Duncan House

he "Duncan House" at 5503 South Prince Street in Littleton was built about 1906 or 1907. Joseph L. Hill was apparently the builder and perhaps the original owner. Not much is known of Joe Hill, except that he came to Colorado about 1875 and was here as late as 1909 when he was photographed with Judge Lewis B. Ames and Jesse Markle.

The Duncan House, 1913 and c. 1997.

Frank and Louisa Duncan came to Colorado in 1890 and moved to Waterton in 1895. Mrs. Duncan ran a boarding house, and their children attended Platte Canyon School. In 1906 Mr. Duncan ran a restaurant on Main Street in Littleton. Perhaps it was about this time that the Duncans built or acquired the house at 5503 South Prince Street.

The Duncan children were Fred C., Wilse, Harry, and Ralph. Several of them were outstanding athletes in Littleton High School. Later, Ralph became a carrier for the Littleton Post Office and in 1929 was the town's fire chief. Frank and Louisa and all their sons are buried in the Littleton Cemetery.

The Duncan house was built on the northeast corner of Richard Little's original plat of the town and has always been a single family residence. Its architectural style was common during the early 1900's. The turned columns and fretwork of the front porch were specifically used for this style of building. A distinctive feature is the decorative shingling covering the east gable. The home is typical of middle class homes built in Colorado's Front Range area during the Victorian period. An attractive wire fence enclosing the front yard was added sometime after a 1913 photograph was taken.

Inside the home the original floor and staircase still exist as do most of the original wood trim and window glass.

In 1992 and 1993, owners Vicki and Peggy Munroe renovated the interior and exterior of the building. The Littleton Historical Museum called it a premier example of how an historic building should be restored. It was featured on the cover of the Littleton Calendar in 1994, and designated an historic landmark by the city in April 1995.

Bibliography

Barnes, Candice. An Architectural and Historical Building Survey: Inventory and Evaluation, Littleton, Colorado. Phase IV. Littleton, Colo.: Littleton Historical Museum, 1975.

City of Littleton. Littleton Calendar. Littleton, Colo.: The City, 1994.

Littleton Historical Museum. "City Boards and Programs: Historical Preservation Board. Duncan House, 5503 South Prince Street." Littleton, Colo.: The Museum, 1995.

Littleton Historical Museum. Photographic Archives and Biography/Place Name Files.

Mount Rosa Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Littleton Cemetery. Littleton, Colorado. Littleton, Colo.: Mount Rosa Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 1983.

Nippert, Stephen. An Architectural and Historical Building Survey: Inventory and Evaluation, Littleton, Colorado. Phase II. Littleton, Colo.: Littleton Historical Museum, 1973.

Photographs courtesy of the Littleton Historical Museum, unless otherwise noted; to order copies, contact the Museum at 303-795-3950.

Compiled by Doris Farmer Hulse

Updated January 2004