818 12TH ST

 Print Listing Historical Name - Sterling House
Style - Late Victorian/Queen Anne
Built Year - 1887
State ID - 5WL3082

Description - This Queen Anne style residence is an irregular shape, one story, wood frame structure with a asphalt shingle, hipped roof. Roof features include a cross gable extending on the west elevation and decorative wood shingles on the gable ends. It has a stone foundation and lapped board siding. The main facade is broken into three bays and contains a front-facing entrance on the east elevation. The one-story, wrap around porch has square vernacular Doric columns with a low rail with curved balusters. The porch has copper shingles on the mansard type roof. Windows are two-light, double hung wood frame, one-light fixed and a bay window on the east elevation. The two brick chimneys are located on the east and west sides of the main ridgeline.

Historical Background - This residence was originally built for Asa Sterling by D.B. Wilson in 1886-1887. According to the January 5, 1887 Greeley Tribune, the house had been plastered and the carpenters were “engaged on the outside work.” Mr. Sterling and his wife Anna L. moved into the house in March 1887. Asa Sterling was a prominent member of the Greeley community, having served as President of First National Bank and was involved in the development of irrigation in Greeley. He came to Colorado in 1860 and Weld County in 1871. He prevented banking disruptions in Greeley during the Panic of 1893 by pledging his entire personal fortune as protection. Sterling died in 1919 at his home at 818 12th Street. His wife remained at the house for several more years. When he died he left an estate of $800,000, of which he gave half to his widow, and the remaining half to the rest of his relatives. Several other families lived in the house until William Albrecht Insinger moved in between 1926 and 1928. He came to Greeley from the Netherlands, where he was a member of the aristocracy. He was “prominent for over 40 years in farming, irrigation, and business life of the community.” He was actively involved in the “Community Club” later known as the Chamber of Commerce, getting the streets paved, organizing farmers, financing the construction of the Eighth Street drain, and establishing a potato experiment station in Greeley. Insinger lived in the house until his death in January 1937. Mabel Brink lived in the house following Insinger’s death.