History Matters — Working Women Who Shaped Boulder

Mary Cowie: Boulder's First Female Postmaster

Boulder has more than 220 individual landmarks, but only about 10% specifically honor women's achievements.

The Cowie House at 703 Pine Street illustrates how that gap develops: named primarily for James Cowie - Mayor of Boulder and Colorado Secretary of State - it also mentions his sister, Mary Cowie. The landmark documents her professional record, but not the personal constraints she navigated alongside it.

Mary served as Deputy County Clerk and Recorder beginning in 1892 and was appointed Deputy Postmaster in 1894 - the year after Colorado became the first state to grant women the vote by popular referendum. She held the role for 28 years.

Mary was then appointed postmaster by the U.S. Senate, then defeated three male candidates, including the incumbent. She served until 1934.

Mary never purchased a home. Social norms made it uncommon for an unmarried woman to live alone, and marriage would have ended her career - women in public roles at this time were expected to resign upon marrying.

1925 Carnegie Library for Local History

"Molloy Scenic Tours."

Florence Molloy and Mabel MacLeay: Transportation Pioneers

In 1918, Mary encouraged her niece Florence Cowie Molloy and Florence's companion Mabel MacLeay to move to Boulder.

Both had separated from their husbands. They arrived with their children and launched a taxi business - one of the few options open to them at this time.

They presented themselves carefully, noting publicly that they had their husbands' permission and were not displacing men called to the draft. Their personal relationship remained private; 1920s Boulder offered no recognized space for a same-sex partnership.

Their success drew resistance. After opposing a park transportation monopoly, they reported receiving threats from the Ku Klux Klan.

In 1924, they drove passengers through Rocky Mountain National Park to challenge the law, were arrested, and faced federal sentences of up to five years. Federal charges from the arrest were later dropped.

Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

"Crowd at Depot." Circa 1900-1919.

In 1925, the railroad awarded them the exclusive concession to pick up passengers at the Boulder Depot. In 1926, competitors lobbied City Council, which passed Ordinance 1169, eliminating the arrangement.

Florence and Mabel then opened an office in the depot's ladies' waiting room - only to face a new complaint from three male drivers who argued the space excluded them.

A judge sided with the men and ordered the women out. The following day, Florence and Mabel sold the business.

They later opened the Double M Ranch in Gold Hill, running a hotel and tours through the 1940s.

Several Boulder landmarks are connected to Florence and Mabel's story, including 1019 Spruce Street, where the family lived for 25 years. Read about 5 Historic LGBTQ+ Landmarks in Boulder.

History Matters

The History Matters series records and uncovers a more inclusive history of our city. This work intends to critically reflect on our past, uncover a more comprehensive history of Boulder and highlight stories from historically underrepresented communities.

Landmark designations reflect the evidence available when they are written. Asking new questions of familiar places can reveal a more complete picture of Boulder's past and the people who lived here.

The city's Historic Preservation team regularly researches and presents this work with the city Landmarks Board. Watch a presentation of this story on the April 2026 recording.

• 1925 Carnegie Library for Local History

  "Molloy Scenic Tours."

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Mary Cowie." Circa 1904.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History

  "The Cowie House at 703 Pine St." Circa 1929.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Boulder Post Office employees." 1931.

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• Boulder Daily Camera

  "Postmaster Cowie." July 19, 1922.

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• Boulder Daily Camera

  "Miss Cowie Notified." April 11, 1922.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder

  "933 Pine St." circa 1929.

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• The Syracuse Herald

  "Syracuse Women Own Prosperous Taxi Business." Dec. 8, 1918.

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• National Museum of American History Library

  "Paterson Six." 1918.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "1400 block of Pearl Street. Circa 1917."

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• Rocky Mountain News

  Advertising in the Rocky Mountain News, January 8, 1922.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder

  "Florence Molloy and Mabel MacLeay at Colorado Mountain Ranch."

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Crowd at Depot." Circa 1900-1919.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Mabel MacLeay and Florence Molloy with taxis." 1922.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder

  "Florence and Mabel's taxi on the way to Estes Park." 1921.

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• Rocky Mountain News

  Florence and Mabel.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Boulderado Hotel." 1921.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder

  The Squires-Tourtelot House at 1019 Spruce St." Circa 1969.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Route map."

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• Courtesy Estes Park Museum: Image ID 2016.005.0441)

  Hairpin Curve, Fall River Road.

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• Boulder Daily Camera

  "Crushes of Tourists." June 19, 1925.

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• Rocky Mountain News

  "Taxi! Taxi!" cartoon. June 19, 1927.

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• Boulder Daily Camera

  December 30, 1925, newspaper clipping.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Crowd at Boulder Depot." 1929.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Women's waiting room." 1930.

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• Boulder Daily Camera

  Molloy Scenic Tours newspaper clipping.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Double M Ranch in Gold Hill." Circa 1930.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder

  "The Squires-Tourtelot House."

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• Mapleton Hill Historic District/National Register of Historic Places

  "The Squires-Tourtelot House / Malick House." 2026.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Union Depot." Circa 1900.

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• City of Boulder

  "Boulder Depot." 2026.

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• Boulder Historical Society/Museum of Boulder

  "Boulderado Hotel." 1921.

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• City of Boulder Individual Landmark/National Register of Historic Places

  "Boulderado Hotel." 2026

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• Boulder Historical Society.Museum of Boulder

  "Post office employees." Circa 1930.

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• Downtown Historic District / National Register of Historic Places

  "United States Post Office." 2026.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History

  The Cowie House.

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• 2026 City of Boulder Individual Landmark / Mapleton Hill Historic District

  The Cowie House. 2026.

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• Carnegie Library for Local History

  "933 Pine St."

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• 2026 Mapleton Hill Historic District

  "933 Pine St." 2026.

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• Rocky Mountain News

  May 27, 1923, illustration.

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