England House - 2436 10th Avenue Court

 Print Listing Historical Name - Cook House
Style - No Style
Built Year - 1949
State ID - 5WL4985

Description - The residence at 2436 10th Avenue Court is a two-story wood frame, side-gabled dwelling. Built originally in 1949 as a single-story dwelling, a second story addition was built onto the existing building 1986. The house is supported by a low concrete foundation, and its exterior walls are clad with pale beige color horizontal vinyl siding. The moderately-pitched roof is side-gabled, and is covered with asphalt composition shingles. The eaves are boxed with vinyl or metal trim. Two skylights penetrate the west-facing roof slope. A single-light fixed-pane window, covered by an aluminum awning, penetrates the façade wall to the south of the front entry door on the west elevation. Two single 1/1 double-hung sash windows penetrate the façade wall to the north of the front entry door. Windows elsewhere are primarily single 1/1 double-hung sash. A painted white paneled door, with four upper sash lights, and covered by a white storm door, leads into the house on the façade from a 6' by 4' concrete porch. The porch is covered by a gabled roof, supported by four slender wood posts with trellises between the posts. A wooden staircase on the south (side) elevation leads to a wooden landing, providing access to a second story entry door on the south elevation. A rear entry door leads into the first story on the east elevation.

Historical Background - This house was built in 1949 as part of a post-World War II real estate development in the Arlington Park Neighborhood by the Wheeler Realty Company. The property has had only two owners throughout its entire history. Donald G. and Freda V. (Miller) Cook were the original owners, having moved into the house soon after it was completed. Greeley city directories indicate that the Cooks lived here through the early 1970s, before moving to Evans. The Cooks then rented the house out to Larry R.W. Danielson for a few years, before they sold it to Carl and Carolyn England in 1975. The Englands still own and live in the house as of 2005. Donald Glenn Cook was born at Kearney, Nebraska on February 13, 1921, the son of Glenn R. and Agnes (Byrm) Cook. He grew up in Fairfield, Nebraska until age fourteen when he moved with his family to Greeley. Donald attended Greeley High School and then joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he learned the carpentry trade. On May 18, 1942, Donald was united in marriage with Freda V. Miller of Windsor. Freda had been born in Missouri on April 11, 1924, the daughter of Jesse D. and Nancy (Cantrell ) Miller. Freda had moved to Windsor with her family when she was still a small childe, where she attended school and graduated from Windsor High School. Following their marriage, the Cooks moved to Denver, where Donald attended aircraft maintenance school, and then worked for the federal government at Lowry Air Force Base, helping install Norton bomb sights on B-29's. After the war, the Cooks moved to Greeley, moving into this newly-built house in about 1951 or 1952. (According to current owner Carl England, this was a Wheeler Realty show home, and although it was built in 1949, it was not sold until 1951 or 1951 because it was being used as a show home.) In Greeley, Mr. Cook went to work for the Clough Furniture Company, later becoming a partner in the business with Ed Lilly and John Reynolds. Mrs. Cook also worked part time at the Clough Furniture store. Mr. Cook later sold their interest in the Clough Furniture Store, to become a buyer and the manager of Rucker's Furniture. He retired in 1983, having spent thirty-eight years in the furniture business. Mr. Cook was also a noted intricate woodworker. Among other projects, he constructed a model of the First Baptist Church which has been on display at Greeley's Centennial Village Museum. Mr. and Mrs. Cook also raised one daughter, Glenna, in this home. The Cooks moved to Evans in the early 1970s, and after renting this house for two or three years, they sold it to Carl and Carolyn England. Freda Cook passed away on July 26, 1993 at the age of 69. Donald Cook died on June 29, 2004 at the age of 83. Carl and Carolyn England, the home's current owners, have lived here continuously since 1975. A native of Illinois, Carl moved to Greeley with his family in 1964. Carl served in the United States Navy between 1966 and 1970, spending much of his service aboard a Guided Missile Destroyer. Following his discharge from the service, Carl married Carolyn, who had been his high school sweetheart. The Englands raised two daughters in this home. Carl is presently self-employed as a painter, and he also does minor remodeling projects. Carolyn is a long-time employee of King Soopers in Greeley.