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CLEAR CREEK COUNTY |
DumontDUMONT SCHOOL The local community built the school in 1909, and it served the educational needs of the area until 1959. The impressive structure is an interesting local expression of the Italian Renaissance style. The property is associated with the Rural School Buildings in Colorado Multiple Property Submission. EmpireEMPIRE TOWN HALL Since its completion in 1898, the second floor of this two-story wood frame building has served as the local seat of government and as the social and cultural center for the town. Over the years, a variety of retail businesses have occupied the first floor. HOOP CREEK STONE BRIDGE Initially constructed in 1921, the bridge site also includes features added in 1935. Although the stone structures on the site are in deteriorating condition, the property continues to serve as an important visual reminder of the early automobile highways constructed to provide access over Colorado’s high mountain passes. A non-profit organization, Partners for Access to the Woods, is working toward rehabilitating the site as an accessible recreational area. MINT SALOON (Empire Shop) The small one-story, wood frame commercial building was constructed circa 1885, and the overall appearance of what was an important local gathering placed has changed very little. The establishment continued to meet the recreational and social need in this small mountain mining town until 1938, when it was converted from a saloon into a liquor store. PECK HOUSE (Hotel Splendide) The Peck House is recognized as the oldest lodging establishment in Colorado. Members of the Peck family owned the property until 1945. The original 1862 Peck residence, a small 1½-story front gabled roof post and beam structure, is set on a rubble foundation. During 1862-63, a two-story 30-foot long addition was constructed to the east. In 1880, the addition was extended by 40 feet, and a veranda was added along the south and east sides of the hotel. In 1955, a compatible addition was constructed on the west. EvergreenDODGE RANCH The Dodge Ranch, which had its beginnings in 1890, is an important collection of buildings exhibiting the Rustic style of architecture popular in Colorado mountain communities after the beginning of the 20th century. It is also important for its association with the settlement and development of the Mount Evans Basin from the last decade of the 19th century through the immediate post-World War II period. ANNE EVANS MOUNTAIN HOME The 1910 Rustic style residence, designed by noted Denver architect Burnham Hoyt, is associated with Anne Evans, the daughter of the second Territorial Governor Of Colorado, John Evans. Born in 1871, Miss Evans was instrumental in the creation of the Denver Art Museum and exhibited a strong interest in Native American art. Among her numerous civic endeavors was involvement with the development of the Denver Public Library. EVANS-ELBERT RANCH / ELBERT-AUSTIN RANCH The property is associated with two prominent families important during Colorado’s territorial period. In 1868, John Evans and Samuel H. Elbert established a mountain cattle ranch that eventually covered much of the Vance, Metz, and Corral Creek valleys and uplands of Jefferson County. A 1908 log and stone Rustic style residence on the property was built for Louise Elbert Everett. It was designed by J. Christopher Jensen, an Iowa architect, and constructed by Jock Spence, a prominent local contractor. GeorgetownALPINE HOSE COMPANY NO. 2 The 1875 two-story false front wood frame building housed the Alpine Hose Company No. 2, one of several volunteer fire companies organized during the late 1800s to protect the community. The distinctive 60-foot wood frame bell tower located at the rear of the building is a highly visible feature within the historic downtown area. GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROAD® Built in 1877 to haul silver ore, the Colorado Central Railroad also enjoyed popularity as a tourist attraction. The Devil’s Gate high bridge, considered to be an engineering feat and this most famous element of the route allowed climbing trains to circle back over the lower track as the railbed rose from Georgetown to Silver Plum. The bridge was dismantled in 1939. During the 1970s, the railroad resumed summer service over the rebuilt loop and 4.5 miles of track, the result of a restoration project coordinated by the Colorado Historical Society. The Society operates the railroad during the summer months. The property is associated with the Railroads in Colorado, 1858-1948 Multiple Property Submission. (Photograph 2006) GEORGETOWN-SILVER PLUME HISTORIC DISTRICT Prior to the Leadville strike of 1878, the district was the most important silver camp in Colorado. The initial boom period dates from the discovery of gold by George and David Griffith in 1859. The Georgetown portion of the district includes a rich variety of substantial Late Victorian buildings. Because the wealth of the mining district was centered in Georgetown, the architecture reflects the attempt by families to reproduce the lifestyle of their more established home states. In contrast, Silver Plume developed as the work center where the ore, as well as the wealth, was mined. As a result, the surviving buildings tend to be of simple wood-frame construction. The reconstructed Georgetown Loop Railroad®, with its famous Devil’s Gate Viaduct rising more than 90-feet above Clear Creek, is also located within the district. In 2006, the Grace Episcopal Church received a Stephen H. Hart Award for the restoration of its church and the Snetzer Building. The People for Silver Plume, Inc., received a 2006 Hart Award for its efforts to preservation important historic buildings in Silver Plume GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH Built on a steep hill by Cornish miners in 1870, the wood frame church has a steeply pitched front gabled roof and a gabled roof vestibule with double doors and transom set in a gothic arch. The clapboard walls have corner boards, and gothic arched windows are evenly spaced on both sides of the building. The interior is notable for its open truss roof structure, carved pew ends, and an 1877 organ. HAMILL HOUSE The Gothic Revival style Hamill House is a 2½-story gabled roof wood frame residence built on a stone foundation. William Hamill purchased what was a simple circa 1867 residence from his brother-in-law in 1874 and gradually transformed it into an elegant reflection of his increasing personal wealth and prestige. Two hipped roof stone buildings are located at the rear of the property. The more elaborate one, of cut coursed granite, served as Hamill’s office. The other, of rough cut uncoursed stone, served as a stable and carriage house. Since the 1970s, the property has been operated as a museum by the Georgetown Historical Society. HOTEL de PARIS The two-story brick building is stuccoed, and its symmetrical facade includes tall, narrow segmentally arched windows on both floors. The building is one of Georgetown’s most impressive commercial structures. Originally constructed as a bakery in the 1870s, Louis Dupuy, a native of France, subsequently purchased the building. Circa 1889 he created the present facade as part of the building’s conversion into a hotel/restaurant. The Hotel de Paris, with its elegant appointments and extensive assortment of imported wines, provided a bit of France in the Colorado Rockies. In 1953, the Colorado chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames purchased the building for use as a museum. LEBANON MILL / ORE PROCESSING MILL & DAM Located on Republican Mountain, midway between Georgetown and Silver Plume, the facility was a key component in the early development and prosperity of Georgetown. The mill was patented in 1872 by Julius G. Pohle, Superintendent of the Lebanon Mining Company. Few mills of its size survived past 1880 due to the influx of eastern capital and the rise of large corporate mining complexes. The two-story wood frame structure contained machinery driven by a horizontal water wheel, and the mill dam spanned Clear Creek. McCLELLAN HOUSE The circa 1875 residence is an unusual 1¾-story front gabled roof building with the main entrance located toward the front of a side wall. One of the earliest buildings in Georgetown, it was constructed with whip-sawed boards applied vertically. Window and door frames and the large wooden quoins were planed and shaped by Erskine McClellan in his wood-working shop that stood at the rear of the property. McClellan was an important local figure who served in a variety of civic posts. His McClellan Opera House was destroyed by fire in 1892. JULIUS G. POHLE HOUSE / MINE MANAGER’S HOUSE / TOLL HOUSE Although the exact date of construction is unknown, Julius G. Pohle, Superintendent of the Lebanon Mining Company purchased the Gothic Revival style residence in 1878. The 1½-story wood frame building has a brick veneer and a steeply pitched side gabled roof, with an intersecting gable that defines a central entry. During the 1960s, the building was moved several yards from its original location when it was threatened by demolition due to the construction of Interstate Highway 70. Idaho SpringsARGO TUNNEL AND MILL Begun in 1893, the Argo Tunnel extends approximately five miles toward Central City at an average depth of 1,800 feet. It was designed by local mining entrepreneur Sam Newhouse to transport ores from area gold mines. The Argo Mill dates from 1913. The hillside location of the sprawling complex’s interconnected structures is clearly visible from Interstate Highway 70. Primarily constructed with a steel frame surfaced with corrugated iron panels, portions of the mill rise to a height of nearly seven stories. The operation closed after a mine disaster in 1943, and the mill has been operated as a museum/tourist attraction since the late 1970s. B.P.O. ELKS LODGE #607 The 1907 brick building has been used for numerous social and community purposes. Designed by architects Wm. Redding & Son, the building is a rare local example of the Mission Style. BRYAN HOSE HOUSE Constructed in 1881, just to the east of Virginia Canyon Road, the small brick structure played an integral role in early fire fighting efforts within Idaho Springs. CHARLIE TAYLER WATERWHEEL Originally a part of Tayler’s series of five stamp mills, the waterwheel was moved as a community project to its present location in 1948. Since then, it has served as an important visual landmark for Idaho Springs residents and for those traveling through the area. In 1988, volunteers donated an estimated 3,800 hours of labor to the rehabilitation/restoration of what is considered to be a valuable community resource. ECHO LAKE PARK Echo Lake Park, established in 1921 at the foot of Goliath Peak, contains an impressive Rustic style lodge designed by prominent Denver architect J.J.B. Benedict. Two other structures, the stone pavilion and the concession stand, represent the work of the Depression-Era Civilian Conservation Corps. The property is associated with the Denver Mountain Parks and The Architecture of Jules Jacques Benois Benedict in Colorado Multiple Property Submissions. HOSE HOUSE NO. 2 The circa 1882 Hose House No. 2 was constructed in order to store the fire wagon protecting the west end of town. A siren tower remains in place on the site. IDAHO SPRINGS DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT The district has been the commercial center of the community since its development in the late 19th century. The district’s superb collection of Late Victorian-Era structures, such as the Hanchett Building, Mining Exchange, and Queen Hotel, forms the core of a city that is historically significant as the site of the first major discovery of placer gold in Colorado, and as an important milling and supply center for the mining region which accelerated the settlement of Colorado. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH The building is a good local example of the Gothic Revival style. Originally constructed in 1880, additions date from 1905. Slight variations in the brick work serve as evidence of the building’s expansion to meet the changing needs of a growing congregation. MINER STREET BRIDGE Completed in 1902 by Kuyes and Work to span Clear Creek on the east side of Idaho Springs, this skewed, pin-connected, five-panel steel Pratt pony truss features wide roadways and cantilevered sidewalks. One of the oldest pony trusses in Colorado still in use, it is significant for its skewed design. The property is associated with the Highway Bridges in Colorado Multiple Property Submission. SQUAW MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT Located at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, the property includes a good collection of primarily stone, Rustic style structures. Most date from 1940 and were constructed as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps program. The two-story lookout tower played an important role in the detection of forest fires. SUMMIT LAKE PARK Opened in 1924, the park straddles Mount Evans Road. As the highest park within the Denver Mountain Parks system (12,800 feet), Summit Lake contains a stone shelter house designed by Denver architect J.J.B. Benedict and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. The property is associated with the Denver Mountain Parks and The Architecture of Jules Jacques Benois Benedict in Colorado Multiple Property Submissions. Silver Plume GEORGETOWN-SILVER PLUME HISTORIC DISTRICT Prior to the Leadville strike of 1878, the district was the most important silver camp in Colorado. The initial boom period dates from the discovery of gold by George and David Griffith in 1859. The Georgetown portion of the district includes a rich variety of substantial Late Victorian buildings. Because the wealth of the mining district was centered in Georgetown, the architecture reflects the attempt by families to reproduce the lifestyle of their more established home states. In contrast, Silver Plume developed as the work center where the ore, as well as the wealth, was mined. As a result, the surviving buildings in Silver Plume tend to be simple wood-frame structures. The reconstructed Georgetown Loop Railroad®, with its famous Devil’s Gate Viaduct rising more than 90 feet above Clear Creek, is also located within the district. LEBANON AND EVERETT MINE TUNNELS The Lebanon Tunnel was driven into Republican Mountain by the Lebanon Mining company in 1870. An exact year of construction for the Everett Tunnel is unknown, but the mine was in operation through the mid- 1880s. In recent years, portions of the tunnels have been reopened as an interpretive exhibit in conjunction with the Colorado Historical Society’s reconstruction of the Georgetown Loop Railroad. SILVER PLUME DEPOT The 1884 Silver Plume Depot served as the western terminus of the Colorado Central Railroad route from Denver to the Clear Creek mining region. Located at the upper end of the famous Georgetown Loop, the depot first served miners and their families, and then the increasing number of tourists attracted by the engineering and scenic qualities of the loop passage. The successor Colorado & Southern Railway abandoned the loop and the depot in 1939, but both once again operate as part of the Colorado Historical Society’s Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park® interpretive complex. The property is associated with the Railroads in Colorado, 1858-1948 Multiple Property Submission. |