1255 Emerson Street was built for John A. Rush in 1910 under building permit #1159. The architect on the permit is listed as Walter Rice. According to early advertisements, units in the building had features such as built-in sideboards, sleeping porches, and Holmes disappearing beds.
John Rush and his family lived just across the street from the apartments at 1250 Emerson. Rush served as a Colorado State Senator from 1900 to 1904, and as district attorney from 1913 to 1916. Rush was largely responsible for passage in 1902 of the twentieth amendment to the Constitution of the State of Colorado, known as the Rush Amendment, which created the City and County of Denver by separating it from Arapahoe County.
Architect Rice was also responsible for the Denver landmark Cornwall Apartments at 13th Avenue and Ogden Street and the NRHP-designated Eppich Apartments at 1266 Emerson, located directly across the street from the McGovern.
