DistrictIdentification
HistoricName:FivePoints
CurrentName:WeltonStreetCultural/HistoricDistrict
ProposedDistrictName:FivePointsHistoricCulturalDistrict
HistoricUse:Originallyresidential;transitionedintoabusinessdistrictjustprior
totheturnofthecentury.
CurrentUse:CommercialandResidential
DistrictBoundaries:intersectionofthealleybetweenCaliforniaandWeltonat
24thStreet,northeastalongalleyto30thStreet;southeastalong30thStreetto
alleybetweenWeltonandGlenarm;southwestalongalleybetweenWeltonand
Glenarmto26thAvenue;weston26thAvenuetoWashington;southon
Washingtontopropertylineof2500WashingtonStreet;aroundpropertyat
2500WashingtonSt.to25thAvenue;weston25thAvenueacrossWashington
and26thStreetstosouthpropertylineof2563GlenarmPlace;alongsouth
propertylineof2563GlenarmPlacetoalleybetweenGlenarmandWelton;
southwestalongalleyto24thStreet;weston24thStreettointersectionatalley
betweenCaliforniaandWelton.
ZoneDistrict:B‐8,B‐4,&B‐3;onePUD
HistoricalDataSummary
PeriodofSignificance:Priortoandincluding1964
ThiswasthehistoricalperiodofAfricanAmericanbusinessandcultural
developmentwithintheFivePointsneighborhoodalongtheWeltonStreet
Corridor.
DesignationCriteria
Thedistrictmeetsonecriterioninthefollowingcategories:
History(c)‐Havedirectandsubstantialassociationwithapersonorgroupof
personswhohadinfluenceofsociety.
Geography(a)‐Haveaprominentlocationorbeanestablished,familiar,and
orientingvisualfeatureofthecontemporarycity
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StatementofSignificance
HistoricalImportance:
FollowingtheCivilWar,manypeoplewhowereformerlyenslavedmigratedtothe
Westlookforworkandopportunity.TheWestofferedAfricanAmericansachance
forselfdeterminationandescapefrompersecturion.TheAfricanAmerican
populationin1870numberedonly237.Duringthe1870s,theAfricanAmerican
populationofDenverwasrelativelysmallandscatteredthroughouttheCity.
Thearrivaloftherailroadin1870andColoradostatehoodsixyearslaterbrought
increasedeconomicactivityandpopulationtoDenver,thestatecapitol.Between
1880and1890,Denver’sAfricanAmericanpopulationnearlytripled.By1890,
Denver’spopulationhadreached106,713,withthecity’sblackpopulation
numbering3,254or4%ofDenver’stotalpopulation.By1900theblackpopulation
inDenverhadgrowntonearly4,000.Duetosegregation,amajorityofthis
populationlivednorthofdowntown(lowerdowntown),particularlyalongLarimer
andBlakeStreets,andfurthereastinwhatwaslaterknownastheFivePoints
Neighborhood.Manyearlysocial,educationalandreligiousinstitutionsforAfrican
Americanswereestablishedinorneartheseareas.
Firstestablishedasaresidentialstreet,WeltonStreetbegantodevelopasa
commercialcorridorwiththeestablishmentofAnglo‐ownedbusinessesinthelate
1880sand1890s,includingDeepRockArtesianWaterandBottlingCompany,
foundedin1898atthecornerof27thandWelton;andtheMacklinBakingCompany,
foundedbeforetheturnofthecenturyat29thandWelton(nowhomeoftheFive
PointsMediaCenter).Manyofthesewhite‐ownedbusinessesweremanagedby
AfricanAmericansandservedthesurroundingAfricanAmericancommunity.
Otherretailservicebusinessesfollowedastheneighborhoodsflourished.
Intheearly1900s,manyofthemoreprosperousmembersoftheblackcommunity
beganmovingeastwardfromdowntowntowardtheFivePointsintersection,
centeredontheintersectionofWeltonStreet,WashingtonStreet,27thStreet,and
East26thAvenue,andonWeltonStreetfrom22ndto29thstreets.Asthepopulation
oftheFivePointsNeighborhoodgrewinthelate19thcentury,publicservicesalso
expanded,includingFireStationNo.3at2563GlenarmPlacewhichin1893became
thefirstAfricanAmericanrunfirecompanyinDenver.By1910,theblack
populationofDenverhadreached5,426,withthemajorityofthispopulation
residinginthesubdivisionsimmediatelysurroundingtheFivePointsintersection.
Thearea’spopulationboomcoupledwithblackexclusionfrommostpublic
businesses,recreationalfacilitiesandentertainmentvenuesledtogrowthof
African‐Americanownedbusinessesandanincreasedneedtoprovideservicesand
entertainmentfortheFivePointscommunity.Thus,the1920sbeganthe
developmentofthe“Points”astheheartofthecity’sAfricanAmericancommerce,
laterdubbed“HarlemoftheWest.”Asinotherpartsofthecity,thedevelopmentof
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smallbusinessdistrictsprovidingfortheneedsofresidentsintheimmediate
surroundingarea.InthedecadesfollowingWorldWarI,AngloandAfrican
Americanbusinessesestablishedthemselvesinexistinglate19thcentury
commercialbrickbuildingsinFivePoints.
AftertheFirstWorldWar,theAfricanAmericanpopulationinFivePointsincreased
withaninfluxofAfrican‐Americansfromthesouth,themovementofAnglo‐
AmericanstoCapitolHill,andpoliciesandpracticeswhichreinforcedracial
segregationandJimCrowpracticesinthecity.By1929,Denver’sAfricanAmerican
populationwasaround7,000.Approximately5,500ofthecity’sAfricanAmericans
wereintheFivePointsNeighborhood,roughlyboundedby32ndStreetandEast31st
Avenueonthenorth,HighStreetontheeast,E.20thAvenueonthesouth,and20th
andLarimerstreetsonthewest.Afewhousingdevelopmentswerebuiltto
accommodatethispopulationgrowth,suchasthe1924AltaCousinsTerracebuilt
byAfricanAmericandeveloperandbusinessmanCharlesCousins,Sr.
Anumberofsmallbusinessesprovidedimportantsocial,cultural,andrecreation
activitiesforthecommunity.BenHooper’sEx‐Servicemen’sClubat2623–2627
WeltonStreetwasdescribedas“thehottestjazzspotintheWest”withmusicians
gatheringthereuntiltheweehoursofthemorningexchangingmusicalideas.The
AtlasDrugStoreopenedin1911inan1889brickcornercommercialbuildingat
2701E.WeltonStreet,becomingafixtureintheneighborhooduntil1963.Many
AfricanAmericansrememberthebusinessfondlyastheonlyAnglo‐owneddrug
storeinthecitywheretheycouldsitandreceivefountainservice.Ablockawayat
2601E.WeltonStreet/60526thStreetwasRadioPharmacy,alsohousedinalate
19thcenturybrickcornercommercialbuilding.The1912BaxterHotel,2650
Welton,locatedattheFivePointsintersectioncameintoblackownershipinc.1929,
whenH.W.Ross,arealtorandformerPullmanporterandjanitor,purchasedthe
property.TherenamedRossonianHotelwasthehuboftheFivePointsnightscene,
withmanywell‐knownblackentertainers,suchasDukeEllingtonandCountBasie,
performingandfindingaccommodationthere.
LocalinstitutionsinFivePointsalsoexpandedinthedecadesfollowingWorldWarI,
includingaYMCA,apubliclibrarybranch,adaynursery.Thecitycommissioneda
newSpanishbungalowstylefirehouseforFireCompanyNo.3(DenverLandmark
#235),completedin1931.
Displayadvertisementsforthe1938‐39periodsrevealthenumberandvarietyof
smallretailandserviceoutletsownedbyandservingtheDenverAfricanAmerican
communityatthetime.Mostofthebusinessesthatplacedadvertisementswere
locatedonWeltonStreet,withafewonDowningStreet,andtheremainder
scatteredonothernearbystreets.ManyofthesmallerbusinessesalongWelton
Streetoperatedoutoffrontyardstorefrontsgraftedontoexistingresidences.
Thesebusinessesincludedrestaurants,tailors,realestateagencies,saloons,doctors,
dentists,undertakersandthelike.Restaurantsandcafesappearedtobethemost
numerousadvertisers,includingtheHarlemBar‐B‐QInn,theRedFrontRestaurant,
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theBlueFront,Mammy’sShack,YuyeCafé,andtheNewOrleansCreoleKitchen.
LocalAfricanAmericanbusinessmenwereconsideredrolemodelsfor
neighborhoodchildren,withtheirenterprisessymbolizingsuccessandstability.
TheAfricanAmericanpopulationofDenvernearlydoubledduringthedecadeofthe
1940s,reaching15,059by1950.Thecity’sblackpopulationdoubledagainduring
the1950s,with30,241blacksrecordedinthe1960U.S.census.PrideintheAfrican‐
AmericancommunityresultedincelebrationssuchasJuneteenthandShriners’
ParadesalongtheWeltonStreetcorridor.AstheFivePointsneighborhood
continuedtogrowfollowingWorldWarII,theareabecametheculturalmeccafor
jazzmusicinDenver.Bythe1950s,AfricanAmericanandAnglocitizensalikecame
tothejazzclubsalongWeltonStreet,includingtheRossonianandRice’sTapRoom
andOven.BignamebandswouldplayafterhourshowsintheclubsalongWelton
Street,inspiringthelocalstokeepthejazzscenealivewhenbignamebandsweren’t
performingatlargervenuesdowntown.TheSimpsonHotel,locatedonthesecond
floorof2801WeltonStreet,providedfive‐staraccommodationsforthoseenjoying
jazzentertainmentintheFivePointsneighborhood.
ThetremendousgrowthinAfricanAmericanpopulationcoupledwithcontinued
exclusionofBlacksoutsidetheprescribedFivePointsareaplacedasignificant
strainonthearea.Pressurefordesegregationincityhousingpracticesmetwith
limitedsuccessinthedecadefollowingtheendofWorldWarII,buteventuallydid
expandtheareawhereblackscouldliveeasttoYorkStreet.The1959Colorado
FairHousingLawcreatedadditionalmomentum,leadingblackresidentstomove
intothenewer,morestylishParkHillneighborhoodacrossColoradoBoulevardfor
thefirsttime.
Federallegislationinthe1960screatedawatershederaforblackresidentsin
Denver.Twokeynotepiecesoflegislation,theNationalCivilRightsof1964andthe
NationalFairHousingActof1968,werecriticalinaffordingAfricanAmericansnew
employmentandhousingopportunitiesinDenver.WithAfricanAmerican
residentsnowmovingtootherpartsofthecity,theonceessentialblackcommercial
centerofFivePointsandWeltonStreetdeclined.
Inrecentyears,theareahasbeguntoturnaround,stimulatedpartiallybythe
revitalizationoftheadjacentCurtisParkneighborhood,butalsobyexpanding
publicandprivateinvestmentinhousingdevelopmentsandnewbusinessesinthe
area.TherelativelymodestcommercialbuildingsofWeltonStreetmaynot
architecturallycompetewiththehighbrowarchitectureofdowntownDenver,but
theFivePointscommercialareaconveysthecity’smulti‐layeredstoryofAfrican
Americandiscrimination,resilienceandoptimism.
ProminentAfricanAmericansofFivePoints:
ClarenceF.Holmes,Jr.ClarenceF.Holmes,Jr.knownasthe“fatherof
integrationinColorado.”Hepracticeddentistrystartingin1920forfifty‐two
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yearsat2602WeltonStreet.HolmeswasaDenvernativebornin1892.His
parentsmovedtoDenverin1890fromWashingtonD.C.,whereisfatherhad
beenawaiterintheHouseofRepresentativesdiningroom.Holmesgraduated
fromManualHighSchoolandreceivedabachelorsanddentalsurgeondegrees
fromHowardUniversity.In1915,hejoinedthefirstcollegechapterofthe
NationalAssociationfortheAdvancementofColoredPeople(NAACP)
CharlesLilburnCousins.CharlesLiburnCousinswasarailroadworkerwho
movedto2448LafayetteintheWhittierNeighborhoodfromGlobevillein1917.
CousinsworkedasaPullmanporterforthirty‐threeyears,raisedalargefamily,
andaccumulatedextensivepropertyholdingsinWhittierandFivePoints.In
spiteofonlycompletingsixyearsofformaleducation,Cousinsbecameoneofthe
wealthiestblackresidentsofthestate.Hisbusinessphilosophywastosaveten
percentofeverydollarhemade.
Cousinsbeganhisrealestateacquisitionsbybuyinganoldbuildinginneedof
repairandimprovingitonhisownduringdaysofffromhisrailroadjob.Cousins
walkedfromhishomeinGlobevilletohisbuildingsite.Whenthebuildingwas
renovated,Cousinsrenteditatmoderaterates.Withtheproceedsfromhis
rentalunit,heacquiredmoreproperty,alwaysremodelinghisacquisitions
himself.Cousinsstudiedtheworkofcarpenters,bricklayers,andothersinthe
constructionindustryinordertoobtainthenecessaryskillstorepairhis
buildings.Cousinstaughthissonandotheryoungmenintheneighborhoodwho
workedonhisbuildingprojectsconstructionandrepairskills.Cousinswasan
acknowledgedleaderoftheAfricanAmericancommunityinDenveruntilhis
deathin1962.TheCousinsfamilycontinuestoownpropertyhedevelopedon
WeltonStreet.
BenHooper.Knownasthe“MayorofFivePoints,”BenHooperoperateda
businessat2626Weltonduringthe1920s.HooperreportedthatafterWorld
WarIitseemedthatblackswereprohibitedfromfacilitiesallovertown.He
acquiredpropertyon2623–2627WeltonStreetwiththeassistanceofMayor
BenjaminStapletonandstartedtheEx‐Servicemen’sClub.Theestablishment
includedahotel,ballroom,poolhall,andrecreationcenter.Theclubbecamea
focusofsociallifeinFivePoints.DuringtheDepression,Hoopergaveawaylamb,
rabbit,andpigsfeetstewtothepoorandheldChristmaspartiesforpoor
children.
OglesvieL.Lawson.OglesvieL.“Sonny”Lawsonoperatedadrugstoreat2601
WeltonintheFivePointsbusinessdistrictforfiftyyears.Lawsonwasbornin
Denver.Aftergraduating,hereturnedtoDenver,whereheinitiallyworkedfor
WesternChemicalCorporationandthenworkedasaclerkinthecounty
assessor’soffice.In1924,Lawsonestablishedadrugstore,MaxwellandLawson,
inpartnershipwithHulettA.Masxwell.In1932,thefirmwasrenamedtheRadio
Pharmacy,operatingunderthatnameuntil1963.Lawsonwasoneofthecivic
leadersofFivePoints,servingontheboardofdirectorsoftheYMCAandthe
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librarycommission.Lawsonwasalsoknownasapoliticalleaderforhelping
youngAfricanAmericanmen,includingGeorgeBrown,ElvinCaldwell,andJames
Flanaganestablishpoliticalcareers.Thecityparkat23rdandWeltonStreetis
namedinhishonor.
ElvinCaldwell.ElvinCaldwell,Sr.,aDenvernativewhograduatedfromEast
HighSchoolandtheUniversityofColorado,participatedinprotestmarchesfor
civillibertyandequalityfromanearlyage.Hebecameasuccessfulaccountant,
andservedthreetermsintheColoradoLegislaturefrom1950‐1955.Caldwell
wasthefirstAfrican‐AmericanelectedtotheDenverCityCouncilin1955,
servingatotalof28years(seventerms).Widelyrespected,hewaselectedCity
Councilpresidentbyhispeersfivetimes.WhileservingontheDenverCity
Council,Caldwelladvocatedforanendtoinstitutionalizeddiscriminationthat
marginalizedAfrican‐Americansincivilservicepositionsandwasapotentforce
forsocialjustice,helpingtoestablishboththeEastsideNeighborhoodHealth
CenterandtheFivePointsCommunityCenterwhileontheDenverCityCouncil.
CaldwellwasalsooneofthefoundersoftheEquitySavingsandLoan
Association,theonlyall‐blackfinancialinstitutioninColorado.In1980,
CaldwellvacatedhisCityCouncilseattoserveinMayorWilliamMcNichol’s
cabinetasManagerofSafety,thefirstAfricanAmericaninDenvertoholdsucha
post.
OthaRice.OthaRicewasanativeofTexas,bornin1915,whomigratedto
Denveratayoungage.RicegraduatedfromManualHighSchoolandattended
ChicagoSouthSideJr.CollegeandPrairieViewStateCollegeinTexas.Rice
workedfortheUnionPacificRailroad,theU.S.PostOfficeandwasabusiness
owneronWeltonStreet.RiceisresponsibleforbringingtheJuneteenth
Celebration,theholidaycelebratingtheannouncementoftheabolitionofslavery
inTexas,toDenverinthe1950s,andhostingtheeventuntil1966whentheFive
PointsBusinessAssociationtookover.
GeographicalImportance:
Thename“FivePoints’cameintousein1881todescribetheintersectionofWelton
Street,WashingtonStreet,andE.26thAvenue.Thetermwaspopularizedbythe
StoutStreetHerdicCoachLine,whocoinedthename“FivePoints”toidentifythe
five‐pointedintersectionattheroute’sterminus.Itsnegativeassociationwithslum
areasofothercities,suchasNewYorkCity,causedsomeinitialdispleasureamong
localresidents.However,FivePointssoonbecameapopularnameusedbymany
businessesandthesurroundingresidentialneighborhood.
DuringtheeraofinstitutionalizedsegregationinDenverfromtheearly1900s
throughtheearly1960s,AfricanAmericanslived,shoppedandrecreatedintheFive
Pointsneighborhood.Thisareawasroughlyboundedby32ndStreetandEast31st
Avenueonthenorth,HighStreetontheeast,E.20thAvenueonthesouth,and20th
andLarimerstreetsonthewest.FivePointsandtheWeltonStreetcorridor
6
between22ndand29thStreetsbecamethefocalpointofbusinessandrecreational
activityforAfricanAmericansinDenveruntiltheearlytomid1960s.
AsthehistoriccenterofAfricanAmericanactivityandlifeinDenver,FivePointsand
WeltonStreetattractednotablebusinessesthatwereownedbyand/orserved
AfricanAmericans.Thisincludedhairsalons,barbers,restaurants,bars,billiards
halls,drugstores,etc.FivePointsandWeltonStreetwerealsothelocationformany
localevents,suchasparadesandfestivals.Themostdistinctivebuildingofthe
WeltonStreetbusinessdistrict,theRossonianHotel,anchorstheFivePoints
intersection.
ContributingBuildings
TheRossonianHotel(2640WeltonStreet,c.1911‐1912).Thisthreestory
buildinglocatedattheheartoftheFivePointsisperhapsthemostvisible
symboloftheneighborhood.OriginallybuiltastheBaxterHotelitcameunder
blackownershipandwasrenamedtheRossonianforownerH.W.Ross,inabout
1929.RosswasoriginallylistedincitydirectoriesasaPullmanporterand
janitoraftercomingtoDenverfromOhio.Bytheearly1920s,Rosswasshownas
arealtorwiththeMetropolitanInvestmentCompany,whichhefounded.Ross
wasalsoactiveintheallblackWhiteElephantsbaseballteam.Quentin
Harrington,whooperatedtheRossonianinthe1920s,recallssavingroomsin
thehotelforvisitingentertainers,suchasPaulRobeson,DukeEllington,the
HarlemGlobetrotters,andCountBasie,whoweredeniedaccommodationsin
downtownhotels.
AtlasDrugStore(BeanFoundation)(2701WeltonStreet,c.1889)Openedin
1911,AtlasDrugsoperatedforoverfiftyyearsinthisbuilding.Duringtheearly
decadesofsegregationinDenver,itwastheonlywhite‐owneddrugstorein
whichAfrican‐Americanswerewelcome.Thedrugstorewaslocatedinan1889
brickcommercialbuilding,andwasafixtureintheneighborhooduntil1963.
RadioPharmacy‐WiseHarrisBuilding(605‐60926thStreet/2601E.Welton
Street,c.1889).FoundedbyAfrican‐AmericanOglesvieL.“Sonny”Lawsonand
hispartnerHulettA.MaxwellasMaxwellandLawsonDrugin1924,and
renamedRadioPharmacyin1932.Thisdrugstorewaslocatedintheheartof
theFivePointsneighborhoodandremainedinoperationuntil1963.The
pharmacywashousedinalate19thcenturybrickcornercommercialbuilding,
featuringachamferedcornerentrancewithdecorativeawningsandalargeneon
sign.
AltaCousinsTerrace(521‐53925thStreet,1903‐1905).Builtfrom1903to
1905,thisClassicalRevivalstyleeightunitapartmentbuildingwasdesignedby
GoergeL.BettcherandbuiltbytheOakesBrothers.Itfeaturesredbrick
construction,foursharedraisedentryporches,andthreetriangularpedimented
baysfacingonto25thStreet.AfricanAmericandeveloperandbusinessman
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CharlesL.Cousins,Sr.purchasedthebuildingin1944andsubsequentlynamed
itAltaCousinsTerraceinhonorofhiswife.Thisprojectwasunusualforits
time,creatingwell‐builthigh‐qualityaffordablehousingforAfricanAmericansin
theFivePointsneighborhood.Thebuildingwasrehabilitatedin2011.
HoseCompany#3(2563GlenarmPlace)Builtin1888,thisfirestationwas
originallystaffedbyanall‐whitecompany.In1893,ablackfirecompanyunder
thecommandofawhitecaptainwasinstalled,thefirstandonlyallblackfire
companyinDenver’shistory.Theshifttoanall‐blackfirecompanyresulted
largelyfrompopulationshiftsintheFivePointsarea,andblackcitizens’
lobbyingeffortsforanallblackfirecompanythere.Decommissionedasafire
stationin1931whenthenewfirestationwasconstructednearby,theoriginal
stationwasrepurposedinthe1940sand1950sfirstasaCommunityVocational
CenterandSoldier’sRecreationCenter,andthenasaRecreationCenter.
AssistedbyfederalWorksProjectAdministrationfunding,theCityconstructed
anadditionandcompletedotheralterationstothebuildingin1943inorderto
accommodatethebuilding’snewuses.
FireStation#3(2500WashingtonStreet,c.1931)ThisSpanishBungalowstyle
firehouse,designedC.FrancisPillsbury,wasplacedintoserviceonApril30,
1931.Fromitsdedicationtodesegregationin1958,thedepartmentwasanall‐
blackfacility.InApril1943,incelebrationofthestationsfifteenthanniversary,
thestationreceivednewfiretruckthatnecessitatedthereorganizationofthe
companyasHoseNo.3.ElvinCaldwellstated“ifyouwantedtobeafireman,
wereblack,andtherewasn’tanopeningatStationNo.3,youjusthadtowait
untilavacancyoccurred.”RespondingtotheAmericancivilrightsmovement,
theDenverFireDepartment,includingfirestation#3,wasdesegregatedin1958.
DesignatedaDenverLandmarkin1994,DenverLandmark#235(designation
includeshistoricalandarchitecturalcriteria)
DouglasUndertakingBuilding(2745WeltonStreet,c.1890s/façade1915)
Originallyconstructedpriorto1892asaresidence,thebuilding’scurrent1915
façadewasdesignedbyarchitectMerrillH.HoytintheNeo‐Classicalstyleforthe
DouglassUndertakingCompany.RumoredtobefoundedbyL.H.Douglass,son
ofabolitionistFrederickDouglass,thecompanyrelocatedherein1916whena
numberofAfrican‐AmericanbusinessesbegantoestablishthemselvesinFive
Points.TheDouglassUndertakingCompanyoccupiedthebuildinguntilca.
1944,andwasoneofthreeundertakingestablishmentsonWeltonStreetserving
theAfrican‐Americancommunity.Duringthe1940sand1950s,thebuilding
housedaseriesofservicerelateduses.Beginningin1957andforseveral
decadestofollow,thebuildingwasoccupiedbyabilliardparlor.Designated
DenverLandmarkin1993,DenverLandmark#206(designationincludes
historicalandarchitecturalcriteria).
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MetropolitanInvestmentCompany‐EquitySavingsandLoan‐Cousins
Building(2559‐2563WeltonStreet,c.1925).Originallyhometoaseriesof
retailstorefronts;thebuildingquicklybecameassociatedwithnumerousreal
estateinvestmentcompanies,beginningin1935.PrudentialSavingsBuilding
andLoanAssociationandlaterMetropolitanRealEstateInvestmentCompany,
foundedbyH.W.Ross,werelocatedherefrom1935tothemid1940s.In1957,
inresponsetoAfricanAmericansbeingunabletoobtainhomeloansElvin
CaldwellfoundedColorado’sonlyallblackfinancialinstitution,EquitySavings
andLoanCompanyatthislocation.EquitySavingsandLoanCompanywould
remaininbusinessuntil1965.Historicphotographsofthebuildingdemonstrate
alterationstothestorefrontofthestructure.
Thistwostoryredbrickbuilding,locatedatthecornerof26thStreetandWelton,
reflectspoplarCommercialarchitecturalelementsoftheearlytwentieth‐
century.Thestructurefeaturesblockymasonryconstruction,acorner‐entry,
largestorefrontwindowsandopeningsonthegroundfloor,punchedwindow
openingsonthesecondfloor,aflatroofconcealedwithaparapet,andminimal
ornamentationlimitedtothebuildingstorefront,decorativecorniceandstepped
parapet.Thecornicefeaturessimplifiedmodillionsanddentils.Theseinclude
removalofarecessedstorefrontentryontheWeltonStreet(southeast)façade
ofthebuilding,removalofthetransoms,originalstorefrontwindowsanddoors
alongtheentirestorefront,andinstillationofanewstorefrontonthe26thStreet
façadewhichoriginalfeaturedpunchedwindowopeningsandthreesecondary
entrydoorswithtransomsabove.Thenewstorefrontisahistoricizedstorefront
withdecorativepillarsprovideddivisionsofthestorefrontwindowbays.
Additionally,theupperstorywindowshavebeenmodifiedfromone‐over‐one
windowstotwo‐over‐twowindows;thehistoricstonesillshavebeenretained.
Thishistoricneoncorner“EquityandSavings”signhasbeenremovedand
replacedwithawallmountedsignreading“CousinsBuilding”onboththe
WeltonStreetand26thStreetfaçade.Goosenecklightinghasbeenaddedto
illuminatetheentiregroundfloorofthebuilding.Fasciasignsfor“WellsFargo”
arelocatedonthestorefrontsignband.Todaythebuildingssownedbythe
CousinsFamilyandhasabranchbankonthelowerfloorandofficesabove.The
buildinghasbeenrestoredandreinforcesthecharacterdefiningfeaturesofthe
district.
Rice’sTapRoomandOven‐SimpsonHotel‐KCLounge(2801‐2807Welton
Street,c.1895/façadec.1940s).2801WeltonStreetcontributestotheAfrican
Americanhistoryofthedistrict,historicallyhousingasocialclub,restaurants
andhotelsservingtheblackcommunity.Duringthe1920sthestructurewas
hometoSmithLewisBilliards.Bythe1940s,theAfrican‐AmericanYuyeCafé
waslocatedat2801WeltonStreet.In1951,OthaRiceopenedRice’sTapRoom
andOvenonthegroundfloorandSimpsonHotelonthesecondfloor.Rice’sTap
RoomandOvenwasapopularjazzestablishmentandhometoDenver’s
JuneteenthCelebrationfromthe1950sto1966.TheSimpsonHotelonthe
secondfloorofthebuildingprovidedtheAfrican‐Americacommunitya
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convenientlodgingspacein,asOthadescribedit,closeto“theirjobsandplaces
ofentertainment.”RicefoundedtheSimpsonHoteltoprovidefirst‐class
accommodations,whichhefoundlackingintheFivePointsneighborhood,tothe
African‐Americancommunity.Althoughhewasnotaproponentofsegregation,
RiceunderstoodthattheAfrican‐Americancommunityneedsaplacetocalltheir
ownintheneighborhood.Inthemid1960s,RicesoldRice’sTapRoomandOven
andtheSimpsonHotelandtherestaurantspacebecameknownasKCLounge.
TheSimpsonHotelremainedonthesecondfloor.Thestructureremainedan
importantculturalinstitutionfortheAfricanAmericancommunityupuntilthe
1970s.
ThistwostorycommercialbuildinglocatedatthecornerofWeltonStreetand
28thAve.isrepresentationaloflarge‐scalecornercommercialdevelopment
alongthecorridor,intheFivePointsneighborhood.Historically,thisbuilding
featuredachamferedcornerentrance,punchedstorefrontwindowsand
punchedwindowopeningsonthesecondfloor.Buildingpermitsforthis
structureindicatethatthebuildingwasstuccoedinthelate1940s.Aflatroofis
concealedwithadecorativecornicewithornatemodillionsanddentils.
Currently,thewindowsintheupperfloorarecasementwindows,although
buildingpermitsdonotindicatewhenthischangeoccurred,historic
photographsofthestructuresfromthe1950sshowasimilarconfiguration.
Additionally,tocornerentryhasbeenenclosedandstuccoedoversometime
afterthelate1970s.
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ContributingBuildingPhotographs
RossonianHotel,2640WeltonStreet
RossonianHotel,imagedateunknown.CourtesyoftheBlackAmericanWest
Museum
RossonianHotel,c.2013
11
AtlasDrug,2701WeltonStreet
AtlasDrug,imagedateunknown.CourtesyoftheBlackAmericanWestMuseum
AtlasDrug,c.2013
12
RadioPharmacy,2601WeltonStreet
RadioPharmacy,c.1945‐1955.
CourtesyofDenverPublicLibrary,
WesternHistoryDepartment,
ClarenceF.HolmesCollection
RadioPharmacy,c.1945‐1955.
CourtesyofDenverPublicLibrary,
WesternHistoryDepartment,
ClarenceHolmesCollection
RadioPharmacy,c.2013
13
AltaCousinTerrace,521‐52925thAve
AltaCousinTerrace,c.2013
14
HoseCompany#3,2563GlenarmPlace
HoseCompany#3,c.1890.
CourtesyoftheOfficeof
ArchaeologyandHistoric
Preservation,HistoryColorado
HoseCompany#3,c.2014
15
FireStation#3,2500WashingtonStreet
FireStation#3,c.1931.CourtesyofDenverPublicLibrary,WesternHistory
Department,CPhotoAlbum111.DenverFireDepartment
FireStation#3,c.2013
16
DouglassUndertakingCompany,2745WeltonStreet
DouglassUndertakingCompany,1981.CourtesyofDenverPublicLibrary,Western
HistoryDepartment,TomNoelPhotographCollection,notebook‐Welton‐Wynkoop
Street
DouglassUndertakingCompany,c.2013
17
MetropolitanInvestmentCompany‐EquitySavingsandLoan‐CousinsBuilding,
2559‐2563WeltonStreet
EquitySavingsandLoanAssociation,c.
1950‐1960.CourtesyofDenverPublic
Library,WesternHistoryDepartment,Burnis
McCloudCollection
2559‐2563WeltonStreet,c.1952.Courtesy
ofDenverPublicLibrary,WesternHistory
Department,BurnisMcCloudCollection
CurrentImagesofEquitySavingsandLoan,c.2013‐2014
18
Rice’sTapRoomandOven‐SimpsonHotel‐KCLounge(2801‐2807Welton
Street)
Rice’sTapRoomandOven,1953Courtesy
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