belleview Schools, was officially recognized for its education. It was ready for many years of teaching.
Westminster Castle Today
Today, Belleview Christian Schools are still on the Westminster University campus. This campus includes Belleview Christian Childcare & PreSchool for young children (ages 1–4). It also has Belleview Christian School for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Most of the teaching happens in newer buildings on the campus. However, classes are still held in the historic main building. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The castle is also home to KPOF AM91 Radio. This was Colorado's first radio station to broadcast using HD Radio technology.
Images for kids
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The Stanford White-designed Westminster Castle around 1908
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Westminster Castle, 2008
