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HOOD HOUSE

In September of 1911, F. B. Hood who had come to Parker to become not only a stock holder in the newly formed Parker State Bank, but as the banks cashier, or manager as well. As living accommodations were not readily available, he purchased from Dr. Walter Heath some land on Rural Road just South of the Heaths, in what was known as the Vermont addition to Parker. He immediately secured a builder and started construction on a new two story home.

The Hoods moved into their new house in December of 1911. At the time they had three children, Winfred, Helen, and Florence. The children initially attended the Parker Schools, but as they grew older were sent to better schools, first in Aurora, then to Castle Rock.

Fred immersed himself in local business and social activities. He and another bank director, Harold Senter, acquired a Ford distributorship for the local area and sold Model T Fords out of the bank. He was a trustee of the Ruth Memorial Episcopal Church and assisted in the efforts to build a church building. He was the secretary of the Parker Coronet Band, and occasionally clerked at various farm and ranch auctions. Fred eventually turned political and made a successful run for Douglas County Commissioner. In 1914 the Hoods moved out of their home in Parker and over to the county seat at Castle Rock. They initially rented the house to the Robinson family, but in 1915 sold the house to Mrs. Jewell, mother of R. C. Jones , who had just purchased the old D´Arcy store.

During the 1921 robbery of the Parker State Bank, Hood was in the banks conference room in discussion with a customer and was totally unaware of the crime being committed.

Interesting note; this home was one of only two buildings in Parker that did not sustain any damage during a flood on Tallman Gulch in 1912.

Information for this brief was obtained from various articles in the Record Journal, and the book, A guide to Historical sites in Parker by F . B. McLaughlin.

Updated in January 2009 by Larry T. Smith

Location: In December of 2008 the building which had been removed from its original Pikes Peak location and stored up on blocks for several months behind the Mainstreet Center, has now been moved to a permanent location in Parkers new Preservation Park located 3.2 miles North of Mainstreet and Parker Road, to Valley High Drive and Parker Road. The Preservation Park is located at the N.W. corner of that intersection.

Site created by Alex Hernandez, Alvie Sellmer, & James Vallejos 2009