May 27, 1983
National Register of Historic Places - Kistler-Rodriguez House (Dominican Republic Consulate;5DV1497)
Statement of Significant: The Kistler Rodriguez House possesses historic and architectural importance. owners were both prominent figures in the history of Denver. The original owner was William Henry Kistler family. Kistler (1858-1936) was a successful Denver pioneer businessman and founder of the W. H. Kistler Stationery Company, the largest concern of its kind in the West for many years. The second owner, Dr. Rene Alvarez Rodriguez, was a diplomat, physician and honorary consul of the Dominican Republic. The house is architecturally distinctive in its design by Jacques Jules Benois Benedict, one of Denver's leading architects in the 1920s and 30s. The house, constructed in 1920, was first occupied by Kistler's son, Erle D. Kistler, treasurer of the W. H. Kistler Stationery Company. Erle and his wife lived in the house until 1927. William H. and Carrie Oatman Kistler2 then lived there until Kistler's death in 1936. The company founded by Kistler grew into one of the four largest stationery concerns in the United States and it exemplifies the free enterprise opportunities available in nineteenth century Denver. Kister was referred to as a four dollar a week errand boy who became one of the city's "merchant princes." Kistler came to Denver with his parents in 1870 and went to work at the age of fourteen for the Rocky Mountain News. In 1883, after working as a bindery apprentice and journeyman printer, he bought a small one-room bindery for a $150 down payment. Through hard work and attention to detail, the business expanded to include printing, stationery, office supplies, and furniture. By 1916, the company occupied a seven-story building at 1636 Champa Street, constructed to accommodate the many facets of the business. It became known as the "Businessman's Department Store." After Mr. Kistler's death in 1936, his son Erle became president and continued his father's tradition of growth and service. In 1968, the name of the company was changed to Kistler Kwill Business Center, located in Montbello, northeast of the city... After Mr. Kistler's death, the house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Will F. Nicholson until January 1943, when it was sold to Dr. Rodriguez. Nicholson was an active political leader and was elected to the United States Senate in 1948 and as mayor of Denver for one term in 1955. Dr. Rodriguez, a native of Santo Domingo, attended Notre Dame, where he graduated with a degree in pharmacy at the age of eighteen, the youngest student ever to do so. After attending medical school, he served his residency in Chicago. He was appointed honorary consul of the Dominican Republic there in the late 1920s. After moving to the Rodriguez Denver in 1930, he continued as consul for the Rocky Mountain area. The Rodriguez home on Ninth Avenue served as the consulate until his death. The house remained in the Rodriguez family until 1982.
National Register of Historic Places - Kistler-Rodriguez House (Dominican Republic Consulate;5DV1497)
Statement of Significant: The Kistler Rodriguez House possesses historic and architectural importance. owners were both prominent figures in the history of Denver. The original owner was William Henry Kistler family. Kistler (1858-1936) was a successful Denver pioneer businessman and founder of the W. H. Kistler Stationery Company, the largest concern of its kind in the West for many years. The second owner, Dr. Rene Alvarez Rodriguez, was a diplomat, physician and honorary consul of the Dominican Republic. The house is architecturally distinctive in its design by Jacques Jules Benois Benedict, one of Denver's leading architects in the 1920s and 30s. The house, constructed in 1920, was first occupied by Kistler's son, Erle D. Kistler, treasurer of the W. H. Kistler Stationery Company. Erle and his wife lived in the house until 1927. William H. and Carrie Oatman Kistler2 then lived there until Kistler's death in 1936. The company founded by Kistler grew into one of the four largest stationery concerns in the United States and it exemplifies the free enterprise opportunities available in nineteenth century Denver. Kister was referred to as a four dollar a week errand boy who became one of the city's "merchant princes." Kistler came to Denver with his parents in 1870 and went to work at the age of fourteen for the Rocky Mountain News. In 1883, after working as a bindery apprentice and journeyman printer, he bought a small one-room bindery for a $150 down payment. Through hard work and attention to detail, the business expanded to include printing, stationery, office supplies, and furniture. By 1916, the company occupied a seven-story building at 1636 Champa Street, constructed to accommodate the many facets of the business. It became known as the "Businessman's Department Store." After Mr. Kistler's death in 1936, his son Erle became president and continued his father's tradition of growth and service. In 1968, the name of the company was changed to Kistler Kwill Business Center, located in Montbello, northeast of the city... After Mr. Kistler's death, the house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Will F. Nicholson until January 1943, when it was sold to Dr. Rodriguez. Nicholson was an active political leader and was elected to the United States Senate in 1948 and as mayor of Denver for one term in 1955. Dr. Rodriguez, a native of Santo Domingo, attended Notre Dame, where he graduated with a degree in pharmacy at the age of eighteen, the youngest student ever to do so. After attending medical school, he served his residency in Chicago. He was appointed honorary consul of the Dominican Republic there in the late 1920s. After moving to the Rodriguez Denver in 1930, he continued as consul for the Rocky Mountain area. The Rodriguez home on Ninth Avenue served as the consulate until his death. The house remained in the Rodriguez family until 1982.
May 27, 1983
Posted Date
Jul 31, 2023
Historical Record Date
May 27, 1983
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
