Neighborhood History

Depending on how long you’ve lived in the neighborhood, you may or may not know that the Valley Drive-In Theater used to exist near Monaco and Evans, as well as the indoor Valley 3 movie theater.  In 1979, this became a popular music venue called Rainbow Music Hall which hosted acts such as U2 and Bob Dylan.

Beth Glandon with Historic Denver recently spoke at a Cook Park Neighborhood Association meeting, sharing her expertise and findings of the recent Discover Denver neighborhood survey of Virginia Village (the statistical neighborhood of which Cook Park is a part). These surveys are a citywide program to identify, document and share the buildings that are historically, architecturally or culturally significant. Discover Denver is a collaboration between Historic Denver, Inc., the City and County of Denver, and History Colorado.

Here is Discover Denver’s summary of the findings in Virginia Village : Farms, Greenhouses and Mid-century Gems

Discover Denver volunteers spent 10 months surveying Virginia Village, documenting each of the neighborhood’s residential, commercial, and civic buildings. While Virginia Village is best known for its winding streets lined with mid-century ranch and contemporary homes, surveyors were surprised to find remnants of the area’s agricultural past. Farm houses and ditches are tucked among newer homes throughout the neighborhood, there for observant passers by to discover.

Virginia Village was a largely agricultural area in unincorporated Arapahoe County before its annexation by Denver in 1954.  Before widespread residential development began here in the mid-1950s, the area was home to greenhouses growing prized Colorado carnations, and stables from which riders on horseback followed the bridle paths that snaked through the neighborhood.

To read the entire article, download the Fall newsletter. To view Beth Glandon’s presentation you may download it here.

CPNA September 17th meeting:

Cook park neighborhood meeting on September 17: 6:30 PM guest speaker
Kevin Krieger, Residential/Commercial Sr Solar Consultant, Cam Solar of
Colorado. Learn about the costs, benefits, why one would buy versus lease
a solar system, government incentives, etc.

Download the entire Fall issue