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Stephens House -
1846 12TH AV
 Print Listing
Historical Name -
Guiraud House; Klassen House
Style -
Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements/Craftsman bungalow
Built Year -
1917
State ID -
5WL3491
Description -
This Craftsman style bungalow is located on the east side of 12th Avenue, in the block between Cranford Place and 19th Street. The house rests on a low concrete foundation, faced with red brick, and the foundation walls are penetrated by three-light hopper, and three-light casement basement windows. The building is of wood frame construction, and its exterior walls are cladded with painted white, narrow, horizontal wood siding. Painted dark green stucco appears in the upper gable ends, on the façade, and on the north elevation. The house is covered by a moderately-pitched intersecting hip and gable roof, with grey asphalt shingles, and with exposed rafter ends beneath the roof eaves. Decorative purlins and ridge poles adorn the upper gable ends. There are two red brick chimneys - one is a fireplace chimney, located on the exterior of the north elevation, and the other is located on the north facing roof slope. A large, non-historic, single-light, fixed pane "picture window" overlooks the porch at the north end of the façade; a six-over-one (ribbon style) single-hung sash window is located at the south end of the façade; a large one-over-one double-hung sash window, flanked by two narrower one-over-one double-hung sash windows, is located on the north elevation. Windows elsewhere are primarily single one-over-one double-hung sash, with painted white wood frames and surrounds, and with exterior wood storm windows. The house features a Craftsman style front porch on the façade. Approached by five concrete steps, the porch has a concrete floor, red brick knee walls and pedestals, and tapered wood piers, which support a shed porch roof. A painted solid wood door, with six leaded glass upper sash lights, and with an aluminum storm door, leads from the porch into the home's interior. A rear entrance is located on the east elevation, where a painted white wood-paneled door, with an aluminum storm door, opens onto a brick and concrete patio. A flight of seven concrete steps, flanked by a black wrought iron railing, descend to a basement-level entry door on the south elevation.
Historical Background -
This house was built in 1917, and according to Greeley city directories, was originally the home of Mrs. Cynthia Guiraud, who lived here until the late 1940s. City directories in the 1930s indicate that Cynthia was the widow of Joseph A. Guiraud, and that she was employed for a time as a housekeeper. Also listed at this address, some years, was Antoinette Guiraud, whose occupation was given as school teacher. Between 1948 and 1956, Antoinette is listed as the homeowner; she was probably Cynthia Guiraud's daughter. Interestingly, the 1933 city directory also lists Fred O. Guiraud as the resident of 1850 12th Avenue, next door to the south; however, he is not listed any other year. No obituaries, or other references, for the Guiraud family were located in files at the Greeley Museum and Library.
Between 1957 and circa 1975, this was the residence of Mrs. Agnes Klassen. She had been born on October 10, 1906, at Henderson, Nebraska, the daughter of Isaac and Sara Braun. On May 29, 1927, she married Henry Klassen of Kirk, Colorado, and the couple farmed in the Kirk area until Henry's death on May 28, 1952. Mrs. Klassen then moved to Greeley, where she opened one of the city's first licensed day care centers. Agnes passed away in Greeley on February 22, 1999 at the age of 92. She was survived by four daughters - Lillian (Seaman), Kathryn, Jane (Heibert), and Jo (Larson) and one son, Arnold.
Residents of 1846 12th Avenue in the 1980s and 1990s included Frank W. Baxter, Thomas B. Webster, and Mark Aderman.
According to the city directories, a separate basement apartment has existed here since 1948, with the address of 1846 1/2 12th Avenue. It has been occupied by numerous individuals over the years.
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