Alford House - 1723 7th Avenue

 Print Listing Historical Name - Baab House
Style - Other Style
Built Year - 1906
State ID - 5WL.5877

Description - The 1½ story, Edwardian style home at 1723 7th Avenue has a sandstone foundation, horizontal wood siding, and a front gabled roof with composition shingles and boxed eaves. The home exhibits several features typical of the Edwardian style, including the cross gabled roof, decorative shingles under the gable ends, full width porch with an asymmetrical door, and a forward extension of the top section of each gable. The open porch and east gable end are prominent features of the home’s façade. Decorative fish scale shingles cover the gable end, which has decorative brackets under the forward extension as well as two one-over-one windows. The porch has central steps with a wrought iron railing, a balustrade railing with turned spindle posts around the main porch, four classical columns, and an off center front door. There is a small, fixed pane window to the south of the door and a larger fixed pane window to the north. The south elevation has a smaller dormer, also with fish scale shingles, decorative brackets, and a pair of one-over-one windows under the gable end. A small, fixed pane window is on the east end of the south elevation while a bay window is on the west end. Like the home’s opposite side, the north elevation has a smaller dormer with fish scale shingles, decorative brackets, and a pair of one-over-one windows under the gable end. There are three one-over-one windows on the main level and three at the basement level. Two of the basement windows are one-by-one sliders; the third has been enclosed. The west elevation was concealed by vegetation during fieldwork, but a new wooden deck was observed.

Historical Background - D.B. Royer, a retired farmer, and his wife Susan are listed as the home’s first occupants in 1908. In 1913, E.S. and Edna Royer are listed as the home’s occupants; they lived at the address through 1922. In 1922, Henry Baab, Jr., his wife, Mary, and their five daughters moved into the home. Mr. Baab was born on January 2, 1885, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents, Henry Sr. and Margreta, had immigrated to the United States from Germany. The family moved to Weld County in 1887; in 1907, they moved to Greeley. Henry Jr. married Mary L. Glazier on June 17, 1913, in Greeley. Mr. Baab was in the grocery business, first operating Henry Baab and Sons and later Baab Brothers and Dauth. From 1937-47, Mr. Baab worked at the Weld County Treasurer’s office until poor health forced his retirement. He was also a deacon of the First Baptist Church, and a member of the Masonic Lodge and Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Baab passed away in October of 1960. Mrs. Baab continued to live at the address until 1970. Several people occupied the home after the Baabs, including: student housing (1972-73); Sostenes and Mary Salas and their three children (1975-77); Ellis and Carol Copeland (1979-80); Carol Deyo (1981); and Thomas and Inez Banta and their two children (1982-85). In 1998, the current homeowner and resident, Renee Alford, purchased the home.