Historic Montclair Neighborhood

Yes, the Richthofen Castle is on the market– built by the Red Baron’s uncle, Walter von Richthofen, between 1878 and 1887. The castle is located in the historic neighborhood of Montclair. Asking price is $3.9 million but if a buyer would like the historic memorabilia, add $2 million to the price.

Montclair, a seemingly hidden higher-end neighborhood that a lot of people just don’t even realize is there, is a wonderful place to live– whether that be in a real castle or in another beautiful home in the community. This neighborhood, speaking as a resident and as a Realtor is like the perfect Americana historical neighborhood. As you stroll around the neighborhood, you can just see how this area came about. Stately old Victorian homes are meticulously detailed and maintained. The Tuberculosis homes, those with enclosed side porches, capture the story of why Richthofen came to Denver and built the historic Molkery Building, located in Montclair Park. He attracted folks from all over the U.S. whom had TB– the homes with the side porches allowed them to sleep outside at night, breathing in the favored Colorado clean air. And the Molkery once was considered a Spa for TB or other folks with lung disorders. Richtofen, from what I understand would only allow homes of at least 2 stories, preferably 3, to be built and on large lots. You will notice that the large Victorian style homes typically have smaller mid-century type ranches around them– obviously built at a later date when land could be sub-divided and sold. There is so much to see in Montclair and of course the castle is a huge draw for the neighborhood. I have some pictures in this blog– best to try to catch a glimpse of the castle in the winter time when the trees are bare… Otherwise, you have to try and get a good angle as you look through the front drive gates to get even a look at this beautiful enormous castle. The monument on this blog is located at Oneida and just south of Richthofen Pkwy– it once served as fountain for animals to drink water on one side and people to drink on the other during their long journeys.

Anyway– I love this neighborhood. My parents lived in Montclair back in the early 1960′s as my dad was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base. The neighborhood has fine higher-end homes and beautiful homes in other price points too. It is diverse in most every way.

If you would like more information about the Richthofen Castle or information about other homes for sale in Montclair, please call or send me an email. I am happy to send you what ever information you would like.

Thank you!
Deb Goetz
Realtor,
Keller Williams Denver Central
720-628-9502
deb@debgoetz.com

If yes! Please contact neighborhood resident and Realtor, Deb Goetz. You can visit her site at www.debgoetz.com. She has a great history in this neighborhood and actually in and around Mayfair and Lowry. Her cell # is 720-628-9502 and her email is deb@debgoetz.com.

What better place to photograph a Realtor than a kitchen!

A Series of 3 Workshops:
- Solar for Older Homes

- Bricks, Mortar and Masonry

- Restoring & Maintaining Old Windows

Saturday February 20th, 8:30am – NOON at the historic Molkery Building located in Montclair Park at Newport & 12th. $10 admission fee

For more information, go to: www.denversoldhousesociety.org

Come and learn from these local experts! I live in Montclair and own a home built in 1939. I know I have been challenged by the maintenance of the older windows (that I just can’t give up!) and know that my home could certainly use some tuck-pointing here and there– it also seems from my non-expert eye that some of the bricks are due for replacement too. Making some contacts with companies who specialize in these areas will be very valuable!

As a recently designated GREEN Realtor, I plan to focus part of my business on assisting folks with retro-fitting their older homes with new energy efficient, people and environmentally friendly systems in their homes, so I am excited to learn about solar installation in older homes too.

I will have a table promoting my real estate services too! Please come by, enjoy the workshops and say ‘hi’! The spring market is starting off early this year due to the tax credits which expire April 30th. If you are thinking of selling and buying, let’s talk!
See you there!
Deb Goetz

Hi! I am getting alot of traffic to this blog and would love to know what YOU would like me to share on the site. Tell me what info about Montclair, the neighborhood, the castle, stats, etc… would you like to read? Please comment and let me know!  Thank you!

This is actually, or was actually built by Baron Von Richthofen as a watering fountain. Not a decorative fountain but to actually provide drinking water to animals, horses in particular, and people. If you visit the monument, you can read the copy that runs from left to right towards the bottom of the monument, just above the dirt in the photo. The large opening on this side of it held water for animals and on the other side, there is a drinking fountain for people to use. I will stop by and not only capture a new seasonal picture, (the city of Denver does a nice job decorating the fountain with flowers) but I will also write down this copy, if it is visible at this point. Montclair has such an interesting history!

Well, so it seems! I am actually surprised at how few people really know about this beautiful neighborhood. Which is fine by us residents! However, being in real estate, I am a bit puzzled. I am very familiar with most of the neighborhoods around Denver, have sold many homes all around, from Highlands in the NW to Lowry in the SE. And honestly, from a Realtor perspective, and not just because I live here, Montclair is honestly one of the nicest neighborhoods in Denver. I did do a post earlier on talking about the neighborhood so I won’t reiterate that content– I will say that Montclair (not Montclaire!) has held its value and then some during this dropping real estate market. Not too many neighborhoods can attest to that! I am happy to provide #’s on this, if anyone reading this is interested! I have my home on the market, click here to see the home. It was originally built in 1939, is on Richtofen Parkway and faces the beautiful Montclair Park. We bought in in 2006, completely renovated the original home and then also added a mainfloor master suite. Although we incorporated many features that homeowners like to see nowadays, i.e. an open floorplan to the dining room, kitchen and family room (great for entertaining!) and a more contemporary master suite design, that is stunning, to say the least…. Continue Reading »

Is there another neighborhood out there in Denver like Montclair that hosts a neighborhood easter egg hunt? Okay, not just an easter egg hunt but really a neighbors chatting, kids running and searching for eggs all around the quaint and beautiful Montclair Park kind of easter egg hunt. I tell ya, this neighborhood has that yesteryear charm we all fondly recollect or think of when yearning for a community with the small town, American dream, sort of town.  Continue Reading »

Hello,

I’ve had a few people ask me about this blog and why I am doing this for the Montclair neighborhood and wondered if I actually lived in the neighborhood. Yes I do live in Montclair! In fact, my family history in this neighborhood goes back to the early 1960′s when my parents lived on 11th and Poplar. My dad was in the Air Force and stationed at Lowry Air Force base. After being born at Fitz Simmons Hospital and living here for a few years, we relocated to Minneapolis, MN where I was raised. I moved back to Denver in 2002! I live at 6800 Richthofen Pkwy, right across the street from Montclair Park. I actually have my house on the market for sale, please check it out and pass it on! When my house sells, I am planning on buying another home in the neighborhood, just smaller! My daughter will be leaving for college this fall and the house will seem really big then! Anyway…. Continue Reading »

This blog will be shaped by current residents of Montclair and anyone looking to move into Montclair. This is a great forum for potential homeowners to post questions, comments, etc. to the residents of Montclair and get answers! Sure, one can certainly ask their Realtor but no one knows a neighborhood better than a current resident. Montclair has folks who have lived here for several decades and new families taking root and starting their families here. They all take such pride in this beautiful, lush, friendly, diverse community. It is such a nice neighborhood, you hardly see homes for sale! True sign of a solid, good neighborhood.

Please share any history, facts, fun stuff, info, recipes, etc.!

I will be creating a photo and a pets page! Watch for this coming soon!

Deb Goetz

Montclair Elementary School is fast becoming the elementary school of choice in Denver!

Montclair Elementary School