Fall is the perfect time for home tours.
One of our favorite activities, home tours offer an opportunity to peek inside beautiful houses
while strolling through some lovely neighborhoods.
while strolling through some lovely neighborhoods.
A home tour in the Historic Baker District in Denver gave us a chance to visit six eclectic homes
including Queen Annes, Victorians, Classic Cottages, Bungalows, Denver Squares
and even a Hobo Craftsman.
and even a Hobo Craftsman.
Baker was first developed in the 1870s and currently has about 5,000 residents.
We enjoyed walking from home to home on old sandstone sidewalks
in this quirky neighborhood of red brick and frame houses.
in this quirky neighborhood of red brick and frame houses.
It was easy to imagine the carriage houses behind the main house stabling horses while
streetcars clanged up and down nearby Broadway, a main avenue leading to downtown Denver.
The houses are all a little different and are well maintained and creatively painted.
Buildings here are tightly packed,
some having only a few inches between them.
some having only a few inches between them.
Most of the houses were built in the 1890s and early 1900s.
While many of these houses have been renovated, we enjoyed seeing original features
such as this transom window with metal hardware,
this beautiful blue tile fireplace with a distinctive sculpted frieze,
and even an original doorbell knob that turned manually.
And it still works!
And it still works!
Our tour ended with a Hobo Craftsman built in 1928 for $100.
Constructed with recycled materials, the eclectic home is filled with art and unusual collections.
There are several cobblestone out buildings on the large lot,
some used by transients during the Depression.
This home tour on a crisp fall day gave us a new appreciation
for this unique Denver neighborhood
and a better feel for the history of its people.
for this unique Denver neighborhood
and a better feel for the history of its people.
My kind of perfect day.
***
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Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Rustic & Refined, Dwellings,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Katherine's Corner,
My Thrift Store Addiction, French Country Cottage
If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!!
***
Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Rustic & Refined, Dwellings,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Katherine's Corner,
My Thrift Store Addiction, French Country Cottage
They're so full of personality, especially that recycled cottage. But my, some are awfully tight with the neighbors. That's incredible.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, I think you could reach out your window and grab a cup of sugar from your neighbor! Still, I just love that old neighborhood. Hugs, Pat
DeleteWhat a lovely tour, i love all these homes, all the neat old door bell, windows and doors. I always wanted to live in an old house, but never had the chance. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marlene! These old houses have such character, don't they? I like to daydream about owning a big old Victorian. Have a great week, Pat
DeleteThank you for the tour Pat! It would have been even better if we could have seen more of the insides! I love home tours; especially of historic homes!
ReplyDeleteI am new to your blog and enjoy your posts!
Blessings
Thanks so much and welcome to my blog. I hope you visit often. True, some of the interiors were amazing but others had been renovated to modern standards so I tried to focus on historic details. Enjoy your week, Pat
DeleteHey Sister, What fun that must have been. I can just picture you and Ron oohing and aahing over these homes. I love the one with the balcony on the top floor and the one with the tower on the corner. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan! Put it on the list! Sometimes I wish we had a big old house with lots of room but then I'd have to keep it clean. Ha! Big hugs, Pat
DeleteOne of my favourite downtime activities is to browse the 'for sale' homes on the Internet! Even better, to see them in real life.
ReplyDeleteThanks Catherine! I'm afraid if I start browsing the Internet for homes, I'd be tempted to buy one. Guess I'll just stick with home tours. Hugs, Pat
DeleteHave not been in the Baker area for a while and will have to check it out. I hope they are not suffering from the hideous 'Lego' box-type houses being built in other historic neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteHi Monika! I love that neighborhood, such a diverse mix of styles. We didn't see any of those awful box houses or condos but there are plenty of them in other areas. Ugh. Hope you have a wonderful cooler week. Hugs, Pat
DeleteThere is something so fun about wandering through old homes. They have a special feeling about them.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree Leanna. I'll take an old home any day. Mine is 110 years old this year! Hugs, Pat
DeleteGorgeous homes . . . looks like you could reach over and steal a pie from your neighbor's kitchen window :) That's what I call a close knit community, LOL
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the tour Connie! You could definitely reach out and touch your neighbor in this neighborhood! I think the walls were thick enough to block out some of the noise. A few homes had built up (not included in my post) with rooftop decks. Have a wonderful week, Pat
DeleteNow, that sounds like a tour that my hubby and I would enjoy. The history behind each place and the wonderful architecture would be totally delightful. Glad you could take a walk back in time and thank you for sharing it with us. Happy Autumn, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
Hey there Sandi! Nice to hear from you. I'm sure you would love this little neighborhood. Full of history and wonderful details. Happy Autumn to you as well. Hugs, Pat
DeleteThe gorgeous detail has me wanting to buy my own sweet little victorian. I love the way they put color together too, that always inspires me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by for a visit Christine! Like you, I just love these old Victorians. Hugs, Pat
DeleteThank you for taking me along on the tour. I love to tour old homes. Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle.
ReplyDeleteGlad you could join the tour Sharon. Hope you're having a great weekend. Hugs, Pat
DeleteSounds like a perfect day indeed Pat. I love touring both homes and gardens. The history behind these old homes is so wonderful! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Thanks Jann! I wish there were more home tours. I could do them every day! They do bring history alive. Hugs, Pat
DeleteI love old historic homes like this! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
ReplyDelete