Colfax on the Hill, Inc.

COLFAX CATHEDRAL HISTORIC DISTRICT

COLFAX CATHEDRAL HISTORIC DISTRICT

Built in 1908, the Classical Revival-style Logan Court was the first
building on its site. James Hinchman took out the Logan Court building
permit under the name of Logan Court Investment Company. Hinchman was
also listed as the builder. Construction of Logan Court was a sign that the 1800s neighborhood of large residences was undergoing a change
toward multifamily housing. This site was particularly appealing for
development. While nestled in an upscale residential area, it was close
to E. Colfax Ave. transportation opportunities.

James Barton Hinchman (1859-1944) as born in Leavenworth, Kansas. He
came to Colorado in 1879 and married Alice Bradley in 1880. Hinchman
prospected throughout Colorado and New Mexico until he began his work in
the construction industry in Denver.

In the 1890s, James Hinchman founded the Hinchman Roofing Company. In
1902, he merged his company with Renton Fireproofing Company to form the
Hinchman-Renton Fireproofing Company. Hinchman was the company
president, and the company office was at 1815 Arapahoe St. The company
merger was announced in a 1902 Denver Times article that explained the
company’s place in the forefront of the construction industry with its
use of a new system of combining concrete with steel. The company
filled orders from Colorado and Midwestern states. During the company’s
40-year history, projects included supplying fireproofing concrete for
Union Station, Denver’s U.S. Mint, the sugar factory in Loveland and other Colorado sugar refineries.

The Hinchmans moved into Apt. A1 in Logan Court upon completion of the
building. Alice died in 1917 at the age of 63 and was buried in the
Hinchman plot at Riverside Cemetery. James later married Hermoine
Eisenhardt of St. Louis. She died in 1936 at the age of 77, and was
also buried in the Hinchman plot. James Hinchman died in Apt. 1 in
1944, and joined his wives at Riverside. There was no record of
children, but Hinchman left a brother and sister in St. Louis and two
nieces in Denver.

The architects Hinchman chose for his building were Willis Marean
(1877-1933) and Albert Norton (1867-1944). Marean and Norton both
worked in the Frank E. Edbrooke & Company architectural firm early in
their careers. They formed their partnership in 1895. By 1908 they had
already designed many modest houses and a few larger mansions. Marean and Norton’s 1908 designs included the Cheesman-Evans-Boettcher Mansion
(Governor’s Mansion), 400 E. 8th Ave., in the E. 7th Avenue Historic
District; the Stoiber-Reed-Humphries Mansion, 1022 Humboldt St., in the
Humboldt Street Historic District; and the Logan Court Building. They
designed the 1910 Cheesman Pavilion, the 1919 Greek Theater and Colonnade of Civic Benefactors in Civic Center, and the 1921 Schwalb House at 2325 E. 7th Ave. Pkwy, among others, during their long partnership.

Research into the history and architecture of the district is funded by a grant from the State Historical Fund. Capitol Hill United
Neighborhoods, Inc., is the grant applicant and consultant Nancy L.
Widmann is doing the research and preparing the application. The
district history is providing worthy of both local Denver Landmark
district designation and nomination to the National Register of Historic
Places.