Address: 1020 9th Street, Denver, CO 80204
Description: Shared Building - Casa Mayan
One of the oldest two houses on the block, this frame residence was built circa 1872 by a Quaker dentist and a teacher, William Smedley, shortly after his arrival from Pennsylvania. At this early date, the site was on the edge of the prairie. Water was drawn from a well in the basement. Smedley family lore tells of one of the young children falling into the well and being rescued by their terrified mother.
The porch on 1020 might have been original, but research did not yield firm enough information for an accurate reconstruction. The porch details were designed by contemporary architects Hombein and White. The bracketed eaves on the house are original.
The house had been through several structural alterations prior to restoration. These remodeling added substantially to the size.
In 1947, one of the city's first Hispanic operated Mexican restaurants - the Casa Mayan - opened here. Established in the family home by Ramon and Carolina Gonzalez, the Casa Mayan quickly became "the place" in Denver to enjoy Mexican cuisine and fine entertainment. Operations continued until 1973.