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Cañon City, Colo. |
Cañon City, Colorado
Story and photography
© Kathryn Retzler
Their history reads
like the script of a Hollywood epic—romance and intrigue, opulence and
decay, lost opportunity, and more than one close call. The old
Robison mansion, perhaps Cañon City’s most auspicious home, “had
its neck on the chopping block a lot of times,” according to local
historian Sue Cochran. So far, it has been spared the axe.
Robison
Mansion, 12 Riverside
Drive, 1884 (brick) The (native) brick mansion and carriage house had been built in 1884 by Lyman Robison, who, like many of Cañon’s early leading citizens, had profited handsomely from mining interests in Leadville, and later, Cripple Creek. Lyman also built two of the town ‘s biggest business blocks, the Apex and Annex named after his mines.
The house saw a succession of owners following Robison's death, including his son, David; Daily Record publisher Don Hardey, who had hoped to turn it into a museum or community center; Roy and Edith Wilson who intended to tear it down and build a nursing home but just couldn't bear to destroy the mansion. Instead they turned it into a lived-in museum open to public tours. Subsequent owners who also rescued the home from near destruction were Kenneth and Naomi Ireland who had the property placed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ed Tezak who intended to turn the whole property into a private club and Rocky Joe and Kathleen Wells who obtained an historic grant for roof repairs. It is now for sale again.
Gibson/Cole/Benzmiller
residence, 907 Greenwood, 1898 (stone) D.E.
Gibson owed his fortune and his lovely stone house to
catastrophe: fire—which nearly destroyed Cripple Creek in 1896. Gibson
supplied much of the lumber to rebuild the town. At one time, he owned
sixteen lumbaryards in California and Colorado (including Salida,
Florence, Grand Junction and Montrose). Later, the family expanded into
auto agenices as far away as La Jolla, California and Panhandle Texas.
In 1898
Gibson built his home (using prison labor for the then-princley sum of
$30,000) of stone from local quarries. The mansion featured leaded
glass windows and French tile throughout, a billiard room,
wine cellar, ballroom and four bedrooms with private baths.
Tragedy stalked the family—Gibson passed away on his 65th birthday; his son David (D.E. Jr.) died in a car wreck near Gunnison, his youngest son Holman expired while napping after a golf game and his grandson died in a shooting accident. The home remained in the family until it was sold by the widow of D.E. Gibson, Jr. to the Cole family—Cole was mayor of Cañon City from 1930-1941. The Coles lived in the house for twenty years, then sold it in 1973 to Dr. Benzmiller, a local pathologist, and his family, which added an indoor swimming pool. The family still lives in the house.
Tragedy stalked the family—Gibson passed away on his 65th birthday; his son David (D.E. Jr.) died in a car wreck near Gunnison, his youngest son Holman expired while napping after a golf game and his grandson died in a shooting accident. The home remained in the family until it was sold by the widow of D.E. Gibson, Jr. to the Cole family—Cole was mayor of Cañon City from 1930-1941. The Coles lived in the house for twenty years, then sold it in 1973 to Dr. Benzmiller, a local pathologist, and his family, which added an indoor swimming pool. The family still lives in the house.
Deputy
Warden’s House, 105
Main, 1901 (brick & stone) The
1860 Fremont House, which served as hotel, post office, school and
general store and was the leading hotel in the community by 1870, but
was torn down in the early 1890s to make room for the Deputy Warden’s
house when the prison system expanded. The Colorado State Penetientary
was constructed here in 1877. The deputy warden’s home was constructed
in 1901 at an original cost of $7,500.
Atwater/Babberger house, 821 Macon, 1891 (brick)
Atwater/Babberger house, 821 Macon, 1891 (brick)S.H. Atwater
was a civil and religious leader and early real estate developer in
Cañon City. Construction of his brick and red sandstone “villa”
with towers and ornamental gables, independent water and sewer systems
and a private gas works was completed in 1891. Atwater sold the house
in 1910 to W. H. Dozier, president of the First National
Bank, a bank built on the riches of Cripple Creek. Following Dozier’s
death in 1933, the home was purchased by Guy Hardy, publisher of the Cañon City Daily Record.
Hardy never lived in it, but rented it out as a rooming house.
In
1956 Carl Babberger, born and raised in Cañon City, and his
wife, Enid, purchased the property. Carl had spent some time as an
engineer in California, working with Howard Hughes, and was the
designer of the “Spruce Goose.” When he returned to Cañon City,
he served as Land Surveyor and Engineer until his retirement.
Dawson/Johnson house, 824 Rudd, 1901
(frame)
The mine and the town were barely a flash in the pan as local history goes. Would-be miners flocked to Dawson City, hoping to get rich quick, but the gold vein was disappointing and the company the family had hoped to sell the mine to declined when the gold didn’t appear to be sufficient to warrant the asking price of $100,000. Meanwhile, the Dawsons sold lots for $50 to the prospectors with visions of grandeur and gold. The town of Dawson faded away within a few months and I.F. Dawson,, originally from Dodge City where he had also been in real estate, returned to Cañon City. There, prime lots were going for a whopping $250 to $1000! Within two years, I.F. moved on to Denver, presumably to continue hustling property.
The Johnson family bought the house at 824 Rudd, somewhere around 1910. Three generations of Johnsons lived there, the men in contracting, cement and plaster, the daughter Jessie a fixture of the local dry goods store until her death in 1961. Subsequent owners included the Dices (eight years), Annas (twenty years) and the Loves (thirty-five years).
Dawson/Johnson house, 824 Rudd, 1901
(frame)The mine and the town were barely a flash in the pan as local history goes. Would-be miners flocked to Dawson City, hoping to get rich quick, but the gold vein was disappointing and the company the family had hoped to sell the mine to declined when the gold didn’t appear to be sufficient to warrant the asking price of $100,000. Meanwhile, the Dawsons sold lots for $50 to the prospectors with visions of grandeur and gold. The town of Dawson faded away within a few months and I.F. Dawson,, originally from Dodge City where he had also been in real estate, returned to Cañon City. There, prime lots were going for a whopping $250 to $1000! Within two years, I.F. moved on to Denver, presumably to continue hustling property.
The Johnson family bought the house at 824 Rudd, somewhere around 1910. Three generations of Johnsons lived there, the men in contracting, cement and plaster, the daughter Jessie a fixture of the local dry goods store until her death in 1961. Subsequent owners included the Dices (eight years), Annas (twenty years) and the Loves (thirty-five years).
Read more about Cañon City's
historic homes in the 2007 issue of the Royal Gorge Route
& Area Visitor Guide, available
at visitor centers or from the Royal Gorge Railroad, www.royalgorgerailroad.com.
While visiting Cañon City, be
sure to stop by the Regional Museum and History Center, 612 Royal Gorge
Blvd., in the former Municipal Building. The museum complex,
which includes an 1880’s stone house and an 1860’s log cabin, is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and offers a map
and self-guided tour of Cañon's many lovely historic homes along
with a current exhibit, "Castles and Cottages" showing "before and
after" photos of many of these fine old homes.. 719-269-9036.