Part of the charm of the original homes that remain in Denver’s oldest neighborhoods is the history that comes along with them. All too often, the best we can do is imagine the stories those walls could tell. But every once in a while, they’re remembered and retold, as is the case with this Wash Park bungalow, for sale—for $1.675 million—for the first time in a century.

The home’s history begins in 1892, when stonecutter Charles M. Clayton built the Craftsman-style structure from a striking combination of Castle Rock rhyolite, Manitou Springs sandstone, and Lyons flagstone. Records reveal that Clayton moved to a residence behind a bar on Larimer Street during the Silver Crash, and in 1919, his bungalow was acquired by the Neahr family, who called it home for the better part of a century.

The covered front porch shows off some of the home’s most intricate stonework. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
Beautifully detailed baseboards and a carved newel post make a striking first impression in the entryway. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
Pocket doors slide open to reveal a glimpse of the living room’s original fireplace. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
A new kitchen offers lots of modern conveniences, from a stainless-steel gas range and hood to under-cabinet lighting. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
A fresh coat of white paint updates some of the home’s original millwork. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography

In 2002, Will George Near—an engineer and supervisor at Public Service of Colorado and a professor of Spanish at the University of Denver—delivered a cryptic message to his friend and neighbor, Jan Metzler, as she tended her own bungalow’s garden: “I’ve left you a little something, and you’ll know what to do with it.” Upon Neahr’s death at the age of 82, Metzler learned that he had willed his home to her.

Determined to honor the magnitude of Neahr’s gesture, and the home’s historical integrity, Metzler embarked on a preservation and renovation project that would earn the bungalow landmark status. Guided by the question, What does the house want?—along with the expertise of Denver architect Virginia DuBrucq, Old Greenwich Builders, and historical-preservation consultant Lisa Purdy—Metzler expanded the square footage, updated the kitchen and baths, and added modern conveniences including radiant in-floor heating, all while preserving the home’s original door hardware, push-button light switches, and those gorgeous, hand-chiseled stone walls.

A recent renovation project included the preservation of the home’s original hardware. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
A glimpse of the home’s original stone wall is still visible in the modernized bathroom. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
The observatory’s curved window wall overlooks the professionally landscaped yard and flagstone patios. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
A pergola and mature trees shade the backyard’s flagstone patios and garden beds, which include Will George Neahr’s mother’s prize-winning rose bushes. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography
The backyard’s professional landscaping includes a water feature with a fountain. Photo by Teri Fotheringham Photography

Metzler and her team’s efforts have earned a historic designation from the Landmark Preservation Committee in 2004, the Community Preservation Award in 2005, the Architects’ Choice Award in 2006/2007, and the Restoration for Living Award from Historic Denver in 2007. And though the home’s ties to the past are clear, it also has a lot to offer its new, 21st-century owners: 3,818 square feet of living space, including a beautiful addition (completed in 2005), 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and two fireplaces; a two-car garage; and a 6,300-square-foot lot in one of Denver’s most coveted neighborhoods. Oh, and one pretty awesome neighbor.

1017 S. Race Street is listed by Kentwood Real Estate broker associate Dee Chirafisi for $1.675 million. To learn more, view the listing online here.