Aug 03 2009
The Richthofen Castle
Richthofen Castle was built by Baron Walter von Richthofen, the uncle and godfather of the famed “Red Baron.” Richthofen Castle was begun in 1883 and completed in 1887, and modeled on the original Richthofen Castle in Germany. It is located in Montclair, a Denver neighborhood, which Baron von Richthofen promoted as “a fount of health and prosperity, and as a model community with enlightened planning and sophisticated architecture. Located immediately around the Castle are the Baron’s mistress’ house and his sanitarium/dairy.
In 1910 it was extensively remodeled by Edwin Hendrie who had purchased it to be his home, and his “modernization” destroyed some of the castle aesthetic, but much remains. J.J.B. Benedict designed the south wing in 1924. The 35-room castle features an oak-panelled entry hall, hand-tooled leather walls, and parquet-floored music room that seats 150. The gatehouse to the east has been converted to a separate residence.
Here is a link to some old pictures of the Richthofen Castle and you can also click on the photo above for more pictures that I took.
Most interestingly, in 1911, Richthofen Castle was the site of one of the most sensational murders in Denver history, of Charles Patterson by his wife, Gertrude. Charles Patterson was shot twice in the back by his wife Gertrude, who claimed self-defense, that he had beaten her. Check out the original New York Times article! Click Here!
Charles Patterson Murdered!
Recently, a law professor at Denver University, Robert Hardaway, wrote an account of the case in his book, entitled “Alienation of Affection”.
Richthofen Castle is located at 7020 E. 12th Ave. Denver, CO.