Greeley Chiropractic - 1008 8TH ST

 Print Listing Historical Name - Runnell’s Chiropractic/Apartments
Style - Modern Movements
Built Year - 1940
State ID - 5WL4135

Description - Building with two-story apartment section with low side gable roof and widely overhanging eaves and one-story office section with overhanging eaves. Gable faces clad with horizontal board siding. Walls composed of concrete block and upper story is stuccoed. Balcony enclosed with horizontal board balustrade at east end. One-story section has curved corner on northeast adjacent to inset entrance with door with three vertical lights. Paired casement windows east of door. Porch at inset area has sandstone planter/wall with metal support for roof. Band of glass blocks along upper wall extends around curved corner. Two-story section has small projecting covered porch with solid balustrade and stone base on north wall. Porch with vertical slats and stone base on west wall. Casement windows in bands. West wall has asymmetrically projecting bay with no windows. Inset balcony on rear facing one-story section topped by balcony. Side gable roof painted concrete block garage faces west and has two vertical board garage doors.

Historical Background - The Weld County Assessor reports that this building was erected in 1940. This building was designed by David Benton Runnells, and served as the Runnells Chiropractic Clinic and apartments. David Runnells was born in Baker, Oregon, in 1913, and moved with his parents to Greeley in the same year. He graduated from Greeley High and earned an architectural engineering degree at the University of Illinois. Mr. Runnells worked in Kansas City, Missouri, where he had his own firm. He received several awards, some in the area of contemporary design. Some of his work related to urban renewal in Kansas City and other cities, and he designed many houses, including those of his brothers, Dr. Robert I. Runnels and Dr. Richard T. Runnels, in Greeley. He died in 1973. The Runnells Chiropractic Clinic began operating here when the building was completed. The clinic was operated by Drs. Walter and Mary Runnells, and later by their son, Robert. Walter I. Runnells was born in 1882 in Whitefield Corners, Illinois. He moved with his parents, who were farmers, to Ault. He attended Universal Chiropractic College and Palmer Chiropractic College in Iowa. There he met his wife, Mary Thompson, whom he married in Greeley in 1911. After their marriage, the couple lived about two years in Baker, Oregon, and then moved to Greeley in 1913. The Runnells operated a chiropractic office until their retirement in 1958. Mr. Runnells was a president of the Colorado Chiropractic Association. Dr. Mary Runnells died in 1961 and Dr. Walter Runnells passed away in 1970.