Welcome to the Parker Area Historical Society!

MONTGOMERY HOUSE

Frank Leviga Montgomery (1848-1917) was born in Coos County, New Hampshire, the son of William and Mehitabel Montgomery. After the Civil war he came to Colorado and began working as a freighter. He married Elizabeth Ellen O´Neil (1856-1947) from Clinton County Missouri on November 17th 1872. They lived in Arapahoe County until 1873 when they took up a homestead on the W ½, SW ¼ of Section 34 Douglas County. The ranch was on Cherry Creek, just North and East of Stroh Road and Motsenbocker Road. Note: the first Allison School House, a log structure, was built on this land.

The Montgomery’s had six children; Mary Agnes, Frank Leviga Jr, Charles George, Nellie Eunice, Edgar and Lillie Irene. The Montgomery’s were ranchers and farmers and active in local social, business, and political life. Frank was a Republican and was elected as a County Commissioner in 1887. After many years of working the farm, the place was sold in 1906, and Frank and Elizabeth lived for a time in Parker in a house on Euclid Ave. owned by their daughter Nellie Schroer. In June of 1907 they rented a place known as the Baldauf Ranch and lived there, farming until February of 1910, when they retired and moved to a home in Denver. City life did not agree with them and by December of the same year they returned to the Parker area and bought a place known as the Reed Ranch West of Parker. They farmed there until 1916 when they had a new house built in Parker on what is now known as Pikes Peak Drive, and retired a second time. Frank died shortly thereafter in 1917. After Franks death, Elizabeth continued living in her house until she was no longer able to care for herself. She then went to live in Denver with daughter Lillie. She died in 1947. The house has had numerous owners over the years, one of which was Loren and Jean Martin. They added a large addition on the back of the house in 1981 to expand the living space.

Note: in 2008 owners Lew Palmer and Jerry Dandurand had the 1981 addition removed and are building a new addition to serve current needs.

This building has been land-marked by the Town of Parker.

Information for this brief obtained from the book, Our Heritage by the Douglas County Historical Society, the book, A guide to Historical sites in the Parker Area by F. B. McLaughlin, and numerous articles in the Record Journal. Information updated in January 2009 by Larry T. Smith

Location: From Mainstreet and Parker Road, drive East for .2 miles to Pike´s Peak Drive. Turn right for .1 miles to the third house on the right.

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