Hannah Connell Barker
Encyclopedia
Hannah Connell Barker was an early resident of Boulder, Colorado
. Barker was a teacher, civic leader, businesswoman and land developer in an era when industrious women were not commonly recognized for their contributions. Among other things, Barker served as a teacher; as director of the Boulder Bank; and was instrumental in platting and developing significant parts of the City of Boulder. She also owned the land that was used for the construction of Barker Meadow Reservoir, long Boulder’s primary source of water.
Born as Hannah Connell, Barker and her family emigrated from Ireland
to Springfield, Massachusetts
in 1852. After spending time in Massachusetts and Iowa, she crossed the Great Plains
with two other early immigrants to Boulder County, Colorado
, her lifelong friend, Mary Davidson, and Davidson’s husband, William. Barker settled in Ward, Colorado
, not far from the City of Boulder. There, beginning in the mid-1860s, she taught school, providing a civilizing influence on the children of local miners. In 1869, Barker moved to Boulder where she became one of the first female teachers in the local school district.
In 1877, she married Ezra Barker, a local businessman with extensive real estate holdings. Mr. Barker owned a number of mining and ranching interests, including a ranch in Boulder Canyon near the town of Nederland, Colorado
. In the early years of the 20th Century, the Central Colorado Power Company wanted to buy the ranch to build a hydroelectric dam, which would have flooded the property and created a sizable reservoir. The City of Boulder's account of the construction of the dam and the creation of the reservoir indicates that Barker refused to sell the land and was eventually forced to part with the land after the City commenced condemnation proceedings—a legal action similar to the present-day legal procedure of eminent domain
. Thus, in 1907, after commencement of the condemnation proceeding, Barker sold the land adjacent to Nederland for the construction of the Barker Meadow Reservoir.
Hannah and Ezra had no children, and just six years after their marriage, Mr. Barker died, leaving Hannah to manage on her own. At the time of Mr. Barker’s death, Hannah had already established herself as an accomplished business woman.
In association with several other local women, Hannah Barker formed the Boulder Creamery in 1887. Beginning in 1898, Hannah Barker was appointed to the board of directors of Boulder Bank, where she would serve until her death. In addition to her business endeavors, Barker was involved in numerous civic causes. Barker founded the Boulder Women’s Club and was active in the Ladies’ Literary Society and the Boulder Fortnightly Club. She was also active in supporting Boulder’s Congregational Church and Columbia Cemetery and was a member of Boulder's Colorado Chautauqua Association. In 1911, Barker donated land to the City of Boulder at the corner of 15th and Spruce Streets for use as Barker Park. Barker was also active in a number of temperance movement
causes.
Hannah Barker died in Boulder in 1918 of influenza during the Spanish Flu Pandemic
Barker lived a great part of her life in a stately home on a large lot in the Highland Lawn
subdivision she developed. The original house, located at 800 Arapahoe Avenue (originally 743 Valley Road), was likely built in the late 1870s. Subsequent additions to the house were built by Ezra Barker in Italianate style, with a small front porch and distinctive cupola. The grounds featured an attractive iron fence, still in evidence on the property today. Barker made significant additions to the house in the 1890s, adding a prominent wrap-around porch and side addition and modifying the structure’s window openings.
On her death, Barker willed the house to her longtime friend, Mary Davidson, who had lived with Barker in the house for many years. Davidson resided in the house until her death in 1923. During the 20th Century the house had been used as a single family residence and an apartment building with as many as six units. At one time, plans were made to use the Hannah Barker House as a bed and breakfast.
On December 30, 2010, the previous owners donated the Hannah Barker House to Historic Boulder, Boulder's first permanent non-profit dedicated to Historic Preservation. The gift was the culmination of several years of collaboration between Historic Boulder, the previous owners, and the City of Boulder. Boulder's City Council unanimously designated the Hannah Barker House as an individual landmark on March 17, 2009. Historic Boulder plans a major project to restore the Hannah Barker House spearheaded by a talented all-volunteer committee.
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
. Barker was a teacher, civic leader, businesswoman and land developer in an era when industrious women were not commonly recognized for their contributions. Among other things, Barker served as a teacher; as director of the Boulder Bank; and was instrumental in platting and developing significant parts of the City of Boulder. She also owned the land that was used for the construction of Barker Meadow Reservoir, long Boulder’s primary source of water.
Early life
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
in 1852. After spending time in Massachusetts and Iowa, she crossed the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
with two other early immigrants to Boulder County, Colorado
Boulder County, Colorado
Boulder County is the sixth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county seat is Boulder. The most populous municipality in the county and the county seat is the City of Boulder...
, her lifelong friend, Mary Davidson, and Davidson’s husband, William. Barker settled in Ward, Colorado
Ward, Colorado
Ward is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The population was 150 at the 2010 census. The town is a former mining settlement founded in 1860 in the wake of the discovery of gold at nearby Gold Hill...
, not far from the City of Boulder. There, beginning in the mid-1860s, she taught school, providing a civilizing influence on the children of local miners. In 1869, Barker moved to Boulder where she became one of the first female teachers in the local school district.
In 1877, she married Ezra Barker, a local businessman with extensive real estate holdings. Mr. Barker owned a number of mining and ranching interests, including a ranch in Boulder Canyon near the town of Nederland, Colorado
Nederland, Colorado
The Town of Nederland is a Statutory Town established in 1885 located near the Continental Divide and Barker Meadow Reservoir in the mountains of southwest Boulder County, Colorado....
. In the early years of the 20th Century, the Central Colorado Power Company wanted to buy the ranch to build a hydroelectric dam, which would have flooded the property and created a sizable reservoir. The City of Boulder's account of the construction of the dam and the creation of the reservoir indicates that Barker refused to sell the land and was eventually forced to part with the land after the City commenced condemnation proceedings—a legal action similar to the present-day legal procedure of eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
. Thus, in 1907, after commencement of the condemnation proceeding, Barker sold the land adjacent to Nederland for the construction of the Barker Meadow Reservoir.
Hannah and Ezra had no children, and just six years after their marriage, Mr. Barker died, leaving Hannah to manage on her own. At the time of Mr. Barker’s death, Hannah had already established herself as an accomplished business woman.
Businesswoman and Civic Leader
In the 1880s, Barker set to work on a number of significant business endeavors. By 1884, Barker had purchased real estate adjacent to the young City of Boulder and began platting the town of Highland Lawn. The plat included 19 sites, all with rights to the adjacent Anderson Ditch, and owners were encouraged to plant trees and improve their lots with attractive fencing. The town was annexed to the City of Boulder in 1891.In association with several other local women, Hannah Barker formed the Boulder Creamery in 1887. Beginning in 1898, Hannah Barker was appointed to the board of directors of Boulder Bank, where she would serve until her death. In addition to her business endeavors, Barker was involved in numerous civic causes. Barker founded the Boulder Women’s Club and was active in the Ladies’ Literary Society and the Boulder Fortnightly Club. She was also active in supporting Boulder’s Congregational Church and Columbia Cemetery and was a member of Boulder's Colorado Chautauqua Association. In 1911, Barker donated land to the City of Boulder at the corner of 15th and Spruce Streets for use as Barker Park. Barker was also active in a number of temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
causes.
Hannah Barker died in Boulder in 1918 of influenza during the Spanish Flu Pandemic
Hannah Barker House
Highland Lawn
Highland Lawn is a subdivision in Boulder, Colorado. The subdivision contains a concentration of well-preserved buildings reflecting the prevailing architectural tastes at the turn of the twentieth century, including Queen Anne style, Classic Cottage, and Victorian house vernacular styles...
subdivision she developed. The original house, located at 800 Arapahoe Avenue (originally 743 Valley Road), was likely built in the late 1870s. Subsequent additions to the house were built by Ezra Barker in Italianate style, with a small front porch and distinctive cupola. The grounds featured an attractive iron fence, still in evidence on the property today. Barker made significant additions to the house in the 1890s, adding a prominent wrap-around porch and side addition and modifying the structure’s window openings.
On December 30, 2010, the previous owners donated the Hannah Barker House to Historic Boulder, Boulder's first permanent non-profit dedicated to Historic Preservation. The gift was the culmination of several years of collaboration between Historic Boulder, the previous owners, and the City of Boulder. Boulder's City Council unanimously designated the Hannah Barker House as an individual landmark on March 17, 2009. Historic Boulder plans a major project to restore the Hannah Barker House spearheaded by a talented all-volunteer committee.