|
St. Elmo Hotel - #5
1433 17th Street
|
||
|
Architectural style: Renaissance Revival Elements Built: 1896 Architect: Unknown |
||
|
Hotels, particularly those
located near the bustling rail yards, provided a haven for the weary
traveler, railroad workers, and the local populace looking for a place
to get away from their everyday home life. The more spectacular
hotels like the Oxford and the Brown Palace overshadowed the modest
offerings of places like the St. Elmo. But with its location only
two blocks from the railroad station and advertised as "less
expensive," the St. Elmo catered to railway workers and passengers
looking for more reasonable accommodations.
The St. Elmo Hotel was built in 1896 and has three stories and a basement. The walls are constructed of load-bearing masonry, with support of the first floor provided by cast-iron columns, typical of turn-of-the-century commercial buildings in Denver. The internal structure is load-bearing brick for the basement and first floor and wood-post beam framing for the second and third floors. The wood parapet along the roof, with a cornice box with frieze and brackets, gives the building a more ornate appearance than might be reflected in its clientele. The lines of the building are further softened by the chamfered corners with windows and the arch at the main entrance. |
||
|
|
||
