Hannah Connell Barker (1846-1918)

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Hannah Connell Barker (1846-1918) was an early resident of Boulder, Colorado and a significant figure in its history. 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 sold land used for the construction of Barker Reservoir, long Boulder’s primary source of water, served as a director of the Boulder Bank, and was instrumental in platting and developing significant parts of the City of Boulder.

[edit] Early Life

Born as Hannah Connell, Barker and her family emigrated from Ireland to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1852, six years after her birth. After spending time in Massachusetts and Iowa, she crossed the Great Plains to Boulder County, Colorado with two other early immigrants - 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 which in 1907 was sold to the City of Boulder for construction of a water supply reservoir that still carries the Barker name. Hannah and Ezra had no children, and just six years after their marriage, Ezra died, leaving Hannah to manage on her own. At the time of his death, Hannah had already established herself as an accomplished businesswoman.

[edit] 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. She 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. Barker was also active in a number of temperance movement causes.

Hannah Barker died in Boulder in 1918 from influenza during the Great Influenza Pandemic.

[edit] Hannah Barker House

Barker lived a great part of her life in a stately home on a large lot in the Highland Lawn subdivision she developed. The house, located at 800 Arapahoe Avenue (originally 743 Valley Road), was probably built in the late 1870s. It was built by Ezra Barker in Italianate style, with a small front porch and a distinctive cupola. The grounds featured an attractive iron fence, still in evidence on the property. 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.

Presently, the house is derelict and in a significant state of disrepair. In November 2006, Historic Boulder initiated a landmarking process with the City of Boulder’s Landmarks Preservation Advisory Committee.