Charles E. Loose House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Charles E. Loose House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Charles E. Loose House
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | 383 E. Two Hundred South Provo, Utah |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1893 |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| Part of | Provo East Central Historic District (ID98000281) |
| MPS | Entreprenurial Residences of Turn-of-the-Century Provo TR |
| Designated CP | November 24, 1998 |
The Charles E. Loose House is a special old house in Provo, Utah, United States. It was built a long time ago. This house is important because it shows us what homes looked like in the late 1800s. It is also part of a group of historic buildings in the Provo East Central Historic District.
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What Makes This House Special?
The Charles E. Loose House was built in 1893 by Charles E. Loose. It has a unique design that mixes two styles: the Shingle Style and the Eastlake style. Imagine a house with a big, wrapping roof and fancy decorations. It even has cool, five-sided windows in the gables (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof). This house stands out among other buildings in Provo. It was officially named a historic Provo City Landmark in 1995.
Provo's Grand Victorian Homes
The Charles E. Loose House is one of several amazing Victorian mansions built in Provo between 1893 and 1908. These homes are not just beautiful; they belonged to some of the most successful people in the city and state at that time.
Other homes in this group include:
- The William H. Ray House
- The Knight-Allen House
- The John R. Twelves House
- The Jesse Knight House
- The Knight-Mangum House
- The Thomas N. Taylor House
These houses show off many different fancy architectural styles. They include Eastlake, Shingle, Craftsman, Italianate, Classical, Moorish, Colonial, and Romanesque Revival. Most of these homes are made of brick. They feature some of the most detailed and beautiful designs in Provo.
Who Was Charles E. Loose?
Charles E. Loose (1853–1929) was a very important person in Provo. He was a banker and even served as a Utah State Senator. Charles Loose played a big role in changing Provo's economy. Before his time, Provo was mostly about farming. But Charles helped it become a center for mining and business.
He was one of the most well-known business leaders in Provo around the turn of the century. As his mining company, Grand Central, grew, so did his wealth. By 1900, his company had new, advanced equipment. This included an all-steel headframe over its mine shaft, which was the first of its kind in the area! Charles Loose built his impressive Provo home in 1893, showing off his success.
Mining and Provo's Growth
The discovery of valuable metals and minerals completely changed Utah's economy. It went from being mostly farms to a more industrial state. The Tintic Mining District, about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Provo, was a key part of this change. It started in 1869 and by 1899, it was Utah's top mining area. It produced millions of dollars worth of minerals.
A central figure in the Tintic mining success was Jesse Knight and his family, who also lived in Provo. Jesse Knight became very wealthy in the mid-1890s from his Humbug mine. This success allowed him to develop other mines in the East Tintic area. Jesse Knight's business ventures grew far beyond just the Tintic mines. He invested in power plants, farms, and smelters. His company, the Knight Investment Company, owned many different businesses.
The wealth created by the Tintic Mining District helped people like Charles E. Loose become successful. In fact, Charles Loose was a manager at the Grand Central mining Company, which was part of this booming industry. His beautiful home is a symbol of this exciting time of growth and change in Provo.
Protecting History
The Charles E. Loose House was considered for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This is a list of places important to American history. While it was found to be eligible, it wasn't officially listed at that time because the owner objected. However, it was later recognized as an important part of the Provo East Central Historic District. This means it's still protected as a valuable historical building.
