Crawford Hill was the son of Nathaniel Peter Hill, most notably the founder of Colorado's smelting industry. Crawford Hill's mother was one of the original founders of the Young Women's Christian Association of America (YWCA). In 1895, Crawford Hill, a life-long Republican, married Louise Bethel Sneed, the daughter of a Memphis aristocratic family. As such, Louise Hill was familiar with all the rules of high society. She resolved to become Denver's social leader and ultimately ruled over Denver's social elite for more than 30 years. She was the leader of the "Sacred 36," a group of Denver individuals acceptable to the inner circles of New York and Newport Society. Mrs. Hill personally signaled the beginning of Denver's social season each spring, with the unveiling of her covered garden statue, a life-size nude figure of a woman holding a bouquet of Easter lilies, Mrs. Hill's favorite flower. (This statue was sold at auction, after the Crawford Hill house was purchased by HRC II.) Mrs. Hill wrote Denver's first social register and was one of the very few western women ever to be presented to the St. James Court, considered the epitome of social eminence at the time. Many distinguished guests were entertained in her home; three years after its completion, an addition was made to the south, specifically for house guest President William Howard Taft. An historic wooden lamp that is reputed to have come from Thomas Jefferson's old home still hangs in the vestibule near the front door. Mrs. Crawford Hill's reputation as the social leader of Denver was immortalized in the musical, "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," in which it is she who works to keep Mrs. Brown out of Denver's social circles.
Crawford Hill died in 1922, leaving two sons, Crawford, Jr. and Nathaniel Peter, IV, to carry on the family name.
Crawford Hill died in 1922, leaving two sons, Crawford, Jr. and Nathaniel Peter, IV, to carry on the family name.
Crawford Hill was the son of Nathaniel Peter Hill, most notably the founder of Colorado's smelting industry. Crawford Hill's mother was one of the original founders of the Young Women's Christian Association of America (YWCA). In 1895, Crawford Hill, a life-long Republican, married Louise Bethel Sneed, the daughter of a Memphis aristocratic family. As such, Louise Hill was familiar with all the rules of high society. She resolved to become Denver's social leader and ultimately ruled over Denver's social elite for more than 30 years. She was the leader of the "Sacred 36," a group of Denver individuals acceptable to the inner circles of New York and Newport Society. Mrs. Hill personally signaled the beginning of Denver's social season each spring, with the unveiling of her covered garden statue, a life-size nude figure of a woman holding a bouquet of Easter lilies, Mrs. Hill's favorite flower. (This statue was sold at auction, after the Crawford Hill house was purchased by HRC II.) Mrs. Hill wrote Denver's first social register and was one of the very few western women ever to be presented to the St. James Court, considered the epitome of social eminence at the time. Many distinguished guests were entertained in her home; three years after its completion, an addition was made to the south, specifically for house guest President William Howard Taft. An historic wooden lamp that is reputed to have come from Thomas Jefferson's old home still hangs in the vestibule near the front door. Mrs. Crawford Hill's reputation as the social leader of Denver was immortalized in the musical, "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," in which it is she who works to keep Mrs. Brown out of Denver's social circles.
Crawford Hill died in 1922, leaving two sons, Crawford, Jr. and Nathaniel Peter, IV, to carry on the family name.
Crawford Hill died in 1922, leaving two sons, Crawford, Jr. and Nathaniel Peter, IV, to carry on the family name.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
