New book details the life of Denver preservationist Dana Crawford

Former Denver Post Reporter Mike McPhee's new book about Denver preservationist Dana Crawford has hit the shelves on during the 50th anniversary of Larimer Square, the historic block Crawford is credited with saving.

The book, Dana Crawford: 50 Years Saving the Soul of a City, details how Crawford, a stylish mother and housewife, convinced a group of wealthy investors to buy historic buildings in the 1400 block of Larimer Street -- where Denver began --  to save them from the wrecking ball.

"As a newcomer to Denver in 1954, I could see that its architectural history was about to be erased," Crawford told former Colorado First Lady Dottie Lamm in 2012. "And I felt very motivated, almost obsessed, with a need to figure out to save at least one block of the 26 blocks in downtown Denver that were slated for demolition."

But Crawford is responsible for much more than saving for Larimer Square. Over the years, she's redeveloped the Oxford Hotel, which dragged her into bankruptcy twice, an old flour mill and a mattress factory. She also was instrumental in the redevelopment of Denver Union Station. Despite her protests, her partners in the project named The Crawford Hotel after her.

McPhee, who spent four years working on the book, also outlines Crawford's early life growing up in Salina, Kansas, through her college years and beyond. The book is filled with photographs of the early years in Denver, as well as Crawford's early life.

"I knew from the moment I started this book that capturing this remarkable woman's story would be difficult and unpredictable," McPhee says. "What an understatement! Putting her story down on paper has been like stuffing 10 pounds of potatoes into a five-pound bag."

Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.