Bonnie Brae Community in Denver Colorado

Characterized by winding roads, mature trees and community spirit; Bonnie Brae exemplifies it's name, "pleasant hill" in Gaelic. The neighborhood is known for leafy sidewalks, central park area and thriving main street. Visitors today find the neighborhood as enchanting as the man who originally developed the neighborhood, George W. Olinger.

The land that would one day become Bonnie Brae had been granted to the Kansas Pacific railroad in 1870 but the company never developed it and eventually sold it to local farmers. Olinger, he of the Highlands Mortuary and one of the more famous businessmen of Denver, began buying up land in the area to develop into neighborhood homes.

Source: Historic JeffCo Files

Olinger remembered a charming Kansas City subdivision with the name Bonnie Brae and sought to replicate the neighborhood and name in Denver.

In 9123 Olinger's development company hired the famous landscape architect DeBoer to design a street system that would make the neighborhood similar to the Kansas City ideal. In doing so, DeBoer deviated from the traditional Denver grid system and focused on enhancing the area's natural topography. DeBoer's design resulted in the beautiful, gently winding roads we see today, centered around the ellipsis shaped park in the heart of the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, Olinger's company was in financial difficulty, he sold his personal shares in the mid 20's and in 1928 the company declared bankruptcy. Bonnie Brae fell to the city for tax debt collections and building development halted during the depression. Denver historians and architects often note that the 1920's and 30's were an exciting time for home architectural design. Denver architects were experimenting with the bold new styles such as Art Moderns and the International Style that were coming into fashion.

The Bonnie Brae Neighborhood Association says about the movement:

"Traditional notions of symmetry and decorative ornament exemplified by Neoclassic and Victorian designs were rejected, while new materials and technological advances enabled innovations in architectural compositions."

The International Style, as expressed by architects of the Bauhaus School in Germany, focused primarily on a building's function with the idea that "less is more." Art Moderne structures used classic elements in new ways, emphasizing horizontal lines and softening angles with curved corners.

When the Depression ended and building in the neighborhood resumed, many of the homes were designed in these new, exciting styles. In 1936, Ellipse Park, the center of DeBoer's plan was completed and by the end of WWI housing development in the neighborhood was booming. As Bonnie Brae grew, a thriving commercial "main street" developed between the streets of Exposition and Ohio, including the Bonnie Brae Tavern, which is still open today. The neighborhood association holds an annual picnic that is much anticipated by Bonnie Brae residents. The picnic fosters community feeling, offers a chance to welcome new neighbors and members of the Bonnie Brae Neighborhood Association are selected.

Points of Interest

The neighborhood itself! Take a stroll around Bonnie Brae and you'll notice the colorful alley art that the neighborhood takes great pride in. The art is original, handmade tile mosaics. Many owners over the years have contributed and expanded their "alley art" and hope it will promote neighborly friendship and pride.

Source: https://denverbyfoot.com/belcaro-bonnie-brae-urban-hiking-denver/

The Bonnie Brae Neighborhood Association maintains an active art map for easy walking and viewing https://bonniebrae.org/alley-art-2/alley-art-map/

The Bonnie Brae Tavern was established in 1934 by Carl Dire. Prohibition had just ended and Carl saw an opportunity to open a tavern across the street from one of the driest neighborhoods in Denver - he seized it. Carl and his wife Sue worked hard, slogging through the depression years until prosperity came at last with the end of World War I. The tavern has remained open and family run to this day, becoming a permanent and beloved feature of main street.

Source: https://bonniebraetavern.com/our-history/

Bonnie Brae Icecream, opened in 1986, holds a special place in the hearts of neighborhood children (and adults). A gathering place for families, post-game team debriefs and couples on an evening stroll, Bonnie Brae is the place to be during Denver's warm summer months. The owners are passionate about maintaining their high quality ingredients and still make all of their flavors right there in the store.

Photo Credit: Denver Public Library, Western History Collection, WH2453-2020-203