Monday, March 15, 2010

Meet the Venue

After searching, tours and deliberation - Matt and Lara have chosen to hold their wedding at the Grant Humpreys Mansion in Denver, CO. I had the opportunity to visit the location when I was visiting the couple in January and I was blown away. From the outdoor terrace over looking a park to the grand staircase entering the main dining room this location is perfect for a classic fairytale wedding. There is more to this mansion than meets the eye, it has a rich history matched with rumors of being haunted.

The Masion

The mansion is a 3 floor, 30-room home, created in the Beaux-Arts style, an architectural art form which is inspired by the ancient world and Renaissance Europe. James Grant, one of Colorado's most wealthiest men, hired talented architects Theodore Davis Boal and F.I. Harnois, to build his show piece home for the total cost of $35,000. The mansion has a glorious brick facade with terra cotta balustrades, projecting balconies and 20 foot columns.

The History

James Benton Grant was born in 1848 on his family's plantation in Alabama. In 1882 he relocated his company, the Grant Smelting Company, and his wife to the state's capital, Denver and was elected third governor of the state, from 1883 - 1885. James Benton Grant died in 1911, and Mary sold this grand home to wealthy southern-born entrepreneur Albert E. Humphreys in 1917.

Haunted Mansion

From HauntedHouses.com

Albert E. Humphreys, who was a keen-eyed, crack shot, died in a suspicious shooting accident on the third floor.

In nearby Cheesman Park, near the Grant Humphreys Mansion, the remains of 2000 people are still buried there, as the park was built on top of the Mount Prospect Graveyard or Boot Hill, founded in 1858. In 1873, the elected officials renamed the cemetery, calling it City Cemetery, a place where epidemic victims, transients and criminals were to be buried. In 1893, like many cities, Denver officials decided to use the land for something else, and gave 90 days for the bodies to be moved. The Catholic and Jewish sections were all removed by church and temple members, but many graves were left unmoved. The city hired an incompetent undertaker who made a huge mess of things, creating a large scandal.

Graves were looted in the process, bodies were broken in order to fit them into little mini-boxes, causing body parts to litter the ground, getting all mixed up. No respect was given the unearthed dead, despite being warned by psychics to say a little prayer over each. (Uh oh! Not a good idea!)

Well, all hell broke loose, and the spirits were disturbed, and began wandering around and through the buildings and homes near the cemetery, showing themselves in mirrors. Finally, the whole mess was plowed under, and a park was made on top of the havoc created, called Cheesman Park.

At least 5 ghosts make the mansion their home.

The entity of Albert E. Humphreys is still enjoying his home, restless because of his untimely death due to either a stupid accident, a possible suicide or a deliberate murder.

4 other separate entities keep him company. Perhaps some are from the disrupted and desecrated graveyard, who still haunt the park area. They perhaps wandered in and liked the mansion, and decided to stay. Perhaps other family members or other people with a connection to this mansion have also decided to move in and make themselves at home.

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