The Allen M. Ghost Historic District was approved as a Denver local historic district in August of 2010. [‡]
This area was originally a part of the Town of Highlands, becoming a part of Denver in 1896. After the area was platted by Allen M. Ghost in 1887, the lots sold quickly, reflecting the growth and prosperity of this area during this period in Denver's history. This growth is also a reflection of the popular trend of Denver streetcar suburbs and the district's association with the extension of the transportation system to this area. The district's growth and development has been directly associated with the development of Denver and the growth of the City to the west.
Several residents of the area made contributions that influenced many different aspects of Denver including Howard C. Maloney, George W. Olinger, Sr., Rev. Thomas Bliss, John G. Prinzing John D. Coplen, and Edward L. Brown.
A majority of the residences that were built during the building boom of the late nineteenth century are Queen Anne; over thirty-three percent of the houses in the district are of this style. Of the houses built during the early twentieth century the majority are Bungalow houses with Arts and Crafts details, over sixteen percent of the buildings in this district are of this style. Other residences in the district embody architectural characteristics of Edwardian, Foursquare and Classic Cottage types.
The district portrays the physical development of a middle class streetcar suburb of Denver during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Characteristic of these early suburbs the residences express a diversity of architectural styles. All the houses are alley loaded with uniform setbacks and front porches.
The Ghost Historic District is distinctive from the surrounding neighborhoods and serves as a familiar and orienting visual feature of the city and the West Highland neighborhood. The residential design, uniform setbacks and landscape features provide a visual gateway into the district. The houses along the southern boundary are particularly distinctive as the houses are sited high on the slope away from the sidewalk whereas the houses across the street sit at street level. The Ghost Historic District is an easily identifiable, cohesive, and distinctive area.
‡Landmark Preservation Commission, Savannah Jameson, Allen M. Ghost Historic District, proposed designation, July, 2010, www.denvergov.org, accessed November, 2014.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
29th Avenue West • 30th Avenue West • 31st Avenue West • Hayward Place West • Irving Street • Julian Street • Lowell Boulevard