Montclair is a popular neighborhood with an interesting history on the east end of Central Denver. Baron von Richthofen, uncle of the ͞Red Baron͟, came to Colorado from Germany in 1877 and co-founded the Montclair Town and Improvement Company in 1885. Development struggled until the Baron built a castle for his own use at 12th and Olive, created a lateral ditch off the Highline Canal to bring a water supply to grow more lush foliage, and also pushed for four new streetcar lines on 6th, 8th, 17th and Colfax. With the convenient access to downtown and the promise of clean, healthy air for tuberculosis patients, the Montclair neighborhood started to thrive. To ensure Montclair͛s reputation as a prestigious place to live, the Baron used strict building requirements for exclusive use of brick or stone houses and for building on double-size lots. The somewhat hilly neighborhood includes a charming mix of bungalows, cottages, Tudors and ranch style homes. With a variety of schools, parks, and churches as well as easy access to downtown and Lowry to the east, Montclair is a sought-after place to live in Denver.
