Hannah Barker and her house |
The stately home where Hannah Barker, one of Boulder's most influential businesswomen, lived for many years is now derelict and in a significant state of disrepair. In November 2006, Historic Boulder initiated a landmarking process with the city of BoulderÕs Landmarks Preservation Advisory Committee in an attempt to save the building.The house, at 800 Arapahoe Ave. (originally 743 Valley Road) was likely built in the late 1870s in the Highland Lawn subdivision that Barker developed. The house was built by her husband, Ezra Barker, in Italianate style, with a small front porch and distinctive cupola and surrounded by an attractive iron fence. Barker made significant additions to the house in the 1890s, adding a prominent wrap-around porch and side addition and modifying the structureÕs window openings. On her death, Barker willed the house to her longtime friend Mary Davidson, who lived with Barker in the house for many years. Davidson resided in the house until her death in 1923. Since then the house had been used as a single family residence and an apartment building with as many as six units. At one time, plans were made to use the Hannah Barker House as a bed and breakfast.
About Hannah BarkerBorn as Hannah Connell, Barker and her family emigrated from Ireland to Springfield, Mass. in 1852, six years after her birth. After spending time in Massachusetts and Iowa, she crossed the plains to Boulder County with two other early immigrants, her lifelong friend Mary Davidson and DavidsonÕs husband, William. Barker settled in Ward; beginning in the mid-1860s she taught school for two years, providing a civilizing influence on the children of local miners. In 1869, Barker moved to Boulder, where she became one of the first female teachers in the local school district.In 1877 she married Ezra Barker, a local businessman with extensive real estate holdings. Mr. Barker owned a number of mining and ranching interests, including a ranch in Boulder Canyon near Nederland, which he sold to the city of Boulder 1907 for construction of a reservoir that still carries the Barker name. Hannah and Ezra had no children, and just six years after their marriage, Mr. Barker died, leaving Hannah to manage on her own. At the time of his death, Hannah had already established herself as an accomplished business woman. In the 1880Õs, Barker set to work on a number of significant business endeavors. By 1884, she had purchased real estate adjacent to the young city of Boulder and began platting the town of Highland Lawn. The plat included 19 sites, all with rights to the adjacent Anderson Ditch, and owners were encouraged to plant trees and improve their lots with attractive fencing. The town was annexed to the city of Boulder in 1891. In association with several other local women, Hannah Barker formed the Boulder Creamery in 1887. Beginning in 1898, Hannah Barker was appointed to the board of directors of Boulder Bank, where she would serve until her death. In addition to her business endeavors, Barker was involved in numerous civic causes. Barker founded the Boulder WomenÕs Club and was active in the LadiesÕ Literary Society and the Boulder Fortnightly Club. She was also active in supporting BoulderÕs Congregational Church and Columbia Cemetery and was a member of Boulder's Colorado Chautauqua Association. Barker was also active in a number of temperance causes. Hannah Barker died of influenza in Boulder in 1918 during the Great Influenza Pandemic.
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