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Sneak Peek: Two Houses on the Historic Homes Tour
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The Poudre Landmarks Foundation's 2015 Historic Homes Tour is on Saturday, September 12, 10:00-4:00. This late-summer event in Fort Collins opens seven private residences as well as two historic city-owned properties to tour guests. As a reader of this newsletter, you get a "look forward into the past"-that is, a sneak peek at a couple of this year's houses, right now!
Built in 1958, the Bliss House is an exquisite example of a well-appointed mid-century home. The kitchen features the look of the time with original turquoise metal cabinetry, inset bread and flour boxes, a mixer lift, and original GE appliances. Redwood and sandstone exterior and interior walls, a cork floor, and mosaic tile, along with the original solid mahogany paneling, make this a must-see home. Don't miss the unique turquoise ceramic drinking fountain embedded in the hallway wall.
The McCarty house was built in 1923/1924. Arthur Sheely and his wife, Margaret, owned this home in the '30s and '40s. Arthur was best known as the owner of Sheely Chrysler-Plymouth Auto Sales, and the Sheely neighborhood off of West Prospect Road is named for him. Throughout this home, visitors will note many details exemplifying the current owners' dedication to historic preservation. The current owners have retained samples of the earlier wallpaper and other artifacts. Moreover, Art Sheely's touch remains: an outdoor fireplace represents work he did decades ago and is emblematic of the rich history of this historic home.
Tickets for the 2015 Historic Homes tour are $25 in advance and $30 on tour day. Purchase tickets online now:
Pre-Tour Architecture Lecture: Thursday, September 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
To dive deeper into historical architecture, attend our tour lecture on the evening of September 10 at the Carriage House, 108 N. Meldrum St. The lecture, "Architectural Darwinism," explores how houses evolve over time. Seating for this discussion is limited to 25, so get your tickets before they sell out! Tickets are $10 and are available online:
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Thousands Enjoy July 4th Festivities at the Avery House
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| The Bluegrass Patriots at the Old-Fashioned Fourth
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| Local Boy Scouts place the flag on the Avery porch
Mark your calendar to join us on the Avery lawn next year for this community celebration honoring our nation! |
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Father of Edgar Avery's Childhood Friend Instrumental in 1883 Water Works
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With the next Water Works open house coming up this Saturday, August 8, it's a good time to share a bit of Water Works history. The site for the 1883 Water Works was selected by Henry P. Handy, city engineer of Fort Collins at that time. Handy laid out the route of the ditches and was the engineer in charge of construction. In the diary that 12-year-old Edgar Avery kept in 1890, Edgar frequently mentions spending time with his friend Ralph Handy-son of Henry Handy. What fun to make such connections while reading Edgar's diary! The journal, in which Edgar wrote daily for all of 1890, was transcribed by a dedicated Avery House volunteer in 1990, and copies are for sale for $6.25 at the Avery House. Here's a little more information about Henry Handy, via excerpts from his obituary posted at rootsweb.ancestry.com:
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Henry P. Handy's headstone in Idaho
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Henry Parker Handy was born . . . on July 24, 1832 [and died in 1903]. Early in life he decided to become a civil engineer and soon gained a wide reputation in that profession. After having been employed in the location and construction of several railroad projects in Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia, he sailed to California via Cape Horn arriving in San Francisco in 1860, after a seven month voyage. . . . He was selected by the U. S. government as chief engineer for the purpose of locating a railroad across the Isthmus of Nicaragua, which he carried to a successful termination. . . . He left many monuments of his skill as an engineer throughout Colorado where large irrigating canals, dams, reservoirs and bridges were planned and constructed under his supervision, perhaps the most important being the system of waterworks at Fort Collins, Colorado. . . . He was the father of eleven children, five of whom survive him, namely, Nelia R. King of Nampa, [Idaho,] William H. Handy of Cripple Creek, Colorado, George H. Handy of Silver City, [Idaho,] Ralph H. Handy of San Francisco and Royal S. Handy of Lawton, Oregon.
No photos of Henry Handy seem to be extant, but we did find a photo of his headstone.
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Commemorative tablet mounted above pump house door at 1883 Water Works
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Also, observant visitors to the Water Works will note Handy's name on the commemorative stone tablet installed above the entrance to the pump house. The tablet has the names of people instrumental in the planning and construction of the Water Works and the water delivery system. If you're familiar with Fort Collins, you'll recognize some of them as place names in present-day Fort Collins. Your next opportunity to get a gander at the tablet is August 8, when the Water Works is open for tours 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come by for a free tour; no reservations required.
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Poudre Landmarks Foundation Board of Directors
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Thom Tisthammer, President | Jennifer Kutzik, Secretary | Nancy DuTeau, Treasurer | Tom Boardman | Carol Brescher | Cheryl Donaldson | Doug Ernest | Norm Evans | Lynda Lloyd | Kimberly Miller | Pat Nelson | Jacques Rieux | Robin Stitzel | Alexandra Wallace | William Whitley
Staff
Jennifer Beccard, Exec. Director | Linda Harty, Admin. Assistant
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108 N Meldrum St
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970-221-0533
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