A Haunted History of Denver's Croke-Patterson Mansion

by Ann Alexander Leggett, Jordan Alexander Leggett

An ominous air hangs about Capitol Hill’s historic Croke-Patterson Mansion. Rumors of spirits and strange events have cast a shadow across its elegant Gilded Age façade. The lonely halls are haunted with stories of a doctor’s wife who committed suicide and the ghostly figure of a young woman who appears to visitors. Tenants of the building have also claimed to hear the cries of children, and dark specters in the basement prevent even the heartiest souls from staying for too long. Join authors Ann Alexander Leggett and Jordan Alexander Leggett as they try to unravel the mysteries that have plagued this Denver mansion for over a century.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2011

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly short history of what might be Denver's most haunted mansion. I've also watched a documentary of this house. My sister mentioned she'd been in the house in the 70's and I remembered writing a short story about that incident in school. I've also parked outside it as an adult.

Now, what did I think of the book? I'm not sure it reached a definitive conclusion about the hauntings. Some people were really affected by the spirits in this house and other people felt nothing. I expected more from the book.

I was confused about the theory that the spirits came from the ditch running under the property. The ditch runs all the way through that neighborhood so why just this house?

I did learn that Thomas Croke, the mansion's builder, also built the reservoir I drive by going to work every day. That was a fun stat.

[Lauren Stanek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be a lot better. More about the stories and hauntings, less about the groups that have held functions there or did a walk-through. The timeline was very informative as far as who owned the mansion, but there really wasn't much in-depth story telling. I enjoyed the second to last chapter about the short blurbs of people who have had paranormal experiences in the home. I was expecting a lot more of that. Though a very small complaint, the book started to get a bit repetitive toward the end. The chapter with the paranormal group listed three times in a page and a half that they were one of two groups to go through the mansion. I just wasn't sure why this was repeated so many times in such a short time frame. I appreciate that there are individuals cataloging this important history and area of Denver, I just had higher expectations. I live two blocks from the mansion and pass by it almost daily. I've also gone on a few haunted walking tours in and around Capitol Hill so I may have had my expectations higher than most. If you were not at all familiar with the history of the mansion, I think you would enjoy this book a lot more.

[Robert Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

These authors have co-authored several books about local haunted histories, and this is the second one of their works I’ve read. It’s always difficult to know how to deal with a book whose subject is haunted history. It’s very easy to allow the ghost stories to overshadow the genuine history. Fortunately, though the Leggetts are clearly writing from the perspective of paranormal enthusiasts, this book (and what I’ve read of the authors’ other works) manages to find what I think is mostly the correct balance. Though focused on the ghost stories, the authors treat the genuine history with all due respect, alternating between reporting what various ghost hunters have found over the years and stories drawn from historic archives. Lest you think they’re just paying lip service to the history, these authors have also managed to find a piece of evidence regarding a death at the mansion that had previously eluded even the most dedicated of historic investigators (in that case because it was misfiled in a box of unrelated documents).

But at the same time, while readers like myself might find the history even more fascinating than the ghost stories, most people will be attracted to this book primarily because the Croke is one of Denver’s most famously haunted locations. Now operating as a hotel, it’s the single location responsible for probably more ghost stories in the established literature than any other Colorado building. And while it would have been impossible for the authors to retell ALL of those stories in such a short book, they do a good job of highlighting some of the most interesting or noteworthy ones.

It's the sort of book you’ll likely read in a single sitting, and probably of interest mostly only to Denver residents or visitors. But I have to say, even if you’re from out of town, if you’re interested in historic properties or in ghost stories, it’s worth reading.

[Amelia Kibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, which attempts to chronicle the colorful past and present of a very unique Denver building, was well-researched and enjoyable to read. I learned quite a bit about the house, through its story, the history of Denver as well.

The descriptions of some of the oddly shaped rooms, and the stories about the dogs and the mirror did give me chills. It also definitely made me want to visit the house sometime so I can experience it all for myself.

However, I would say my critique of the book lies with its heavy reliance on the author's and other people's "feelings" about the house and how the spiritual energy did things to their bodies. I actually believe in ghosts because I have seen them and felt some energy similar to what was described in the book. Although, when building a case for a haunting, relying on these forms of "evidence" is simply not convincing, especially since the ghost hunters with the experience and the equipment came back with results suggesting the property is not actively haunted.

The main "power" I think the structure has is its ability to weave a spell over people, to pique their interest, and to capture their hearts. Many people have dedicated a lot of time and effort into preserving the site as well as researching it and investigating it. It's obviously a unique place that matters to a lot of people, and I respect that.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denver has so much to offer, this book brings you a bit of insight into a lesser thought out history of Denver than many think of.
Talking about a mansion built many years ago in the then building Denver, there is a brief history to the house, its building and the people that have lived and worked there.
There is information on paranormal groups that have investigated the house and personal accounts of happenings.
I picked up this book while in Denver, but sadly did not start reading til I was home. I would love to visit this place - even to just look at the outside from afar.
This is what this book does, it gives you a taste of what might be. This is my first time hearing of this location (even being from Colo. and volunteering at the Molly Brown house, another historical home not far from Croke-Patterson house) I am now more interested in finding out more and perhaps one day getting a personal view if not account of the house that "..has come to life within us [authors] as it has in so many owners, tenants and passersby." (intro.)
While the book is small and seemingly touches only the tip of the ice berg of happenings it is a good read and worth the time to get a view into the Croke-Patterson mansion.

[Cee Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting breezy read filled with names, dates, and details about the Croke-Patterson mansion in Capital Hill, Denver, Colorado. For any local, it is now the charming looking hotel that often has ghost tours outside it in the evenings.

This book is a good choice for anyone curious about the facts of the mansion and separating fact from myth.

The author is rather a skeptic which is refreshing because the facts in the book are not presented in a manner to sway the reader one way or the other.

The book can be a little dry at times unless you're a hardcore history geek. But there are juicy bits and anecdotal stories from people who either lived or worked in the mansion at some time or other.

[Jewell Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I probably drove past this mansion over 100 times in my lifetime, and never even glanced at it. I probably thought it was a school or something. It's that big. I loved that the authors actually researched the hauntings, and tried to determine fact from fable. After reading this I had to look it up on the internet, and try to find out why I never noticed it before. It's a Bed and Breakfast now, and looks absolutely stunning. I might have to plan a trip. Definitely wortht the read.

[Rhiannon Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers so so so much information about the history of the Croke-Patterson Mansion and paranormal occurrences over its many years of existence. Towards the end I felt the way it was written jumped around a little, which was my only complaint. Besides that I found it a great read with plenty of interesting information on the topic. The long hours of research really shine through here.

[Erika Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historically fascinating and spooky

I’d be very interested to read more of Leggett’s work on the history and interrelated nature of Denver and its environs.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow this book felt uncoordinated, like the author’s couldn’t decide whether it was history or a paranormal expose.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a balanced and well-researched account of the property.