| |
Hansen House; Sweetwater Mercantile -
1513 9TH AV
 Print Listing
Historical Name -
Pitts Smith House
Style -
Foursquare
Built Year -
1907-08
State ID -
5WL3104
Description -
This American Foursquare residence is a square-shaped, two story wood frame structure with a composition shingle flared hip roof. There is a one-storey addition attached to the rear of the original house. Roof features include boxed eaves, a hip roofed dormer on the east (front) elevation, and two shed roof dormers located on the south and west elevations. The shed roofed dormers are not original. The home has a rusticated cement block (stone?) Foundation and wood bevel siding. A single-storey hip roofed front porch is supported by square, paneled posts on a wood knee-wall. The porch rests upon a blonde brick foundation. The front entrance, consisting of a steel door (not original) and Classical surround is located slightly off-center.
Most windows are one-over-one double hung with Classical surrounds. Accentuated with paneled pilasters, the second story windows are uniquely located at the corners on all sides. An oriel window is located on the north facade and a first-storey bay window is located on the south facade.
Historical Background -
The home was built in 1907-08 for Pitts Smith and his family by local architect and builder Charles Chandler. After coming to Greeley in 1871, Mr. Smith became a successful farmer despite trials with grasshoppers, hail storms, and rattlesnakes. He maintained one home on the farm and one home in town, as was common for farmers in Greeley’s pioneer period. Pitts lived with his wife Almina, daughters Cora, Amy, and Luna. After Amy and her husband died in 1912 and 1914 respectively, the Smith family raised her three orphaned boys. James served in the Colorado Legislature, Don became a “barnstormer” who flew with Charles Lindberg, and Robert served in the Navy.
Named for Luna Lake in Lincoln Park, Luna Smith graduated from the State Normal School (now the University of Northern Colorado) in 1896. After teaching I Evans and Eaton, she taught first grade at South Ward (later named Horace Mann). She later became principal of both Horace Mann and Cameron schools.
Pitts Smith died in 1927. In 1944, Almina died at the age on one hundred. Luna lived in the home at 1513 9th Avenue until 1959. She died in 1975, also at the age of one hundred years.
|