Cheesman Tudor, which once housed $2.5 million speakeasy lists

Cheesman Tudor, which once housed $2.5 million speakeasy lists – A home adjacent to Cheesman Park with a former speakeasy in the basement, decorated with portraits of artist Herndon Davis, has hit the market for $2.5 million.

Kevin Brynestad and his wife Valeriya Pauley bought the Tudor home in the 1900 block of E. 8th Avenue in 2013 for $900,000.

The four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 5,000-square-foot home overlooks Cheesman Park and is within walking distance of Cherry Creek’s shops and restaurants.

Brynstead was initially drawn to the 1936 home because of its architecture. The house, which has Spanish influences, is open and airy.

“We love Tudors. That’s what caught our attention initially,” Brynstead said.

“But so many have small rooms and you can’t do much with them. This house has a huge living room and dining room. It’s functional and a cool historical piece.”

The home features intricate ironwork, leaded and stained glass windows, hardwood floors, and a Spanish tile roof. Fruit trees and vines fill the backyard.

But the house’s fascinating history also became a draw.

The house was built for Denver historian and attorney Fred Mazzulla and once had a speakeasy in the basement. Legend has it that artist Herndon Davis painted portraits on the walls to pay for his drinks.

Davis worked as an illustrator for newspapers in New York, Washington, DC and Denver, including JS and Rocky Mountain News. He also painted a series of murals for the Central City Opera House and, on a whim, the Face on the Barroom Floor at Teller House. The Western History Department of the Denver Public Library is home to much of Davis’ art.

“When we went to the basement and saw the portrait room, I understood,” Brynstead said. “It’s not until you step into the room and see it that you understand the history behind it.”

The portraits offer a fun look at the state’s history, ranging from former Colorado governors to Titanic survivor Molly Brown and infamous cannibal Alfred Packer.

During the decade-plus he owned the home, Brynstead worked to enlarge and modernize it while staying true to its character. The house still has the original wooden floors, mahogany doors and a Spanish tiled roof.

“It is an excellent example of real craftsmanship,” he says.

Brynstead, an investment banker who owns J&B Capital and can work from home, said that now that their children are grown, he and his wife are selling the house to move closer to his father in the Vail Valley.

“It’s time for a life in the mountains,” he said.

Listing agent Wendy Fryer of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty said the home is in excellent condition.

“Houses from 1936 usually require some work, but this is a beautiful Tudor with large rooms and historic details such as a fireplace and stained glass windows.”

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