A Guide to
Aurora Historic Preservation Landmarks
REVISED 3/2021
Aurora Historic Preservation AuroraGov.org/HistoricSites • 303.739.6661 Supported by:
Admission Always FREE
Photo by Palace Construction
AURORA HISTORY MUSEUM Admission always
FREE
AuroraMuseum.org 303.739.6660
Photo by Palace Construction
Photo by Palace Construction
Military Table ofLandmarks Contents
East Colfax Avenue, 1968
Gully Homestead House Rodeo, 1920s
1 HISTORIC PRESERVATON COMMISSION 2
27 MILITARY LANDMARKS American War Mothers Memorial House . . 29 Lowry Building 880 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
DELANEY FARM REGION
Guardhouses at General’s Park . . . . . . . . . . 31
DeLaney Farm Historic District . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Waterfowl Preserve at General’s Park . . . . 32
Gully Homestead House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Red Cross Building and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Beehive Memorial
DeLaney Round Barn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Coal Creek Schoolhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7
Bicentennial Art Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
ORIGINAL AURORA REGION
35 SMOKY HILL REGION
William Smith House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Melvin Schoolhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
William Smith School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Toll Gate Creek Archaeological Site . . . . . . 38
Aurora Fox Arts Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Smoky Hill Trail Historic Marker . . . . . . . . . . 39
Milliken House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Melvin-Lewis Cemetery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Italian Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
41 EASTERN AURORA REGION
Gilligan House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
KOA Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Centennial House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Trolley Trailer No. 610 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Fuller House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
45 CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES PROGRAM
Cowing House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Hornbein Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Mission Viejo Neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
St. Therese School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Victory Grange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
St. Therese Historic District . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Robidoux House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
47 PRESERVE YOUR PROPERTY
Stanley Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 McMillan House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
49 TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWERS
Strait Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Carlson-Holzer House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Smith-Cox House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
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Story Line
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Pick your favorite mode of transportation and travel through history with Story Line! The Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites are proud to provide an audio tour resource for Aurora residents and visitors. Visit the locations or just listen while you’re looking through this brochure. This Story Line icon is in the lower corner of the page for the 15 historic sites currently available. Visit the website below and click the button to hear a story about that location.
Visit AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark.
Story Line
HistoricMilitary Preservation Landmarks Commission
Former HPC Member Ruth Fountain, 1975. Photo by Aurora Sun
Mission: To protect and preserve Aurora’s heritage through education, advocacy and training, as mandated by Aurora’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. Vision: The Aurora Historic Preservation Commission will build community pride through the recognition and celebration of our heritage. Purpose: To review and make recommendations to the Aurora City Council regarding potential landmark status for historic sites, districts, and other properties, for the educational, cultural and economic benefit of Aurora citizens. Qualifications: Must be an Aurora resident and registered voter. Five of 11 total members shall be professional members with an interest, competence, or knowledge of historic preservation, professional experience in the disciplines of history, architecture, historic architecture or archaeology. The Aurora Historic Preservation Commission meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the Aurora History Museum’s Community Gallery, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012. For more information, visit AuroraGov.org/HistoricSites.
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And so it begins...
DeLaney Farm Region
Coal Creek Schoolhouse, 1930
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DeLaney Farm Historic District
S. Chambers Rd.
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Coal Creek Schoolhouse
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DeLaney Round Barn
Gully Homestead House
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2 1
DeLaney Farm Region
DeLaney Farm Historic District 170 S. Chambers Road – Ward III Landmarked: 1986 • Local Historic District The DeLaney Farm Historic District combines historical and natural elements to provide educational and recreational activities to the Aurora community. The last remaining homestead in urban Aurora, DeLaney Farm is a unique property that reflects the earliest settlement of the area. It was established as a homestead in 1876 by John DeLaney and operated as a farm until it was purchased by the city of Aurora in 1982. This 158-acre site contains a historic homestead and farm complex, a one-room schoolhouse, and an expanse of open space that is home to many different species of plants and animals. The last known existing round barn in Colorado is located at the site, along with several other barns and the DeLaney Farmhouse, which now houses city staff. The open space within the DeLaney Farm Historic District is largely a native plainscreek ecosystem whose inhabitants include prairie dogs, field mice, cottontail rabbits, skunks, red-tail hawks, owls, meadowlarks, mourning doves, bull snakes, rattlesnakes, and coyotes. Plants in this area include cottonwood trees, many varieties of willow trees, sweet clover, alfalfa, Russian thistles, and wheat grass. Two paved trails provide recreational opportunities within the DeLaney Farm Region: the Highline Canal Trail and the Toll Gate Creek Trail.
TRIVIA How many acres is DeLaney Farm?
3
DeLaney Farm Region
Gully Homestead House 170 S. Chambers Road – Ward III Built: 1866-1871 • Landmarked: 1986 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 3
AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark
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This small house is the oldest surviving home in Aurora. The ranch, house, stables, and corrals that made up the Gully family homestead were originally located at Mississippi Avenue and Chambers Road, where the Irish immigrant family raised cattle and horses. The city of Aurora purchased the house and chicken coop and moved them to the current site. The house was restored in 1982 and is still owned by the city of Aurora.
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Gully Homestead House E. Alamed a Pk w
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TRIVIA
Story Line
One of the chimneys is fake. Can you tell which one?
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DeLaney Farm Region
DeLaney Round Barn
170 S. Chambers Road – Ward III Built: 1902 • Landmarked: 1989 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 9
E. 1st A v
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Originally constructed as a grain silo, this round building was converted into a two-story cow barn around 1912. Round barns are extremely rare in Colorado, and its exceptional construction and engineering are believed to be the work of an itinerant carpenter. The John DeLaney family lived in a home across Toll Gate Creek and raised livestock. The barn has been restored and houses an exhibit on agriculture and dairy farming in the Aurora area.
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S. Chambers Rd.
wy . Coal Creek Schoolhouse DeLaney Farm Historic District DeLaney Round Barn
Gully Homestead House E. Alamed a Pk wy.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
The rafters that support the roof of the Round Barn are constructed in a spiral. Make an appointment for a tour and see the dizzying effect of this design!
5
DeLaney Farm Region
Photo by Brian Molitoris
Coal Creek Schoolhouse 15500 E. 1st Ave. – Ward III Built: 1928 • Landmarked: 2001 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 18
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Generations of children growing up on the prairie surrounding Aurora attended school in a oneroom schoolhouse. The original Coal Creek Schoolhouse, located near the Edward Smith Farm, burned to the ground in 1927, and this replacement was constructed during the following year. The school taught 1st-8th grade and also served as a community center until 1960. The schoolhouse and associated buildings have been moved three times; the second move brought it to the Beck Recreation Center/Springhill Park in 1976, and the third move brought it to the DeLaney Farm Historic District in 2011.
nt e
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S. Chambers Rd.
wy . Coal Creek School Schoolhouse DeLaney Farm Historic District DeLaney Round Barn
Gully Homestead House E. Alamed a Pk wy.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
Did you know that school teachers often lived in the basement of their schoolhouse?
6
Original Aurora
East Colfax Avenue, 1962
1 | Stanley Marketplace
E. 26th Ave.
1
2 | Fuller House 3 | Centennial House
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4 | Italian Villa
E. Montview Blvd.
5 | Hornbein Building
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6 | H.M. Milliken House
5 7
7 | Cowing House 8 | Smith-Cox House
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14
15
16
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E. Alameda Ave.
N. Peoria St.
St.
N. Havana St.
17 | William Smith House
Pkw y.
E. 6th Ave. N. Dayton St.
16 | William Smith School
M ar
Dallas St.
15 | St. Therese Historic District
E. Colfax Ave.
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14 | Carlson-Holzer House
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12 | Fox Arts Center 13 | Thomas F. GilliganHouse
E. 17th Ave.
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N. Moli ne
11 | Robidoux House
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12
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9 | McMillan House 10 | Strait Lumber
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17
Original Aurora
Stained glass window at Robidoux House
The earliest development of modern-day Aurora occurred in the northwest area of the city. During the 1880s, a booming silver mining industry led to overcrowding in Denver. This created an opportunity for real estate developers Samuel Perry, Thomas Hayden and Donald Fletcher to form the Colfax Trust Company. The company acquired four square miles, bound by the present day streets of Yosemite to Peoria and Sixth Avenue to 26th Avenue. Early subdivisions were platted by 1888. The upscale development boasted modern conveniences, including the expansion of a trolley line into Denver, the promise of indoor plumbing, and a central furnace in each new home. The town of Fletcher was incorporated in 1891 and town residents changed the name to Aurora in 1907. In the early 1900s, Colfax Avenue emerged as a prominent transportation and business corridor: from the streetcar line to early automobile tourism, from small town to bustling ‘main street’. By the 1970s, economic forces caused the business core in Aurora to move south and Colfax Avenue experienced a decline. Today, this area is experiencing a revitalization as a cultural arts district. Original Aurora extends north to 25th Avenue and south to East Second Avenue, featuring landmarks of numerous architectural styles and periods that reflect the city’s early development.
8
Original Aurora
William Smith House 412 N. Oswego Court – Ward III Built: 1910 • Landmarked: 1986 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 2 lM
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N. Peroia St.
William Smith House N. Paris St.
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Aurora pioneer William Smith once raised sheep on the open land around this property. Smith was the founder of Aurora Public Schools and owner of the land donated for Del Mar Park. Denver architect Joseph Wilson designed the house in the Foursquare form, exhibiting Craftsman and Classic style elements.The home remained in the family until 1983 when Smith’s daughter, Margaret, passed away.
E. 1st Ave.
TRIVIA The William Smith House is the only remaining Foursquare style (square, simple, two-story) house in Aurora.
9
Original Aurora
William Smith School
10000 E. 13th Ave. – Ward I
Pkwy. N. Del Mar
William Smith School E. 12th Ave.
N. Geneva St.
N. Elmira St.
E. 13th Ave.
N. Fulton St.
E. 14th Ave.
N. Emporia St.
Built in the Art Deco style, Aurora’s first high school was named for the founder of Aurora Public Schools. William Smith was instrumental in the formation of School District No. 28 in 1885 and served as school board treasurer for 50 years – the longest term of any school board officer in Colorado. Known today as Aurora West College Preparatory Academy, this historic building continues to serve Aurora.
N. Florence St.
Built: 1931 • Landmarked: 1986 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 4
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark
The ceiling of the original gymnasium was a concrete dome – one of only four in the state.
Story Line
10
Original Aurora
Aurora Fox Arts Center
9900 E. Colfax Ave. – Ward I
N. Florence St.
N. Elmira St.
Aurora residents longed for a theater when motion pictures first became popular, but the Great Depression and World War II made this type of construction impossible. As soon as the war ended, the Fox Inter-Mountain Amusement Corporation built this 670 seat theater, designed by architect Charles Strong. The building consists of a U.S. Army Quonset hut fronted with an Art Moderne entrance block, marquee and neon sign. A fire forced the theater’s closure in 1981. The building was restored in 1983-85 and currently operates as a performing arts center, owned by the city of Aurora.
N. Emporia St.
Built: 1946 • Landmarked: 1987 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 5
E. Colfax Ave.
Aurora Fox Arts Center E. Cherokee Trail
E. 14th Ave.
N. PkwDel M ar y.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
The neon sign of the “theater of tomorrow,” as the Fox was originally dubbed, is 61 feet high, the same elevation as the D & F Tower in downtown Denver.
11
Original Aurora
H. M. Milliken House 1638 N. Galena St. - Ward I
McMillan House
Robidoux House
N. Geneva St.
N. Galena St.
Centennial E. 17th St. House N. Fulton St.
H.M. Milliken, the first mayor of Fletcher, hosted the first town trustee (city council) meeting at this residence. The house was one of the first homes built on Galena Street, which was originally called Hathaway Street, constructed as part of the new speculative community east of Denver. Underneath the wrap around porch, added circa 1910, is a typical Queen Anne Victorian style house. The name of this community later changed from Fletcher to Aurora.
N. Hanover St.
Built: 1891 • Landmarked: 1987 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 6
H. M. Miliken House E. 16th St.
TRIVIA The Milliken House sold for $5,000 in 1893 – the highest recorded price for an original Fletcher home in the 1890s.
12
Original Aurora
Italian Villa
1785 N. Hanover St. – Ward I Built: 1925 • Landmarked: 1988 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 8
N. Iola St.
Havana St.
N. Geneva St.
N. Hanover St.
E. Montview Blvd.
N. Galena St.
Originally built as an Italian restaurant, this Spanish Colonial Revival building was later converted to residential use. During the 1920s and prohibition, the house is said to have been used as a speakeasy and gambling club. The Italian Villa is most associated with Dr. Henry Blank, a tuberculosis specialist, who lived in the house from 1934 to 1954. His wife continued to live in the home until 1982.
E. 19th Ave.
Italian Villa
E. 17th Ave.
TRIVIA In the 1930s, this “colorful” house boasted orchid colored bathroom fixtures, pastel swirled wallpaper in the living room and purple irises lining the sidewalk.
13
Original Aurora
Thomas F. Gilligan House 1455 N. Beeler St. – Ward I
Built: 1925 • Landmarked: 1990 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 10 E. Colfax Ave.
Thomas F. Gilligan House
N. Beeler St.
N. Alton St.
E. 14th Ave.
N. Akron St.
Westinghouse and General Electric cooperated to build this Spanish Colonial Revival style house as an electric show home. Aurora First National Bank and Chamber of Commerce president, Thomas F. Gilligan, saw over 15,000 people visit his home for its grand opening gala. This event promoted not only modern homes complete with electrical appliances, but also Aurora as a desirable suburb. This house has served as a residence and is now a residential health care facility.
TRIVIA In the 1930s, this “colorful” house boasted orchid colored bathroom fixtures, pastel swirled wallpaper in the living room and purple irises lining the sidewalk.
14
Original Aurora
Centennial House
1671 N. Galena St. – Ward I
Robidoux House
N. Hanover St.
McMillan House
N. Geneva St.
E. 17th St.
Centennial House
N. Galena St.
This Queen Anne Victorian style home is the oldest of the remaining houses built as part of the town of Fletcher, the speculative community east of Denver. Like all Fletcher homes, it was built with indoor plumbing to the kitchen and upstairs bath, a luxury considering both the time period and the arid surroundings. The city of Aurora purchased the house in 1990 and community members restored it for the city’s centennial year.
N. Fulton St.
Built: 1891 • Landmarked: 1993 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 11
H. M. Miliken House E. 16th St.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
Can you identify the fish scale shingles, arched pair windows and radiating brick voussoirs?
15
Original Aurora
Photo by Brian Molitoris
Fuller House
2027 N. Galena St. – Ward I Built: 1892 • Landmark 2001 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 17
E. 22nd Ave.
Fuller House N Geneva. St.
N. Fulton St.
N. Galena St.
E. Montview Blvd. N. Florence St.
This extraordinary example of Queen Anne Victorian architecture is one of the remaining original town of Fletcher homes. The distinctive decorative elements of the house, including the bargeboard trim and fish scale shingles on the front of the house, are well preserved and prominent. Other original elements such as the rhyolite door and window sills are still in place. The house is named for its first owner, Granville Fuller.
TRIVIA What was Galena Street originally called in 1891?
16
Original Aurora
Marshall Cowing House 1580 N. Dallas St. – Ward I
Built: 1892 • Landmarked: 2004 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 19
Marshall Cowing House Smith-Cox House
N. Emporia St.
N. Dayton St.
Dallas St.
E. 16th Ave. N. Clinton St.
Class divisions were apparent even in a small town like Fletcher. Homes built along Dallas Street and Galena Street during the same period reflect economic differences. The houses on both streets are Victorian style, but those on Dallas Street are smaller and less ornate than those on Galena Street. Marshall Cowing was the original owner of 1580 Dallas St. The McDowell family, owners of the Acacia Pharmacy on East Colfax Avenue, occupied this home in 1916. William H. Hawkins, another owner, became Aurora’s first paid fire chief in 1956. Until this time, the fire department had been organized and operated by volunteers.
E. Colfax Ave.
TRIVIA Can you spot the differences in architectural details between the houses on Galena Street and those on Dallas Street?
17
Original Aurora
Hornbein Building
9901 E. 16th Ave. – Ward I Built: 1953 • Landmarked: 2005 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 20
E. 17th Ave. N.
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N. Fulton St.
N. Florence St.
N. Elmira St.
N. Emporia St.
E. 16th Ave. N. Dayton St.
The Hornbein Building, formerly the Aurora Public Library, was designed by premier Denver architect Victor Hornbein in 1953, and served as Aurora’s first independent library building. The building is “Usonian,” a style developed by Frank Lloyd Wright that uses a variety of natural finishes and open interior spaces. The style is influenced by traditional Japanese design. The Hornbein Building has been in continual service to the city of Aurora and its citizens as a library, reading room and city office space since its dedication on May 23, 1954.
E. Colfax Ave.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark
In 2009, restoration work returned the trim to its original 1953 historic color – teal blue.
Story Line
18
18
Original Aurora
St. Therese School
1200 N. Kenton St. – Ward I Built: 1956 • Landmarked: 2007 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 23
E. 13th Ave.
St. Therese Parish Historic District St. Therese School
N. Lansing St.
N Kingston St.
N. Kenton St.
E. 12th Ave. N. Joliet St.
St. Therese Catholic School has educated tens of thousands of children since it welcomed its first students in 1956. It was built in response to the tremendous growth enjoyed by Aurora in the years after World War II. St. Therese, established in 1926 as Aurora’s first Roman Catholic parish, purchased 48 lots on Kingston Street in 1949 with plans for a new church, school and convent. 1953 saw construction begin on the school and the first students enrolled in September of 1956. In 1960, the classroom building doubled in size and a large gymnasium was added later that decade.
E. 11th Ave.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
Four F-80 jets from the Colorado National Guard (Buckley Air Base) buzzed the school as part of the dedication ceremony on September 23, 1955, thrilling all those in attendance.
19
Original Aurora
St. Therese Parish Historic District 1243 N. Kenton St. – Ward I
Built: 1951-56 • Landmarked: 2012 • Local Historic District
E. 13th Ave.
St. Therese Parish Historic District St. Therese School
N. Lansing St.
N. Kingston St.
N. Kenton St.
E. 12th Ave. N. Joliet St.
Population growth experienced in Aurora after World War II, led to the construction of a new Catholic Church complex on an entire residential block at 12th and Kenton Streets. It was completed between 1951 and 1956. The St. Therese Parish Historic District is comprised of five buildings: church, K-8 grade school, convent, rectory, and four-car garage. The St. Therese Parish is significant for its contribution to Aurora’s social history. It served many spiritual and community needs, while the school educated tens of thousands of students.
E. 11th Ave.
TRIVIA Beautiful roses adorn the stained glass windows in the sanctuary, a reference to the Parish’s namesake, St. Therese of Lisieux (the “little flower”), who was canonized in 1926.
20
Original Aurora
Robidoux House
1615 N. Galena St. – Ward I
McMillan House
Robidoux House
N. Geneva St.
N. Galena St.
Centennial E. 17th St. House N. Fulton St.
The Robidoux House is an excellent example of Craftsman style architecture. Detailed brickwork provides a decorative architectural element on the exterior, and the interior of the house reflects the Craftsman influence in the quarter-sawn oak woodwork and built-in cabinetry. The house was commissioned by Mary Jane Lavina Girard Robidoux, the widow of Albert Robidoux, a successful wheat farmer and rancher from Kansas. After her husband’s untimely death in 1912, Mary Jane Robidoux moved to Aurora and invested in the design and construction of one of the finest Craftsman style homes on Galena Street.
N. Hanover St.
Built: 1913 • Landmarked: 2011 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 25
H. M. Miliken House E. 16th St.
TRIVIA The stained glass windows in the living room are designed with a prominent letter “R” for the original owner.
21
Original Aurora
Stanley Marketplace
2501 N. Dallas St. – Ward I Built: 1954 • Landmarked: 2015 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 27
E. 26th Ave.
N. Dallas St.
N. Dayton St.
E. 25th Ave.
Stanley Marketplace N. Beeler St.
The Stanley Marketplace currently houses an innovative commercial venture that pays homage to the history of this industrial sitr and its founder, Robert Stanley. A ground breaking test pilot and engineer, Stanley established the Stanley Aviation manufacturing plant in northwest Aurora in 1954, which eventually became the city’s largest employer. The Stanley Aviation plant produced a number of ejection seats and other jet aircraft components, primarily used by the U.S. Air Force. The Stanley Marketplace is significant for its founder, for its contribution to military history and for its architecture as an industrial example of the International style.
E. 23rd Ave.
TRIVIA Pilots who ejected in a Stanley manufactured capsule became members of the informal Caterpillar Club.
22
Original Aurora
McMillan House
1629 N. Galena St. – Ward I Built: 1911 • Landmarked: 2018 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 28
Centennial House
N. Galena St.
Robidoux House
H.M. Miliken House E. 16th St.
N. Geneva St.
McMillan House
N. Hanover St.
E. 17th St. N. Fulton St.
Both Folk Victorian and Craftsman architecture are present in the decorative features of the McMillan House. While the fish scale shingles on the front gable end is indicative of a Victorian Stick style, the simple roofline and side window dormer are characteristic of the Arts and Crafts movement. This particular mixture of styles is unique to this house and showcases a particular period of Aurora’s growth in the early 1900s. The house is named for John McMillan, a two-time mayor of Aurora in the 1910s and 1920s. During both tenures as Aurora’s mayor, McMillan lived in the house at 1629 Galena St.
TRIVIA When he was elected mayor for the second time, John McMillan was out of town!
23
Original Aurora
Strait Lumber
11150 E. Colfax Ave. – Ward I Built: 1947 • Landmarked: 2019 - Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 29
E. 17th Ave.
Peoria St.
E. Colfax Ave.
Moline St.
Strait Lumber
Kingston St.
Strait Lumber’s current storefront was built in 1947 and embodies the highly popular mid-century Art Moderne architectural style. The building features elements prominent in Art Moderne: curved glass block corners, strong horizontal emphasis, and smooth, modestly ornamented walls. The Strait family has owned and operated the Strait Lumber Company in Aurora since 1936, building a storefront and lumber yard on present-day Lansing Street, just east of the current Colfax storefront. As a local business, the Straits have always been involved in the community of Aurora, from providing lumber for local construction projects to sponsoring youth sports teams.
E. 11th Ave.
TRIVIA Strait Lumber is the oldest, continually owned family business in Aurora.
24
Original Aurora
Carlson-Holzer House 1287 Chester St. – Ward I
Built: 1911 – Landmarked: 2019 – Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 30
E. 13th Ave.
Carlson-Holzer House
Dallas St.
Clinton St.
Chester St.
E. 12th Ave.
Boston St.
Built by Albert Carlson in 1911, the Carlson-Holzer house is a fantastic example of Craftsman style architecture in Aurora. The early Aurora home features matching diamond-shaped muntins laid in the windows and front door, overhanging eaves with exposed rafter tails, and a central front dormer, all of which are prominent features of the Craftsman style. In addition to its architecture, the CarlsonHolzer house was inhabited by two important figures in Aurora history: Albert Carlson, who built the house during Aurora’s first large expansion, and Charles Holzer, a three-term mayor of Aurora from 1931 to 1937.
TRIVIA This home was built from a pattern book, from which the plan was chosen and the designs were sent to the owner or contractor for $10.
25
Original Aurora
Smith-Cox House
1557 N. Dallas St. – Ward I Built: 1892 • Landmarked: 2020 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 32
Marshall Cowing House Smith-Cox House
N. Emporia St.
N. Dayton St.
Dallas St.
E. 16th Ave. N. Clinton St.
The Smith-Cox House demonstrates the class divisions present in early Aurora (known then as Fletcher). This house embodies the Folk Victorian architectural style, which borrows elements from the Queen Anne style and incorporates them into a simple folk form. Folk houses usually have a simple floor plan and short stature, both seen in the Smith-Cox House. The east-facing façade of the SmithCox House is the most decorated; differentiated shingle shapes surround the second-story bay window, radiating brick arches top the windows, and cut rhyolite forms the window sills and front threshold. All the first story windows match in design. This house is named for the Smith family, the first owners, as well as the Cox family, members of whom both pursued careers in metropolitan trolley car transportation.
E. Colfax Ave.
TRIVIA What other local historic landmark does the SmithCox most closely resemble?
26
Military Landmarks
Construction of Lowry AFB, 1940
N. Peoria St.
Martin Luther King Blvd.
N. Havana St.
I-70
I-225
Red Cross Building and Beehive Memorial American War Mothers Memorial House
E. 26th Ave.
E. Montview Blvd. E. 17th Ave. E. Colfax Ave.
Waterfowl Preserve and Guardhouses at General’s Park
E. 11th Ave.
E. 6th Ave.
Lowry Building 880
. Ave eda
Bicentennial Arts Center/ Lowry Building 1660
lam E. A
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Military Landmarks
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Guardhouses entrance to Fitzsimons, 1920
The Armed Forces have played an important role in Aurora’s development for over a century. The establishment of three installations brought jobs and residents, stimulated growth, and informed the identity of the maturing city.
Army General Hospital No. 21 opened east of Aurora in 1918. The Army later expanded facilities and services, and renamed the hospital for Lt. William Fitzsimons. In 1937, Congress established a training facility at Lowry Field, which featured aerial photography and armament specialties. In 1942, the U.S. Army established Buckley Air Field to train soldiers and airmen during World War II. These installations continued to make significant contributions to the Nation’s defense through the Cold War. The military drawdown experienced after the Cold War led to the closure of Lowry Air Force Base and Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in the 1990s. Today, Buckley Air Force Base stands alone as an active military installation in Aurora.
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Military Landmarks
American War Mothers Memorial House 1601 N. Peoria St. – Ward 1
Built: 1924 • Landmarked: 1988 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 7 E. 17th Ave.
N. Peoria St.
American War Mothers Memorial House
N. Paris St.
E. 16th Ave. N. Oswego St.
The American War Mothers, a service organization, built and operated this house as a place where wives, mothers and sweethearts could stay while visiting wounded soldiers at Fitzsimons General Hospital. The front walkway, paved with plaques, honors both group and individual donations to the construction fund. The house continued to serve this same function through the Korean War. Finally closing in 1960.
E. Colfax Ave.
AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
TRIVIA The American War Mothers National Memorial House was created as an act of the U.S. Congress and was dedicated as such in 1925.
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Military Landmarks
Photo by Brian Molitoris
Lowry Building 880
1016 N. Boston St. – Ward I Built: 1942 • Landmarked: 1995 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 12
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TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
What is the most notable aspect of this building?
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N. Dayton St.
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This H-shaped building was constructed as a “temporary” structure intended to last five to seven years and represents typical wartime construction. In the more than 70 years since it was completed, this building has served as office space, a warehouse and as the Lowry Air Force Base museum. Most notably, the building housed the Commandant of Cadets as part of the interim headquarters of the United States Air Force Academy from 1955-1958. Today, it serves the city of Aurora as an intergenerational center.
Military Landmarks
Guardhouses at General’s Park
Colfax Avenue & Peoria Street – Ward I Built: 1919 • Landmarked: 1999 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 13
Waterfowl Preserve at General’s Park Guardhouse at General’s Park
N. Quentin St.
E. 16th Ave.
N. Peoria St.
Standing sentinel at what was once the main entrance to the Fitzsimons General Hospital, these guardhouses reflect the Mission Revival architectural style found throughout the complex with their shaped parapets and smooth stucco walls. The guardhouses stand on the western border of the burgeoning health science campus on the old army hospital site. The guardhouses and gate were accurately restored to their original 1919 appearance in 2010 by the city of Aurora. The eagle medallions were hand sculpted to replicate the design of the original symbols for the military hospital.
E. Colfax Ave.
TRIVIA In 1919, labor and materials were donated by building trade unions and local contractors to commemorate the military service of local men and women.
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Military Landmarks
Photo by Brian Molitoris
Waterfowl Preserve at General’s Park 1561 N. Quentin St. - Ward I
Built: 1901 • Landmarked: 1999 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 14
Waterfowl Preserve at General’s Park Guardhouses at General’s Park E. Colfax Ave.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
Which U.S. President was seen fishing at the pond?
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N. Quentin St.
E. 16th Ave.
N. Peoria St.
Historically known as the Waterfowl Preserve, this pond was originally part of the Gutheil Park nursery. The area was designated a preserve in the 1920s after the commanding officer of Fitzsimons received a pair of mallard ducks as a gift. The pond was stocked for recreational fishing and was visited by President Dwight Eisenhower, who spent time at Fitzsimons General Hospital recuperating from a heart attack in 1955.
Military Landmarks
Red Cross Building and Beehive Memorial
12862 E. Montview Blvd. – Ward I Built: 1918 • Landmarked: 1999 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 15 Soldiers healing at Fitzsimons General Hospital knew they could rely on the Red Cross Building as a refuge from army life. Completed in 1918, the structure was designed in the Mission Revival style common to U.S. Army posts of the southwest. Set in landscaped grounds, the building featured several fireplaces, a performance stage and a large auditorium/ recreation room. The Red Cross Building was demolished in 2015.
AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
E. Montview Blvd.
Red Cross Building and Beehive Memorial E. 19th Ave. N. Quentin St.
The monument known as the “Beehive Memorial” still stands on the grounds, dedicated to the memory of officers, nurses and enlisted men in the U.S. Army Medical Corps who lost their lives in the line of duty.
E. 21st Ave.
E. 17th Ave.
TRIVIA The floor plan of the former Red Cross building was originally designed to reflect its namesake in the shape of a cross.
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Military Landmarks
Photo by Brian Molitoris
Bicentennial Art Center
13655 E. Alameda Ave. – Ward III
The Bicentennial Art Center, formerly Lowry Air Force Base Building No. 1600, is recognized for its role in Aurora’s military and community history as well as its distinctive architecture. The building is an excellent example of the Art Moderne style that was influenced by the design of ships, planes and automobiles. This style features smooth walls, round corners, curved glass, flat roofs and aluminum or stainless steel detailing that convey a sense of “speed”. The Bicentennial Art Center building was a key component in the city’s celebration of the country’s bicentennial, when the space was rehabilitated into Aurora’s first community art center.
Bicentennial Art Center
S. Potomac St.
Built: 1938 • Landmarked: 2012 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 26
E. Alameda Ave.
TRIVIA In 1978, when the Bicentennial Art Center was officially opened, a time capsule was buried underneath the sundial south of the main entrance. The time capsule will be opened in 2078.
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Smoky Hill Region
Dedication of the Original Landmark Sign, 2006
E. Jewell Ave.
Toll Gate Creek Archaeological Site S. Tower Rd.
E. Iliff Ave.
E.
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. Melvin-Lewis Cemetery E. Orchard Rd.
E-470
Melvin Schoolhouse
S. Gun Club Rd.
E. Quincy Ave.
S. Reservoir Rd.
S. Buckley Rd.
S. Chambers Rd.
E. Hampden Ave.
ke Par S. E. Arapahoe Rd.
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Smoky Hill Trail Historic Marker
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Smoky Hill Region
T Historic Starvation Trail Map
The Smoky Hill Region has ties to the earliest settlement of both Denver and Aurora. The earliest trails began as trade routes between explorers and trappers and Native American people along the Front Range in the 1840s. With the discovery of gold in 1858, pioneers were determined to find a quick way to travel from Kansas to the gold fields. The Smoky Hill Trail followed an ancient Indian trail along the Smoky Hill River to its headwaters in west central Colorado, where it split into three routes: the North, South, and Middle Smoky Hill trails. The Middle Smoky Hill Trail became known as the “Starvation Trail”, due to the lack of sustenance along the way. Settlers braved the lack of food and threat of Indian attack in exchange for the most direct route to Denver. All three Smoky Hill routes passed through the area that would become Aurora. The Homestead Act of 1862 led to increasing settlement. In 1859, a short-lived stage coach service was conceived along the Smoky Hill Trail, but it wasn’t until 1865 that a successful stage line was established between Atchison, Kansas and Denver. The Kansas Pacific Railroad completed its lines from Kansas City directly west to Denver in 1870, which signaled a decline in use of the Smoky Hill Trail.
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Smoky Hill Region
Melvin Schoolhouse
4950 S. Laredo St.– Ward VI Built: 1922 • Landmarked: 1986 • National Register of Historic Places Aurora Landmark 1 This two-room schoolhouse originally served the outlying community of Melvin. In 1949, the building was moved to make way for the Cherry Creek Reservoir. After 17 years of use as a tavern, the Cherry Creek Valley Historical Society moved the school to its current location on the grounds of Smoky Hill High School. The building is owned by the Cherry Creek School District.
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Melvin Schoolhouse
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
In addition to normal duties, teachers were contracted to “do all janitor work” and earn a salary of $100 a month.
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Smoky Hill Region
Toll Gate Creek Archaeological Site 2141 S. Kittredge Way – Ward V Established: 670 AD • Landmark 2003 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 21 In 1982, two local boys found a Native American grave that dated back to 670 AD. The grave, containing the remains of an adult male and young child, was fully excavated by an archaeological team, and all associated material was later reinterred at an undisclosed sacred location. The gravesite was located along the banks of the West Toll Gate Creek, a water source used by ancient peoples, as well as a migration path that allowed them to hunt animals that were their primary food sources.
AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
E. Mexico Ave.
E. Iliff Ave.
E. Yale Ave.
S. Buckley Rd.
S. Chambers Rd.
Toll Gate Creek Archaeological Site
TRIVIA Bluffs, ridges and waterway banks possess a higher than normal probability for archaeological deposits.
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Smoky Hill Region
Smoky Hill Trail Historic Marker 23890 E. Smoky Hill Road - Ward VI Established: 1850s • Landmarked: 2006 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 22
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Travelers setting out for the gold fields of Colorado had few choices when planning the route they would follow. The Smoky Hill Trail, the shortest route to Denver from Kansas, ran roughly along parts of what is today Smoky Hill Road. The route, used from the 1850s until 1870, had a 22-mile section known as the “Starvation Trail” due to the lack of food and water along the way. Archaeological evidence found near this marker indicates that native peoples occupied the area approximately 850 years before the first European American immigrants arrived.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
What was another name for the Smoky Hill Trail?
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Smoky Hill Region
Melvin-Lewis Cemetery
5600 S. Parker Road – Ward V Melvin-Lewis Cemetery draws its name from two pioneer families very important to the earliest historic settlement of Aurora. Arriving in 1859, the Melvin family’s settlement proved invaluable to fellow westward travelers, eventually growing into a community called “Melvin.” Westward pioneers were buried at the cemetery, likely beginning with the Melvins’ arrival. The Lewis family purchased the cemetery from the Melvin family, continuing stewardship of the cemetery, then known as Lewis Cemetery. In addition to pioneers, individuals who donated their bodies to medical research were also buried onsite from 1957 to 1986.
Melvin-Lewis Cemetery
S. Ch am ber s Rd .
Established: 1860s – Landmarked: 2019 – Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 31
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TRIVIA Much of Melvin-Lewis Cemetery’s documented history comes from oral history interviews conducted by a high school student in the 1970s.
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Eastern Aurora Region
Ornate Entrance Carving at KOA Building, 1930s
Victory Grange
I-225
I-7 0
N. Tower Rd.
Smith R d.
N. Airport Blvd.
N. Chambers Rd.
N. Sable Blvd.
E. Colfax Ave.
KOA Building
E. 6th Ave.
Aurora History Museum Trolley Trailer No. 610 E. Alamed a
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Pkwy
Eastern Aurora Region
S
Arrival of Trolley Trailer No. 610 at the Aurora History Museum (Photo courtesy of Palace Construction, Inc.)
Since its earliest years, Aurora’s geographic growth has proceeded primarily east and south. Established on the eastern side of Denver, the original four square mile track of Fletcher (later renamed Aurora) had room to expand into nearby rural land. Early growth was slow, yet a number of forces enabled the expansion of Aurora in the early 20th century. The establishment of three military installations between 1918 and 1942 (Fitzsimons Army Hospital, Lowry and Buckley Air Force bases) brought servicemen, base workers and their families to the area. After World War II, Aurora experienced a population boom that led to further expansion to the east and south. As the municipalities along the Front Range have grown and developed, many of them have become ‘land-locked’ by other municipalities, preventing new growth. Because of its location, Aurora enjoys continued expansion to the east and south. Geographically, Aurora is now the largest municipality in Colorado.
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Eastern Aurora Region
KOA Building
18500 E. Colfax Ave. – Ward II Built: 1934 • Landmarked: 2001 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 16 I-7 0
E. Colfax Ave.
N. Tower Rd.
Smith R d.
KOA Building N. Airport Rd.
The KOA Building, currently owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation, was built in 1934 when KOA-AM Radio moved their transmitter and offices to rural Aurora. This beautiful Art Deco style building housed the first radio station in Colorado, the “King of Agriculture,” which could be heard from the Canadian border, along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains and down into southern New Mexico.
E. 6th Ave.
TRIVIA AuroraGov.org/StoryLine and click on a landmark Story Line
Original Art Deco details can be seen in the carved terracotta above the main entryway. Can you identify the scene?
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Eastern Aurora Region
Photo by Brian Molitoris
Trolley Trailer No. 610
15051 E. Alameda Parkway - Ward III Trolley Trailer No. 610 may be the best example of a surviving trolley trailer from the expansive years of the Denver Metro area streetcar industry. Constructed in 1913 by the Woeber Brothers Carriage Company in Denver, this car was used on several lines including Line 14 from Denver to Aurora, making its last run in 1932. In 1950, Trolley Trailer No. 610 was sold to Dr. Edwin Perrott for $50. Perrott moved the trolley trailer to his rural property at East Colfax Avenue and Airport Boulevard. No. 610 spent over 40 years as part of Perrott’s house! Rediscovered inside the house in 2006, the trailer was removed and restored by Aurora Museum Foundation volunteers. Trolley Trailer No. 610 is currently housed in the Ruth Fountain Gallery at the Aurora History Museum.
Trolley Trailer No. 610
S. Chambers Rd.
Built: 1913 • Landmarked: 2008 • Local Historic Landmark Aurora Landmark 24
E. Alameda Pkwy.
TRIVIA During restoration, corn cob blasting was used to remove varnish, and every visible screw was cleaned and polished by hand.
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Cultural Heritage Site
Photo by Brian Molitoris
Victory Grange
2025 N. Tower Road – Ward II Built: 1951 • Designated as Cultural Heritage Site: 2011
E. 22nd Pl.
E. 22nd Ave.
Victory Grange N. Tower Rd.
Victory Grange began in 1939 as an effort by local citizens to bring together rural and nearby city neighbors in what later became northeastern Aurora. Victory is a local member of the Colorado State Grange, a community-service oriented fraternal organization. Fundraising efforts during World War II and the later 1940s enabled property acquisition and brought Victory Grange Hall to its full opening in 1951. The name “Victory” is a reflection of the desired outcome of WWII and the war’s impact on the community that gave birth to this Grange. Victory Grange continues to provide a social and community focus for Aurora residents and their members.
E. Montview Blvd.
E. 19th Ave.
TRIVIA In addition to the Victory Grange organization, this building is used by various church, scouting, and dance groups and plays host to weddings and other celebrations.
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Cultural Heritage Site
Mission Viejo Neighborhood
15324 E Hampden Circle – Ward V Built: 1972-1985 • Designated as Cultural Heritage Site: 2020
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Based on the massive masterplanned California neighborhood of the same name, Aurora’s Mission Viejo neighborhood was constructed from 1972 to 1985, though some construction following the original master plan continued until 1992. The neighborhood utilizes a rose pattern layout, underground utilities, and unobstructed green spaces and walking trails - all unique features at the time of construction. Spanish-inspired Mission architecture is evident in the replica adobe “slump” walls and entrances as well as the homes, which featured exposed external timbers, arched doorways and windows, balconies, and walled courtyards. The neighborhood also integrated schools, libraries, fire stations and shopping into the neighborhood, which featured Mission-style architectural embellishments. Mission Viejo Aurora has received national recognition for superior design and environmental improvement.
S. Chambers Rd.
TRIVIA Even the neighborhood streetlights use a Missionstyle bell design!
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Preserve Your Property
P
PRESERVE YOUR PROPERTY THROUGH ONE OF TWO HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS An Aurora Historic Preservation Landmark, or a Cultural Heritage Site! LOCAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION LANDMARK PROGRAM Aurora’s Local Landmark program addresses a roster of historically significant properties in the city of Aurora. Each property is assessed for significance using the following criteria: • represents broad patterns of history;
• connects to a historic person or group;
• embodies specific architectural styles and/or method of construction; • built by a master builder or architect; and/or • contains possibility of archaeological findings.
To be eligible for designation, the property must be at least 50 years old and be significant under at least one of the aforementioned criteria. CULTURAL HERITAGE SITE A Cultural Heritage Site is a property that is culturally important to the city of Aurora, but lacks the historic significance to be eligible for Local Landmark status. This allows many more properties in Aurora to be celebrated for their importance to the community. A Cultural Heritage Site may be a building with social history or a group of linked buildings (similar to a historic district). With a Cultural Heritage Site designation, the owner is not required to follow preservation regulations, but Cultural Heritage Sites currently do not benefit from the financial advantages of being designated as a Local Landmark. For questions on the historic designation process, the Local Landmark Program in Aurora, or any other historic preservation inquiries, please visit AuroraGov.org/ HistoricSites or call 303.739.6661.
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Preserve Your Property
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION? Landmark status can bring awareness to a building’s history and architecture, increase the value of property and help understand the community’s heritage. Federal and state tax laws provide tax incentives for historic preservation projects which follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Tax credits are available from both the Federal government and the Colorado Department of Revenue. Grants are also available to historic homeowners. WHAT PART OF MY BUILDING IS LANDMARKED? Aurora’s Historic Preservation Commission is concerned with the principal façades including elements visible from the public sidewalk and street(s). Landmark status does not regulate changes made to the interior of your building, unless specifically listed as significant in the nomination. WHAT ARE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR’S STANDARDS? The Standards are a series of concepts about maintaining, repairing, and replacing historic materials, as well as designing new additions or making alterations. Guidelines for different treatments offer general design and technical recommendations to assist in applying the Standards to a specific property. Together, they provide a framework and guidance for decision-making about work or changes to a historic property. For questions on the historic designation process, the Local Landmark Program in Aurora, or any other historic preservation inquiries, please visit AuroraGov.org/ HistoricSites or call 303.739.6661.
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Trivia Question Answers
Page 3: The DeLaney Farm Historic District is 158 acres, two acres shy of the typical size of a homestead plot. Page 4: The chimney on the west side is fake. It was constructed to give the house symmetry and visual balance. Page 15: Fish scale shingles are located under the main gable end (the peak of the roof) and again in the pediment (triangular area) – above the front door. Arched pair windows are located on the front of the house although the windows on the south side are similar. Radiating brick voussoirs are the wedge-shaped bricks that form the arches over the windows. Page 16: Galena Street was originally called Hathaway Street. Page 17: The elements of Queen Anne style that are sometimes missing on Dallas Street include corner towers, scalloped and painted shingles in the gables, decorative bargeboards, sunburst detailing and turned spindles on the porches and balconies. Page 30: The brick chimney is visually prominent. Page 32: President Dwight D. Eisenhower fished in the General’s pond. Page 39: The Smoky Hill Trail was also known as “The Starvation Trail.” Page 43: A scene depicting the KOA Building and the radio tower at sunset is carved into the terracotta stonework above the main entry.
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Photo by Palace Construction
AURORA HISTORY MUSEUM Admission always
FREE
AuroraMuseum.org 303.739.6660
Photo by Palace Construction
Photo by Palace Construction
A Guide to
Aurora Historic Preservation Landmarks
REVISED 3/2021
Aurora Historic Preservation AuroraGov.org/HistoricSites • 303.739.6661 Supported by:
Admission Always FREE