Blake Street Area - Denver, CO
Posted by: 
Outspoken1
N 39° 45.229 W 104° 59.703
13S E 500424 N 4400433
A series of plaques as part of a walking tour of lower downtown (original) Denver
Waymark Code: WM39V2
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 03/02/2008
Views: 23
The plaque reads:
Blake Street was named after Charles Blake, who came to Denver in 1858, and established supply depots throughout Lower Downtown.
Originally, the area was Denver's warehouse, brothel, and sporting house district. Some of the most infamous establishments included Jenny Roger's House of Mirrors at 1942 Market Street. This was later bought by Roger's rival, Madame Mattie Silks, who also had a house of ill repute at 2009 Market Street.
After the completion of the transcontinental railroad through Cheyenne in 1871, a large number of Chinese immigrated to Lower Downtown where many operated laundry businesses.
Toward the turn of the century, Lower Downtown experienced an era of decline until 1912, when reformers began a moral clean-up campaign to shut down illicit activities in this area. To access nearby Union Station and the rail yards, several manufacturing, distributing and warehouse uses located in some of the original buildings. By the 1920's, new warehouses built along Blake Street gave the street its variety of architecture.
In the 1970's and 1980's, many of these fine old buildings were renovated for use by wholesalers, retailers, and design professionals. A community of Denver artists also lived and worked in these spacious, older buildings.