“Loaded with delicious”, Mapleton Hill in Boulder Co
October 1st, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Focus on Boulder
Mapleton Avenue
It’s hard to imagine Boulder Colorado’s humble beginnings in the late fall of 1858 when the gold rush brought participants that erected log cabins just below the base of Boulder Canyon. At the time, Boulder City was part of the Nebraska Territory. It wasn’t until 1861 that the Territory of Colorado was established and by 1867, Boulder became the county seat and the town of Boulder was incorporated 1871 where they dropped the word “city” from its name. By 1882, the first neighborhoods were established: Mapleton Hill and Whittier. You can tell from walking the tree lined Mapleton Hill neighborhood, as you walk southeast from the Boulder foothills, down Mapleton or Spruce the homes get more grandeur. The architectural mix of east coast architecture entwined with styles of the west, Mapleton Hill is boardered by Broadway on t
he east, Hawthorne to the north, Spruce St (north side of Pearl Street Mall) to the south and 4th street to the west where it boarders open space. Of the 500 homes in this community, approx. 4% were built before 1895, 28% were built between 1895-1900, and 57% prior to 1910. Many of the larger homes today have been converted into multi-family units, but since the City of Boulder designated Mapleton Hill a Historic District in 1982 representations of almost every 19th century architectural revival style has been preserved. During the early 1890’s 200 silver maple trees were planted along Mapleton Ave, (formerly known as Hill St.). Quoted from a local newspaper editorial, “Trees will take away the barren look and give an air of thrift and comfort”. Which it absolutely did. I have learned that all the trees in Boulder were actually planted by people. Today, it’s very hard to imagine Boulder back in the earlier days was nothing but barren land.
After Mapleton School was built c1890, the street was renamed Mapleton Avenue. 
You will notice many of the homes in the Mapleton Hill area are built out of pressed brick which was popularize by the Boulder Pressed Brick company. In 1863 the Farmers Ditch was established to allow water from Boulder Creek to flow through Boulder to farmers to the north and east. Boulder’s ditches (called laterals back then) did not just serve farmland, they were also Boulder’s first domestic water system where they carried water to every house. In Mapleton Hill the Farmers Ditch today makes lush landscapes. The Farmers Ditch also supplied water to power a flour mill at the mouth of Boulder Canyon known as Yount Mill around 1877.
Many of the older homes in this neighborhood have recently passed owners such as the Duncan House, built c18
90 and one of Boulder’s treasures, located at 430 Mapleton Ave. It was listed for $1,750,000 and sold for $1,600,000 in February 2008. With gorgeously finished square footage of just under 3000 sq. feet this 5 bedroom, 2 1/2 baths Queen Ann style house was the first to be built using Boulder’s red pressed brick. It has a high pitched double gable roof and comes complete with a 850 sq. ft carriage house/studio.
The Henry Fonda House at 827 Pine Street is a simple clapboard house with a front-gabled roof. Built for Henry D. Fonda and his wife Catherine c1887, this 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 baths, 3200 sq.ft updated Victorian home was listed for $2,075,000 and sold for $1,940,000 in November 2006.
Other notable historic homes in Mapleton Hill include the Inn at Mapleton Hill, which currently is a Bed and Breakfast located at 1001 Spruce St, built c1899.
The Lewis-Cobb house, built c1903, located at 401 Pine Street was designed for Mr. and Mrs EC Lewis and reflects furn of the century tastes and highly unusual hand-chipped red brick exterior. Horizontal lines wrap around the porch giving it a “praire” look.
The McInnes House, located at 1020 Mapleton Ave, considered remarkably elegant and beautiful for it’s time, is affectionately called the “wedding cake house”. This neoclassic home was built using grey Denver brick trimmed with marbleized white stone and is very unusual for Boulder.
In Boulder, there are “contemporary” homes and then there’s Mapleton Hill. If you haven’t already figured it out, just having a Mapleton Hill address is very prestigious in Boulder Coloardo.
I am looking for the history on a home in Boulder that has something to do with a Volcano. I was on a cruise recently and the nephew at our dinner table mentioned that his uncle Bruce also at our table lived in Boulder, CO in a home around a volcano that was very interesting. He mentioned that it was very large. I would like to read up about the house and also get back in touch with Bruce, I do not know his last name. he is about 68 and travels alot and is building a new home there alos in Boulder. I would like to see his old home before there is a new owner.
I am a Residential Appraiser in Texas and I am very interested in unique homes. Hope you can help me find some answers. karis
There is a home in Boulder with a Volcano or at least there used to be and it was for sale for a long time, I never did get to see it or show it. This home is large and it resides close to Boulder in the foothills. Is Bruce a realtor?