The City of Boulder has a population of around 100,000. There are currently 10 historic districts and more in the making. Two of these districts plus two other locations are listed on the National Register: the famous Pearl Street Mall (a highly successful historic commercial area); Chautauqua (one of three remaining original Chautauquas): The Norland Quandrangle (on CU's campus); and the Historic Columbia Cemetery (during the Halloween Season there is a time when a person can actually go and "Meet the Spirits"). There are currently 153 separately land marked properties.
Boulder's popular Historic Salon Series began its spring sessions last Tuesday with Dan Corson presenting a look at the homes of early black citizens. This spring series is all about "If These Walls Could Talk" and will take people inside some of Boulder's fine historic Buildings and reveal some fascinating stories. On March 11, Betty and Bill Chronic will take you inside the Oddfellows Building . . . "The Oddfellows: Who & Where Are They?"; April 9th Margaret Hansen and Paul Saporita will tell you about the music and dancing and banking that took place in "The Citizens National Bank Building". On May 13th, we will find out about "Three Homes With A Past", and discover some of what happened a long time ago in homes on Highland Avenue, Mapleton, and Pine. Caroline Stepanek, Cathy & Donn Asphaugh, & Laura Ware will reveal the stories the walls in these homes might tell is if they could. The Salons are free and open to the public. For more information contact Historic Boulder, 303-333-5192.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Remember Sears Mail Order Homes?????
Today I attended the 9th annual Boulder County Historic Preservation Forum. We met in the historic mining community of Louisville's City Hall with members of preservation boards, historical societies and committees from across Boulder County to discuss last year's successes and challenges. Last fall the City of Louisville successfully voted in a new Historic Preservation Tax . . . . of about 1/8 of 1 percent of the sales tax that will provide much needed funds for the next several years to help in the preservation of some of the important historic buildings in Louisville's downtown area.
Probably the highlight of the morning was a fascinating, well researched presentation on "Homes by Sears" . . . Louisville's Mail Order Legacy. Heather Lewis, architect and principal of Animal Arts -- Gates . Hafen . Cochrane in Boulder, told us that researching the Sears Catalogue homes had become a passion. She is also member of Louisville's Historic Preservation Commission.
Sears Mail Order Homes were sold throughout the country from 1908 to 1940. She has found nine of these homes in Louisville, and asked for anyone knowing of other Sears Mail Order Homes in the area to let her know as she is actively gathering all the information she can.
She talked about the fine quality of these homes. Sears was a corporation that bent over backwards to satisfy its customers and provide the best quality. The Sears "Kit Houses" for this community came at the right time . . . with its location near a railroad and with citizens of modest income. Sears Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans provided people with plans and all of the necessary supplies to build the home of their dreams, and then packaged the entire "kit" and sent it by railroad to them. She also pointed out that the beginning of the demise of the Sears Kit Homes was when Sears decided to also go into the mortgage business . . . .
Do you know if there any still existing Sears Mail Order Homes in your community???
Probably the highlight of the morning was a fascinating, well researched presentation on "Homes by Sears" . . . Louisville's Mail Order Legacy. Heather Lewis, architect and principal of Animal Arts -- Gates . Hafen . Cochrane in Boulder, told us that researching the Sears Catalogue homes had become a passion. She is also member of Louisville's Historic Preservation Commission.
Sears Mail Order Homes were sold throughout the country from 1908 to 1940. She has found nine of these homes in Louisville, and asked for anyone knowing of other Sears Mail Order Homes in the area to let her know as she is actively gathering all the information she can.
She talked about the fine quality of these homes. Sears was a corporation that bent over backwards to satisfy its customers and provide the best quality. The Sears "Kit Houses" for this community came at the right time . . . with its location near a railroad and with citizens of modest income. Sears Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans provided people with plans and all of the necessary supplies to build the home of their dreams, and then packaged the entire "kit" and sent it by railroad to them. She also pointed out that the beginning of the demise of the Sears Kit Homes was when Sears decided to also go into the mortgage business . . . .
Do you know if there any still existing Sears Mail Order Homes in your community???
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