Thompson-Henry Mansion

This historic estate was built in 1905 for Alonzo Thompson and is part of the Humboldt Street Historic District. The home is located next to Cheesman Park and features the Georgian-Revival style in a design by Baerresen Brothers Architects. This home was one of the first residences in Denver built with steel-beam construction. The first owner Alonzo Thompson was heavily involved in spiritualism which blended aspects of faith with a belief in a thin veil between the living and dead and a degree of ceremony. According to legend, Thompson would perform séances in a secret room in the mansion. In more recent years, the home's connection to cultural history and local lore was further cemented when the house was featured in the remake of the Shining.

This mansion is a work of art. It was built in the Georgian Revival Style. Its features are immaculately maintained. It sits at the center of the Humboldt Historic District. The mansion was commissioned by a known spiritualist. Alonzo Thompson was purported to have séance’s in the home. He consulted spirits for his business decisions.

The Thompson-Henry Mansion is located at the corner of 11th and Humboldt. It was built in 1905 for Alonzo Thompson and family. The Danish-born architects known as the Baerresen Brothers who were based in Denver designed the home along with several other landmarks such as Tivoli Opera House and Tower, El Jebel Shrine, and the first Saint Joseph Hospital.

The mansion was one of the first homes in Denver built with steel support beams. The exterior showcases a Georgian Revival style. It stands at 11,000 square feet. There are 8 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 7 fireplaces, a wine cellar, and beautifully maintained gardens. The façade has a portico and Palladian windows. The interior boasts hardwood detail in the casework, paneling, cabinetry and oak doors. The ceilings have hand-painted artwork and gold leaf ornamentation. There is a life-size stained-glass representation of Romeo and Juliet above a grand staircase

The House is part of the Humboldt Historic District aka Humboldt Island. This district is made up of 24 homes, in a two block area. It runs along Humboldt Street from 12th Ave to 10th Ave. These homes are nestled right along the edge of the park. The area is completely free of high rises. There has been no new construction in the district since 1920. It was listed on the Historic Register in 1978.

The first owner Alonzo Thompson has a curious history. He uprooted his family to Denver in the early 1900s. He was a man deeply interested in the occult. His third wife Annie Thompson and their son lived with him in this home. He married her based on a vision from a medium. In 1901, after his father passed, Alonzo started having nightly séances with his father. It was a legend that he had a secret room built in the mansion for these séances.

In 1912 their personal life came into the spotlight. Alonzo wanted to divorce Annie and disinherit his son. He claimed that his wife and son were plotting to have him committed to an institution. Annie revealed to newspapers that Alonzo was having séances and affairs with ghosts. Alonzo defended his rituals.

“Mrs. Thompson says that my spiritualistic studies have unbalanced my mind. I wonder if she remembers that we were poor until I finally established communications with my father, whose advice has given me the fortune that my wife and son now seek to rob me of.”

Annie also accused him of cheating on her with a Mrs. Noyes. Annie told papers that Alonzo had become obsessed with Mrs. Noyes because she could communicate with Alonzo’s dead father.

In 1913 Alonzo passed away and was buried in Illinois. He left part of his estate to his son and the rest went to institutions focused on spirituality. There are local legends that suggest a spirit made nightly appearances in the mansion following his death. Due to its ghostly history, this mansion was featured in the movie remake of "The Shining." 

1. Geers, Kourtney. Get an exclusive look inside this historic Cheesman Park mansion just listed for $4.5M, Denver Biz Journal. June 24th 2019. Accessed July 3rd 2020. https://www.9news.com/article/life/get-an-exclusive-look-inside-this-historic-cheesman-park-mansion-just-listed-for-45m/73-bff062eb-0c49-4b05-8e0f-36c50f377335.
2. Williams, Kelli. Two Cheesman Park historic mansions are now for sale by LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, The Denver Post. August 1st 2019. Accessed July 3rd 2020. https://www.denverpost.com/2019/08/01/real-estate-voices-two-cheesman-park-historic-mansions-are-now-for-sale-by-liv-sothebys-international-realty/.
3. Thompson, Alonzo . What Converted Me To Spiritualism , One Hundred Testimonies. Accessed July 7th 2020. https://archive.org/stream/cihm_78875#page/n39/mode/2up/search/+Thompson.
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