The Origins of the "Denver Square"

The streets of certain older neighborhoods in Denver,allow access to the foyer) and three bedrooms and
Colorado are peppered with sturdy homes, which, ifa bathroom on the second floor. The Denver Square
you take away the brick facades and the dormers,often has a full basement and/or attic space as well.
resemble nothing more than big square boxes. KnownThe origins of the “Denver Square”
as “Foursquares” in most other parts ofname are somewhat mysterious. The Foursquare
the country, houses of this style are calledstyle suddenly proliferated in America after the Civil
“Denver Squares” in Denver. There areWar, due to its affordability, flexibility and ease of
many of these houses in the city, especially in olderconstruction. There are examples of Foursquare
areas, such as Capitol Hill and Congress Park.architecture all over the country, some dated years
The square, boxy shape of the Foursquare style isbefore the style made its way to the Rocky
often enhanced by dormer windows in the center ofMountains.
the roof and front porches that extend the width ofOne of the reasons that Denver has so proudly
the house. The plain construction of the basic buildinglabeled this home style with its name could be the
lends itself well to modifications that improve spaceGrodavent Brothers, who submitted a design for a
usage and aesthetic appeal. The Denver Square, inbrick Foursquare house in an 1895 edition of the
particular, is known for its brick construction, leadmagazine “Carpentry and Building”. This
glass windows, and 2 tier fireplaces.is one of the earliest designs for a Foursquare house
Foursquares are usually two stories high. The home isto be noted in a building publication and is a classic
laid out in a series of quarters – entryway,example of what Denver residents refer to when
kitchen, dining room and living room on the groundthey say “Denver Square”.
floor (with a front door offset from the center to