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Hearne’s Fine Goods -
1509 9TH AV
 Print Listing
Historical Name -
Edmonds-Norcross House
Style -
Late Victorian/Queen Anne
Built Year -
1895-1901
State ID -
5WL3103
Description -
This Queen Anne style residence is an irregular shaped, two-story, brick structure with an asphalt shingle, hipped with intersecting gable roof. Roof features include fishscale shingles on the gable ends. It has a stone foundation and painted brick exterior. The main facade is broken into three bays and contains an off-centered entrance. The one-story, corner L-shaped porch with wooden rails and posts. Windows are wood frame, double hung with brick sills.
Historical Background -
According to the City Directories, Herbert Edmonds was the first owner of this house in 1901. According to the Weld County Assessor, the house was built in 1895, however, there is no listing for 1509 9th Avenue in the 1898 City Directory. Herbert Edmonds was a dealer in dry goods and women’s furnishings. He lived in Greeley from 1886 until about 1903, when he moved to Fort Collins. He was primarily important in Fort Collins and was active in civic organizations there, including B.P.O Elks and the chamber of commerce. Wayne Davidson lived in the house from approximately 1906 until 1910-1913. Davidson was a real estate salesman, focusing on sales of farms and stock ranches and the accompanying water rights from irrigation ditches, including Ditch Number 3. He also sold residential property in the town, wrote life insurance policies and loaned money.
Later residents include Fred Norcross, the manager of the Home Gas and Electric Company, who lived there from approximately 1918 until 1920. and John E. Morgan, the proprietor of OK Laundry. Norcross was “a former state senator and a leader in the electric light and power industry.” He grew up in Greeley, and after spending several years outside of Greeley working for various railroads, he returned to Greeley and managed the Camfield Hotel. Norcross later became director of the Home Light and Power Company. He also served as president of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, actively working to advance Greeley’s economy. He was involved in irrigation development in Greeley, including work on the rehabilitation of the Greeley-Poudre Irrigation project. Fred also helped form the Northern Colorado Conservancy district, which contracted with the Bureau of Reclamation to built and operate the Colorado-Big Thompson transmountain diversion water project. He served two terms as the Weld County Senator in the state senate, declining a third term due to poor health. Finally, Mr. Norcross was also active in civic organizations including the Greeley Masonic lodge, IOOF, the Elks club and the Rotary Club.
John E. Morgan, who lived at 1509 9th Avenue from 1920 until 1942-1944, was active in Greeley business and community life as well. He farmed in Greeley from 1903-1904 and then attended business college. In 1912, he became a partner with his brother in OK Laundry. By 1921 he was owner of OK Laundry. He was a member of the Colorado-Wyoming Laundrymen’s Association, Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Kiwanis Club.
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