Your Contribution
The Black American West Museum and Historic Denver are looking for community support to secure funds to restore a local historical site.
Dr. Justina Ford delivered generations of Denver babies, and the organizations are asking for local people to help deliver for her legacy, voting for the restoration effort in a bid to win $150,000 to preserve Ford’s longtime home and office in Five Points.
You can vote daily through Oct. 29 at voteyourmainstreet.org/denver.
Historic Denver has partnered with the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center in the nationwide competition to secure the money to restore the building, the museum’s current home. The project was selected to compete in the Partners in Preservation campaign, created by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In 2019, to mark the upcoming 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, Partners in Preservation will have a special emphasis on historic buildings and sites that celebrate the contributions of women in Main Street communities across America.
The Ford home was saved by the Five Points community and Historic Denver in 1984. Ford was the first licensed, black woman doctor in the city. Because of her race and gender, she was denied access to practice medicine at local hospitals. Instead, her 1890 Italiante-style home near Welton Street, once the main street for Denver’s African American community, served as her medical office from 1911 to 1952.
Ford often accepted services and food in lieu of payment. When she visited a home that was lacking in food or heat, she often sent a basket of groceries or coal following the house call. She is best known for her obstetrics and pediatric work, and many patients knew her as the “Baby Doctor.” She delivered more than 7,000 babies during her 50 years in Denver.
The money would be used to repair the masonry and windows. A recent assessment identified these two areas as the next crucial steps to protect the museum.
The Black American West Museum details the profound influence African Americans had upon Western Expansion. It helps preserve the history of black cowboys such as Bill Pickett, Buffalo Soldiers, and the historic Five Points neighborhood. Learn more at bawmhc.org.
Historic Denver is a membership-driven nonprofit organization that works to preserve the city’s history. It owns and operates the Molly Brown House Museum, provides education and technical assistance for owners of historic properties, operates the Denver Story Trek and Discover Denver projects, and advocates for the continued use of historic places in city life. Learn more at historicdenver.org.