Crawford House (Steamboat Springs, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Crawford House Building
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1184 Crawford Ave., Steamboat Springs, Colorado |
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| Area | .35 acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Built by | Charles Briggs |
| Architectural style | residential Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000782 |
| Added to NRHP | August 7, 2005 |
The Crawford House is a special building in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical place in the USA. The house was home to James Harvey Crawford and his wife, Margaret Emerine (Bourn) Crawford. They were very important pioneers in northwest Colorado. James is known as the "Father of Steamboat Springs." Margaret is called the "Mother of Routt County." The Crawford House is also a rare example of a style called Romanesque Revival.
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What Makes the Crawford House Special?
The Crawford House was started in 1893 by a builder named Charles Briggs. The stones for the house came from nearby hills. About 5,000 stones were used to build it. Only 1,675 of these stones can be seen from the outside. The walls are very thick, about 18 inches. They have two layers of stone with a small gap in between. The house also has a strong stone foundation. This foundation goes seven feet underground.
Local wood and bricks were used to build the house. Only a few special items, like the carved front door, came from Denver.
Unique Architectural Styles
The Crawford House is a rare example of Romanesque Revival style. This style uses stone for the first two floors. It also has a round arch over the front door. This style was often used for churches. It was also used for large public buildings. It was not often used for homes.
The house also shows the Foursquare style. This means it has a simple square shape. It has two and a half stories. It also has a sloped roof and a large dormer window. A porch was added in the 1910s. The Crawfords loved to sit on this porch.
Meet James and Margaret Crawford
The Crawford House was the main home for James Harvey Crawford and his wife, Margaret Emerine (Bourn) Crawford. James is known as the "Father of Steamboat Springs." Margaret is called the "Mother of Routt County."
James first saw the Yampa River in 1874. He claimed 160 acres of land around the Steamboat Spring. In 1876, the Crawford family moved there. They had three young children. They built a cabin and became the first permanent settlers.
Building a Community
The Crawford cabin quickly became the center of the growing community. It served as the first post office. It was also the first newspaper office. It was even the first school, church, and library.
James held many important roles. He was the first County Judge in 1877. He became the first Postmaster in 1878. He was also the first School Superintendent in 1879. He was elected to represent Routt County in the Colorado legislature twice. He was also elected County Judge again in 1883.
Margaret was also very active. In 1884, she helped start the Union Church. This was the first church building in the county.
Growing Steamboat Springs
In 1884, James started the Steamboat Springs Town Company. This company helped plan the town. They sold land lots. They also built a bathhouse. The company worked to make the town grow. When Steamboat Springs became an official town in 1900, James was its first mayor.
James also supported his family through business. He raised many cattle and horses. He was the first stockman in Steamboat Springs. He also found a large coal deposit. This led to the Elkhead Anthracite Coal Company. He also found a large onyx mine. This led to the Colorado Onyx Company.
The Crawfords were known for being very welcoming. They invited everyone to visit and stay the night. Their homes were always a social center for the community. They lived in the Crawford House for over 40 years. James passed away in 1930. Margaret passed away in 1939.
The Crawford House was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 7, 2005.
