Since 1892 this building has been serving the Denver community from supporting our WWII troops to sponsoring many charitable activities. At rates far lower than other downtown venues, this space is great for wedding receptions, fundraisers, parties, reunions, etc. Become part of the history!
- Birds eye view of downtown Denver, 1912
Fletcher Mansion
This property once bolstered a mansion built by Donald Fletcher, founder of the city of Aurora. The house, completed in 1892 at a cost in excess of $100,000, was built of Manitou red sandstone. According to the January 1, 1892 edition of The Rocky Mountain News, “none can surpass Mr. Fletcher’s residence in its beauty”. The estate consisted of a parlor finished in mahogany wood, library done in cherry wood, an art gallery with marble tile, four bedrooms and baths, reception hall finished in polished English oak, and several servants’ quarters. Stables and a large 45ft x 45ft hall adjoined the mansion. This hall was used as a gym and floored with light oak. The area, which contained a fully equipped stage, was also used for dances and theatrical performances. In the basement there was a bowling alley and 30-foot heated swimming pool. Mr. Fletcher lost considerable money during the panic of 1893 and the property stood vacant for several years. After many successive owners, including a dancing school, the Knights of Columbus purchased the property for $52,000 in 1919.
Knights of Columbus
The main residence was used as the Knights of Columbus clubhouse until 1961. Unfortunately, decades of wear had taken a toll and building was rapidly deteriorating. Due to the high cost of maintenance, the main residence was torn down and a parking lot installed in its place. In 1963, a two-story 9,500 square foot office building was erected adjoining what is now the Grand hall. Featuring architecture of its time, the $145,000 structure included a bar which still operates to this day. Six major rooms were constructed including a lounge, reading room, billiards room, assembly hall, board room, and kitchen. Around this time a false ceiling was installed in the main hall to reduce heating and cooling costs. While the building has changed little since then, minor improvements continue to be made such as a finished outdoor patio and updated handicapped bathrooms.
Communio Hall is Born
The Knights of Columbus are still the primary tenants and hold regular meetings. They use the space to perform charitable activities and recently celebrated their 100th annual St. Patrick’s Day festival. However, in 2016 Home of Denver took ownership as the holding company of the property. Reddin Inc., a 501(C)(3) non-profit, was designated as the managing body and currently rents the hall for family occasions, wedding receptions, family reunions, fundraisers, social gatherings, etc. In the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Very Reverend Fr. Ron of the Cathedral Basilica was asked by Denver7, “What is the most challenging part of this pandemic?” He exclaimed, “What I miss the most is the community. Communio!” Taking his words to heart, the estate was re-branded to reflect a great need to build the Denver community. Thus; the Downtown Denver Catholic Center was born.
References
Denver cityscape imaged by Charles Louis via https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll22/id/4115/ Fletcher mansion imaged by William Jackson via https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll21/id/6147/rec/1 Grand hall imaged by Bill Smyth, date unknown “Knights of Columbus Council 539, Colorado's Oldest Council On the Dedication of Its New Home.” Denver Catholic Register, 9 May 1963. Mansions of Denver: the Vintage Years 1870-1938, by James Bretz, Pruett Pub. Co., 2005, pp. 92–93.