Lowrie Limited Partnership House - 2416 10th Avenue

 Print Listing Historical Name - Stetzel House; Kaugh House; Northrup House
Style - No Style
Built Year - 1938
State ID - 5WL4964

Description - The small single-story dwelling at 2416 10th Avenue sits near the rear of the lot. Built of wood frame construction, it measures 21.5' N-S (across) by 29.5' E-W (deep). It is supported by a low concrete foundation, and its exterior walls are clad with painted white horizontal composition board siding. Featuring a saltbox form, the roof is covered with brown asphalt composition shingles, and the eaves are boxed with painted blue and white wood trim. There is no chimney. A single 1x1 horizontal sliding metal-framed window penetrates the wall. Two 2-light metal-framed windows penetrate the east (rear) elevation wall. A single 1x1 horizontal sliding metal-framed window penetrates the north elevation wall. A painted white wood-paneled front door, covered by a painted white wood screen door, enters the house on the west elevation. A painted white solid wood door, covered by a white synthetic storm door, enters the house at the east end of the south elevation.

Historical Background - Weld County Assessor records indicate that this house was built in 1938, and Greeley city directories begin to list its address (2416 10th Avenue) a few years later, 1944. Ferdinand and Lillian Stezel, who are listed as the resident's in 1944, were perhaps the original owners. The property changed occupants quickly thought, as the 1946 directory lists Ralph A. and Mary Ferrell as the home's occupants. The Ferrells were reportedly retired at that time. The small house was next owned and occupied by Harry H. and Gaynell Kaugh, between circa 1948 and 1952. Mr. Kaugh was reportedly employed by the Sinclair Oil Company in the late 1940s. Following the Kaughs, the house was next owned and occupied by Mrs. Grace Northrup during the mid-to-late 1950s. She was then followed by David S. and Darlene LaVanne (Tetiva) Blietz, who lived and owned here in the early 1960s. David Blietz was born in Elgin, Illinois on May 7, 1938, the son of William and Margaret (McIver) Blietz. He and Darlene were married on February 2, 1958. A masonry contractor, Mr. Blietz was the owner of Stucco Rite, Inc. Earlier he had worked as a building contractor in California, and while in high school he had been a state champion in wrestling. According to his obituary, Mr. Blietz was also an army veteran, a member of the American Legion, and was involved with raising championship-quality Appaloosa horses. In 1962, Mr. Blietz moved the small house toward the rear of the lot, and he likely built the garage at the same time. He then developed plans to build a new house in the front part of the lot; however, a variance to subdivide the lot was denied by the city's Zoning Board of Appeals, and as a result the new house was never built. Mr. and Mrs. Blietz then evidently moved from this house in the mid-1960s. LaVonne passed away in Greeley, apparently at a relatively young age, on December 6, 1966. David then married his second wife, Mary Jane Duran-Blietz, some years later. David Blietz passed away April 8, 2003, at the age of 64, a victim of leukemia. He was survived by his wife, a daughter and four sons. City directories indicate that the property has primarily served as a rental from the late 1960s to the present (2006). Numerous relatively short-term tenants have occupied the property during these years. City of Greeley Building Inspection Department records indicate it was owned by Jet Property Management in the late 1980s. Currently, it is owned by Lowrie Limited Partnership.