Rice's Lucky Clover Honey - 2323 8TH AV

 Print Listing Historical Name - Rice's Lucky Clover Honey
Style - Other Style
Built Year - 1940
State ID - 5WL4371

Description - This industrial building at 2323 8th Avenue is situated on the west side of the thoroughfare, between 2319 8th Avenue, a restaurant, to the north and 2329 8th Avenue, an automobile dealership, to the south. The structure is set back approximately 40 feet from the street. Oriented to the west, the building consists of six distinctive structures combined. Section 1 (1940). The core of the entire building, which is one-and-a-half stories high, is a red-brick veneered structure resting on a concrete foundation. Only its north elevation is visible. It features one-over-one-light, double-hung sash windows, with gray-painted wood frames. These windows have security bars mounted over them. The front-gabled roof of this section is covered in gray, asphalt shingles, and the rafter ends are exposed. A brick chimney is engaged to the east end of the north elevation. The west-facing gable, largely obscured by newer additions, is covered in white-painted, horizontal wood weatherboard. A four-light casement window pierces this gable, and above it is a louvered vent. Section 2 (ca. 1950). This portion of the building is attached to the rear (west) elevation of section 1 and is the same width and height. Resting on a concrete foundation, this structure is clad in white-painted, horizontal wood weatherboard, with 1-by-4-inch cornerboards. Windows are four-light awning. Gray asphalt shingles cover the front-gabled roof. An unglazed window opening, covered with wire mesh, pierces the west-facing gable end. Section 3 (1965). Housing an office, this single-story addition protrudes from the north end of section 1's east elevation. It is constructed of white-painted concrete blocks. The front (east) elevation of section 3 hosts an aluminum-frame, one-beside-one-light, sliding-sash window. It is protected behind steel bars. Painted on the east end of this section's north elevation are the words "RICE'S HONEY." A white-painted metal door encloses the walkway between this section and section 5. Poured asphalt covers the shed roof, and the eaves are boxed. Section 4 (1976). This addition is attached across the west elevation of section 2. It rests on a concrete foundation and the walls consist of white-painted sheets of ribbed metal. In the center of its west elevation are paired, white-painted, vertical plank doors, opening on metal strap hinges. The shed roof consists of the same sheet metal as the walls and lacks overhanging eaves. Section 5 (ca. 1981). Located within and protruding from the L-shaped formed by section 1 and 3, this addition houses a loading dock for the facility. Resting on a concrete foundation, the structure's walls consist of white-painted sheets of ribbed metal. Dominating its front (east) elevation is a large garage opening. It hosts a white-painted, aluminum, overhead retractable garage door. Beneath the door is a rubber bumper. The shed roof consists of the same sheet metal as the walls and lacks overhanging eaves. Section 6 (1984). This portion of the building stretches along the entire south elevation, completely hiding the south elevations of sections 1,2,4, and 5. This structure rests on a high concrete foundation and the walls consist of white-painted sheets of ribbed metal. Concentrated on the south end of its east elevation are two, large, garage openings. Each hosts a white-painted, aluminum, overhead retractable garage door. North of the doors are large, red, plastic letters proclaiming "RICE'S HONEY." All other elevations are featureless. The shed roof consists of the same sheet metal as the walls and lacks overhanging eaves.

Historical Background - In October 1909, the Colorado Mortgage and Investment Company and J.M.B. Petrikin platted the First Addition to Arlington Park, which consisted of fifteen city blocks located south of the original Arlington Park subdivision. The First Addition included numerous parcels, including this one at 2323 8th Avenue. Little is known about the property between 1909 and 1939. However in 1940, L.R. Rice moved his honey processing machinery from the garage behind his 7th Avenue home to this location, where he had constructed a new facility. L.R. Rice had been in the business since 1924. Also, in 1940, Rice's sons Bill and Harold joined their father in running the company. After Bill Rice suffered heart attack, his son James W. (Jim) Rice took over operations and assumed complete control of the business in 1967. Jim sold the company's bees around 1970 and refocused his operations bottling and packaging. Jim Rice acquires honey from beekeepers across the West. The building itself has been greatly expanded, with additions constructed around 1950, in 1965, in 1976, around 1981, and in 1983. Most of these additions added more warehouse space. Jim Rice continues to operate the business, which sells its products to numerous supermarket chains and retailers, including King Soopers and Wal-Mart.