Monday, November 1, 2010

Wynkoop Lofts

Some of the founding members of the Wynkoop Brewing Company.
From left: John Hickenlooper, Jerry Williams, Mark Schiffler, Russell Schehrer
and Holiday - the famous brew dog     1988

The Wynkoop Mercantile Lofts are shown here with a beautiful stone backdrop and detailed brick work encasing the graceful arched windows.

This scene is on the 18th Street side of the Wynkoop Mercantile Lofts, about 30 feet from the corner of Wynkoop Street and 18th Street.

A lot has changed since this modest image was made 22 years ago...some sad and some exciting.

A similar photo of this scene has previously been shown by me. This view highlights the windows and also the sign on the right featuring the name of Charlie Woolley, a lower downtown pioneer as well.

 From parking garage looking west at the Wynkoop Lofts, the north wing of Union
Station to the right beyond     1988

The Wynkoop Building was originally the home of a grocery wholesale business, owned by John Brown.  The building was designed by the architectural partnership of Gove and Walsh of Denver.

This beauty was built in 1899... and the years prior to it being Wynkoop Brewing, the building was occupied by the Kacey Fine Furniture Company.

The Wynkoop Mercantile building is a gem inside and out. The prominent corner location was  superb positioning to show off the great design of fine brick work and the powerful curves of the windows leading upwards.

From top corner window on 18th Street, looking
Northwest at  a portion of the Ice House Building      1988

Now that we are inside the brick and timber building, you will have to imagine the smell of them combined.  I clearly smelled the wood - but mostly I smelled excitement and energy...

The prominent smoke stack and water tower of the Ice House Building was a companion of the Wynkoop Building.  How many times had someone looked out this window, and other windows, and felt the strength and bonding of these two wonderful buildings?

Here's to a great view, here's to a great brew!

Sunday November 7, 2010 the Wynkoop Brewing Company is hosting part of "Denver Arts Week".

The public is invited to attend this event from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. and is featuring the work of Evan Anderman, Jeff Richards and me, Kim Allen.

Please view my Exhibitions page for more information on the exhibit.

The Wynkoop Brewing Company
1834 18th Street
Denver, Colorado 80205
303-297-2700
www.wynkoop.com

For additional images and commentary, please refer to the Lower Downtown section.

Wynkoop Block
 

From the 15th Street Viaduct onto Wynkoop Street and
the 16th Street Viaduct, Post Office Terminal, and Ice House     1986

Were looking northeast at this image - some cars, not many pedestrians - the 1500 Wynkoop block as usual.

We have the 16th Street Viaduct cruising through the scene at mid point. And way beyond, the 20th Street Viaduct - past the Ice House.

The massive Post Office Terminal building is on the left, an efficient distribution Annex, around the clock community postal service.

Trouble was, it got in some of my pictures - and it messed them up! The Post Office Terminal was boxy, boring and HUGE.  This area obviously had a lot of postal activity, many employees, and large Postal Trucks.

Beyond the 16th Street Viaduct, things slowed down, the buildings still in hibernation.

The Ice House held command, the Wynkoop Brewing Company was a dream, Coors Field was several dreams away...

1590 Wynkoop Street  looking north at the 16th Street Viaduct and beyond      1986

Any body need some Hydraulic Service? The office is just a few steps away...

You could mail a letter/parcel directly across the street at the Post Office 24/7 - that is a fact.

Once again, nothing was happening - the buildings were strong, the viaducts had sadly grown feeble.  The 16th Street Viaduct carried limited inbound traffic into downtown.

The plan would be:  eliminate access completely, change infrastructure traffic to other areas and create a large ground level area behind Union Station - needed for its density and vitality.

A great idea.

This scene illustrates some of the last years of usage, serving the previous generation of what had become normal.

All these great structures had a reason, a time to add to our familiar routine, a needed companion.

Some buildings are gone, some renovated.  Today we can walk into the Tattered Cover Book Store that replaced the previous tenant and kindly ask, "Do you have a book about Hydraulic Service please?"

Matter of a fact, I think we do.

For additional images and commentary, please refer to the Lower Downtown section.