1900 E 7th Ave Pkwy
Denver, CO, USA

National Register of Historic Places - John G. and Helen Kerr House

Statement of Significant:

The, built in 1924-1925, is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C for its architectural significance (1) as a good example of French Renaissance Revival style during the early 20th Century and (2) for its artistic use of Colorado travertine marble. The marble was mined from John Kerr's marble quarry near Salida, Colorado. The Period of Significance is 1924-1936. In 1936 a 5' x 40' arcade was extended along the rear to complete the residence. Designed by Jules Jacque Benois Benedict (1879-1948), an Ecole des Beaux Arts-trained architect, Kerr House was built late in the City Beautiful Movement era when wealthy families were choosing Late 19th and 20th Century Revival styles for their residences. The body of work documented to Benedict includes many of Denver's large mansions, church buildings, civic and business buildings, and Colorado mountain buildings. St. Thomas Seminary Chapel (1926- 1931), 1300 Steele St.; Chief Hosa Lodge (1918), 27661 Genesee Dr.; Woodbury Branch Library (1912), 3562 Federal Blvd.; and Denver Botanic Gardens House (1926), 909 York St. are Benedict-designed buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The E. 7th Avenue Parkway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the Denver Parks and Parkways System Thematic Resource. Numerous Benedict-designed buildings are locally designated Denver landmarks including the John G. and Helen Kerr House. Kerr House is also a contributing building in the locally designated E. 7th Avenue Historic District.


The John G. and Helen Kerr House Site

The residence anchors the western end of the E. 7th Avenue Parkway. The parkway was created in 1912 as part of Mayor Robert Speer's effort to interpret the city Beautiful Movement in Denver. The mayor wanted to make Denver the equal of the most elegant and well-planned cities of Europe and the eastern United States. Fine architecture in revival styles was encouraged for all Denver buildings.

The John G. and Helen Kerr House site is on a corner and consists of four city lots. To create the prestigious parkway, Denver purchased the six northernmost lots on the south side of E. 7th Avenue from Williams Street to Colorado Boulevard, a distance of about one mile. The E. 7th Avenue Parkway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the Denver Parks and Parkways System Thematic Resource. The Kerr House site is diagonally across the parkway from the Cheesman Esplanade, another element of the Denver Parks and Parkways System Thematic Resource.

Except for the park and parkway land, the area is on a north-south grid of streets located approximately four miles southeast of downtown Denver. The site is located on Block 163 in the South Division of Capitol Hill addition, platted in 1882, on land previously owned by Benjamin F. Woodward. Most of the
development of this portion of the subdivision came after 1912. The homes built on the east-west parkway were larger, usually architect-designed residences, while the houses on the north-south streets were smaller and more often built from plan book designs.