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687 Colorado Ave was built in 1901 by R. E. Weant from Maryland. After he built the home, it was transferred to his brother S.D. Weant. The Weant Brothers were quite active in the area. The first record of them appeared in the Glenwood Post in June 1899, noting that they had received a butcher bond. The brothers owned a butcher shop in Glenwood Springs until at least 1902, and also one here in Carbondale at 343 or 351 Main St. The census shows that R.E. had moved to Rifle by 1903. This home remains one of Carbondale's finest examples of Late Victorian architecture. It is significant for its position in the early development of the town, and is one of several large brick homes indicative of a substantial investment in the community. It also indicates a desire for permanence in a day and age when people were moving across the country to seek their fortunes. Note the curved fascia and pediment, scroll brackets at the eaves, and projecting pediments. These are quite unique and unlike the other decorative elements in town. The original entry wall configuration can still be seen inside the porch.

687 Colorado Ave

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The property at 65 N 6th St was sold to Milo & Rosie Ann Towne in 1900 (he was a farmer).Sometime before 1904, it was sold to rancher Tesse Brent. In 1904 John Mahnkin, who was single at the time, became the owner. John Mahnkin was a cattle rancher, and a member of the group that founded the Carbondale Town & Land Co.. He built this home in 1910. Five years later, he sold the property, and the home would belong to four more families before it was sold in the early '90's to Mariangela Causa-Steindler. The style is known as rustic, and evidently, this property was one with the adjacent parcel until 2009. Traits of a rustic home often include hewn logs with stacked corners, and a simple gabled roof form; there is often a steep slope with wood shingles. Here we see characteristic wood shingle infill above the eave line and minimal window openings.

65 N 6th St.

610 Colorado Avenue was evidently moved to this property, although evidence has not been discovered to tell when, or where it was before. This home was probably built around 1910, as well. Again, this is the rustic style. Note the front gabled roof and wood shingles, and square hand-cut logs that stack with interlocking corners. The logs are not notched, but overlap in alternate courses. This home has a rubble stone foundation. Additions that may have occurred at the time of the relocation include a new window in the front gable, saddlebag dormers, the addition to the rear, and possible roof reconstruction.

610 Colorado Ave

Late 19th &amp; Early 20th Century Revival

689 Main Street was originally part of a large parcel of land that extended across Colorado Avenue. Samuel Dillon Weant, SD, "Del" and his brother Romus, R.E. owned the property. In 1900 Samuel married Laura Barnhart of Denver. He then conveyed several sections of the large parcel to the town for streets, which extended the townsite grid. He was an owner of Carbondale Creamery in 1907, and also a cattle dealer. Del Weant was Carbondale's Mayor from 1909 to 1910. Carbondale invited anyone to run who wanted a chance to be mayor. Mayors were elected frequently, and most local businessmen in town served at least one term. This home was built in 1913. When SD died in 1919, the house was conveyed to David James, who was eventually unable to pay the note, and was foreclosed upon in 1932. A number of owners followed, and then in 1988 The Cony Co. bought the property, and nine years later it was purchased and transferred to Shadow Holdings, thus it has operated in a commercial capacity for quite some time. This home is classified as Late 19th & Early 20th Century Revival, and is the only home of this style in Carbondale. The main two-story section is rectangular with two equally spaced double-hung windows with marble sills. There is a circular brick element between windows.  

689 Main St

In 1885 711 Main Street was sold to WHH Waldron by Ottowa Tanney. Charles Perham next purchased the property, and then conveyed it to his heirs. In 1900 Myron Thompson, one of the valley's early homesteaders, assembled six lots and built this home for his large family - he had just married Melinda, his former sister-in-law, who came into the marriage with eight children. Myron himself had eight children, including Hattie, whom you will learn more about if you visit the Thompson House Museum. The home next passed to Frank Huber (Myron's cousin, the the lumberyard manager) in 1911, and stayed in his possession until his death. In 1953 James Darien, from one of the Italian immigrant farming families, purchased the home. This Late Victorian building is significant as one of a group of moderately-sized residential buildings located on the perimeter of the original town center. In 2006 it was renovated for offices and an emphasis was placed on maintaining the building's form, pattern, and materials; as part of the renovation paint was removed from the brick facade.

711 Main St

Philip E. Weaver, originally from Pennsylvania, was the north end ranch owner who subdivided this land in the late 1800's. He had moved here with his family from Leadville. The home at 85 N 7th Street was most likely constructed in 1898 by Hugh Pattison, one of the town Blacksmiths. Hugh was 33 years old - his wife Flora and two daughters, Peach and Blanche, lived here. Next the home belonged to James & Ludocia Brown (he was a housepainter), and in 1933 to James & Isabella Legget, who were Scottish. He had a hotelkeeping background. James sold to George Garrison in the same year. Records show that in 1964 William Antonides sold to August & Elda (Cerise) Darien. The Cerises are one of the large ranching families in the valley, originally from Val d'Aosta, Italy; they settled here at the turn of Century. The Dariens had a family farm in El Jebel. Members of both families live in the Roaring Fork Valley to this day. Late Victorian details include decorative shingle infill at the gable ends and above the eave line, as well as scroll brackets that support the crown molding and extend along the porch lintel. Note that in the front entrance an early wood panel door has an arched light that retains its original waved glass. The assessors office records show this to be a wood framed house. At one time there was aluminum siding, and the brick veneer was probably added when the siding was removed in the 1980's or 90's. The large dormers were added, the front porch was altered, and a large rubble chimney was added, then removed. 

85 N 7th St

189 N 7th Street was sold by Philip E Weaver to Oscar Ittleson in 1899. Oscar was a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania who, in 1889, had launched a Denver-based dry goods company by the name of O. Ittleson &amp; Co.. That same year he expanded to Carbondale, opening The Denver Store on Main Street. There he sold dry goods (textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and accessories) and notions (thread, fasteners, and small tools used in sewing). He sold the store in 1901 for $50K. Meanwhile, this 7th Street property changed hands two more times, and then in 1905 William &amp; Estella Pings purchased it. William worked as a clerk at The Dinkle Mercantile Co.. By 1910 he was the manager of the creamery. This home was built sometime between 1910 and 1920, and by 1918 William had opened Pings Cash Store, which was the grocery across from Dinkels on Main Street. In 1936 he was appointed town postmaster, thus the post office was operated out of Ping's. In 1927 this home was transferred to Stanley Pings, his son. In 1953 Fred &amp; Veronica Kroelling purchased the property. They had a ranch in Avon, and may have held home has an investment. In 1976 JE and Peggy DeVilbiss became the owners. The Late Victorian/Queen Anne architectural details have changed somewhat over the years, but the early wood panel single-light door, the one-over-one double-hung sash windows, and the wide bands of fish scale shingles are probably original. The secondary residence and garage were built in 2003, and were designed to reference some of the details found on the historic home. Note the old spruce trees around the home. There are also a number of old Siberian elms in town, planted because they grew quickly and provided shade.

189 N 7th St

The the original 29' by 29' two-story portion of 789 Lincoln Ave was built sometime between 1890 and 1900. Rumor has it that this home was moved to Carbondale from Aspen around 1941, and may have been the Dunbar Wright house that stood at First and Hallam. Eloise Sherwood appears on record as the home's owner at this location. Her family had resided in Aspen since the early 1800's when her grandmother arrived there from Chicago. Robert Sherwood, Eloise's father, owned a grocery store in Carbondale, and she lived with her parents in this home while teaching school at Rock Creek. Eloise married Charles Timbrook in the mid-1940's and they resided in the home until 1954. The next owners were Percy and Margaret Blodgett, Basalt farmers, and they were followed by the Coopers. This Late Victorian home has undergone several remodels, but the original upper wall may be seen on the west (left) side. Two entrances to the original home remain on the back side. Architectural elements have been created to emulate historical details. At the main entry there is an early panel door with an upper single light and stained glass detail.

789 Lincoln Ave

798 Lincoln Street was sold in 1899 by Philip E Weaver, to Oscar Ittleson. In 1901 John Henry & Laura Smith bought it for $150. When they divorced later that year, they sold to Henry Jessup for $100. Henry operated the town Livery Stable on 4th Street. When he was elected town mayor in 1899, he and wife Anna resided on a farm outside of town. In 1901, Emma & William Holgate purchased the land and moved into town from Redstone. Since he was a carpenter, he probably built the home himself in 1902. In 1908 the home sold for $1200 to Veola and Edith Brown - he worked for the D&RG railroad, and then the Crystal River Railroad. At one point, they lived in the residential quarters in the depot. This is a late Victorian classic cottage, denoted by the elongated hipped roof, the central dormer, and wide front porch which is supported by turned wood posts. Like several homes in town, two bedrooms and one bath are tucked into 1,000 square feet.

798 Lincoln St

Our records tell us that 203 North 8th Street was built in 1893, and belonged to Mary Sweet, who does not appear to be related to the other Sweet family of Carbondale. In 1901 James Zimmerman, purchased the home. He was a Virginia farmer, and later a stockman, and a key figure in the development of Carbondale. James and his friend William Dinkel were early homesteaders here in 1881. James married Hattie Cooper, the postmistress whose father, Captain Isaac Cooper, was one of the founders of Glenwood Springs. Nearby Cooperton, later Satank, was almost the town for the train depot, but it ultimately ended up in Carbondale... as did Hattie and the post office. James served as Mayor from 1911 to 1914. When he died, despite his 3 potential heirs, the property was held by the courts (there was also a large ranch tract included in his holdings). Hattie moved over to Garfield Avenue with her mother. In 1958 Mary Ellen & Donald Paterson sold to Orvie & Charlotte Cerise, from the large local ranching family. This home is a significant example of the Late Victorian style. It remains one of the more in-tact buildings in the community. The cross gabled roof form, the vertically proportioned double-hung windows, the front porch with turned posts and decorative brackets, and the overall symmetrical layout are all key features of the style. Again, the brick structure and the size represent a significant investment in the Carbondale community.

203 N 8th St

In 1899 Philip E Weaver sold 185 N 8th Street to Charles &amp; Ella Lehow, from Pennsylvania. Then in 1902 it was transferred to Henry (their son) and his bride Ora Lehow, possibly as an engagement gift. The home was built sometime between 1910 and 1920. In 1919 their next door neighbor, Bevvie Smoke, purchased the property for $1,750, and then the adjoining parcel for $100, enlarging the property to its current size. Before they moved from Minnesota, Bevvie and Charles Smoke had the Winona Ice Cream &amp; Butter Company, and for a short time they owned the creamery in Carbondale. In 1926, Irene Bennett purchased the property for $2,000. She was the bookkeeper for Ping's Store (her brother-in-law was William, the store owner, who lived at 189 N 7th Street). In 1942, the home was inherited by her nephews and niece, who were Pings. 1947 George &amp; Virginia Werner purchased it, then sold following month to Oliver &amp; Edith Letey. Both had grown up on their family's farms near Basalt. The Leteys moved to Carbondale from their own farm in Snowmass. In 1955 they sold to James &amp; Manila Walthers, who moved to town with their two daughters from Marble where James was a railroad fireman. This home is an example of a Craftsman cottage, and displays abundant wood shingle detail. Later additions probably include the porch (or at least its enclosure), the rear addition, and the long shed dormers.

185 N 8th St

117 North 8th Street was also part of Weaver Ranch. Records show the parcel was purchased from Philip E. Weaver in 1899 by Charles Lehow, who became the prolific builder in Carbondale. He built the schoolhouse in 1890. Our survey estimates that this home was built around that same time, but it may have been after the parcel changed hands. In 1925 it transferred to Ella Lehow, and various owners have occupied it since. Late Victorian details include the cross-gabled roof, as well as decorative shingles and cornice boards in the gable ends. Like many other homes in town, the metal roof replaced asphalt shingles sometime in the 1980's. The front porch has been modified, and the lattice added. Again, the blue and green spruce trees are over 100 years old.

117 N 8th St

789 Colorado Avenue was built in 1888, which makes it one of the older homes in town. In 1898 Philip Weaver sold it to JH Hartman, an English painter and paper hanger. He and his wife Isabella sold in 1907 to ZB & Mary Higgins. The next recorded sale was in in 1914 when the local Blacksmith, HJ Pattison, sold to Leo Leonhardy, who was a farmer. In 1920 Dorr Shores, a bank-cashier-turned- real-estate-agent, purchased the home with his wife, May. Wickman, Sinclair, Keepers, Vaughn, Messner, and Cullwick are names later associated with ownership of the home. This Late Victorian wood frame home displays the characteristic side gable with decorative shingles, wing construction, a simple front bay window, and turned posts. The rear wing and side wing were later added. Aluminum siding was added in the 1980's, and removed again in the 1990's.

789 Colorado Ave

Edna and her husband Frank were prominent town members, and her legacy was the book that she wrote - Carbondale Pioneers 1879-1890, still used as a primary reference today. Gardner and Mary Hudson were the following owners - he operated farm machinery and also played the violin. Mary provided music for town dances. The home would next belong to Harry and Velma Phillips, followed by Dorothy Cerise. It is likely that this home remained unchanged for many years. The Late Victorian style is a gabled ell (the "L" shape is created where the front and side gables meet). Homes of this era ranged from simple to elaborately decorated with bracketing, fish scale shingling, gingerbread, or stained glass windows. At some point, narrow wood clapboard was covered with metal siding and the bay window topped with a bell cast copper roof.

In 1891 Eugene Prince began acquiring the lots at 737 Colorado Avenue. He was a carpenter as well as a rancher, who became known throughout the area as a skilled taxidermist. In 1892 he married Bertha Lang, they built the home around 1894 and then had four sons. Although the family moved across town in 1900 and Eugene passed away in 1903, Bertha did not sell until 1907. Julia Fuller sold it the following year to Edna Sweet, possibly as an investment.

737 Colorado Ave

85 North 8th Street has housed some of Carbondale's most influential residents. Philip E. Weaver is the first owner of record of these lots. It is not clear when he acquired the property, but they were a part of the large tract of land that he ranched, directly adjacent to the north side of the original townsite. This home was one of the first in the area, built in 1883. The Denver &amp; Rio Grande railroad cut a swath diagonally across the Weaver property from the northwest to the edge of the townsite when it arrived in 1887. The arrival of the railroad may have motivated Mr. Weaver's shift from ranching to real estate development, as he began to sell off the lots between the railroad and the townin the late 1880's. Several well-known area residents bought into the Weaver Addition, including J.C. Osgood, the owner of Colorado Fuel &amp; Iron. Philip Weaver died in 1889 at the age of 55, possibly due to his diabetic condition. In 1895 Millie Sonner purchased the property. At that time, this area of town was outside of the original townsite and may have included cultivated land that was associated with the house. Millie's husband Jacob was a manager at Dinkel's Mercantile. When Millie passed away in 1937, her estate sold the home to Albert &amp; Martha Witchey. Albert served as Carbondale's mayor from 1938 to 1946. He was the manager of Dinkel's and later owned Witchey's Cash Store at 311 Main Street. A former teacher, Martha was the store's buyer for women's and children's clothing. The Witcheys lived in the home for 24 years and raised four children. After Albert's death in 1969, Martha became involved in a number of church and community projects, and was voted Carbondale's Woman of the Year in 1973. This architectural style is Late Victorian - the complex form and shape, the vertically proportioned double-hung windows in segmentally arched openings, and the porch with decorative detailing define features of the style. At one time there was a widow's walk on the upper roof. Other modifications made in the 1970's include changes to the dormers and bays, the southwest corner addition, and possible alterations to the porch and roof. This home has been owned by only four families and is quite significant in the development of Carbondale.

Carbondale Historic Architecture Walking Tour 1A

687 Colorado Ave

Introduction

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Backstory and Context

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