Park Hill

The Park Hill Neighborhood
By Thomas J. Noel and William J. Hansen, Photography by Carole D. Cardon

Walk through one of Denver's most elegant neighborhoods.

"Jack Dam," "Master Dam Builder," "Public Servant Extraordinary," "Water Resources Engineer to the World," "Billion Dollar Beaver," "Best Dam Man." These are some of the nicknames and accolades thrust upon the unpretentious John Ludien Savage... He played a major role in designing and constructing the Hoover Dam, Grand Coulee Dam, Shasta Dam, Boulder Dam, much of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and over 200 other water control facilities in seventeen states and nineteen foreign countries... Just as unassuming as the man is the home where he lived from the 1920's to the 1950's. 

Little has changed since this early 1950's view of engineer John L. Savage's modest Park Hill home. From his second-floor office, Savage designed some of the largest and most sophisticated engineering projects in the world. "The basement was excavated and reinforced by Mr. Savage," reports current owner Rachel Brown. "Given his background, I expect this house will stand forever."