Stoiber-Reed-Humphreys Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stoiber-Reed-Humphreys Mansion, within the Humboldt Street Historic District
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Front entrance of Stoiber-Reed-Humphreys Mansion
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 Location in Colorado
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| Location | 1022 Humboldt Street, Denver, Colorado |
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| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Marean and Norton |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000848 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1978 |
The Stoiber-Reed-Humphreys Mansion is a very large and impressive house. It is located in Denver, Colorado. This mansion is part of the Humboldt Street Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 29, 1978. Many people consider the Stoiber-Reed-Humphreys Mansion to be the biggest and most grand home in the entire district.
Contents
The Stoiber Mansion: A Grand Beginning
The Stoiber Mansion, also known as Stoiberhof, was built in 1907. It is a three-story house designed in the Renaissance Revival style. This style looks back to the grand buildings of the Renaissance period. The Denver architecture company Marean and Norton designed this amazing home.
Inside the Stoiber Mansion
This huge house has 30 rooms and covers more than 16,000 square feet. It was built to be a place for big parties and social events. The entrance hall alone is 50 feet long! There is also a main drawing room that is 40 feet long. The dining room is so large that it can easily seat 50 people.
The mansion has nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms. It also included some very special features for its time. These included a swimming pool in the basement, a bowling alley, and even a barber shop. An elevator was also installed to take people to the second floor. On the outside, the house has a fancy glass and metal cover over the front door. It also has decorative dormers and balustrades (fancy railings) under the roof.
Who Built the Stoiber Mansion?
The ideas for the Stoiber Mansion came from drawings by Edward G. Stoiber. He was a German mining engineer. He owned the Silver Lake Mine in Silverton, Colorado. After Edward Stoiber passed away in Paris, his wife, Lena, hired architects Albert J. Norton and Willis A. Marean. They used Edward's sketches to design the mansion. These architects also designed other famous buildings in Denver. One of their other projects was the Cheesman-Boettcher Mansion, which is now the Colorado Governor's Mansion.
In 1909, Lena Stoiber married Hugh Rood. He was a rich businessman from Seattle. Sadly, Hugh Rood passed away on the RMS Titanic.
The Reed Family's Time
After her husband's death, Lena Stoiber Rood sold the mansion. The new owners were Verner Z. Reed and his wife, Mary. The Reeds were known for their kindness and for giving money to good causes. Verner Z. Reed was a very successful businessman. He developed and owned oil fields in Wyoming. He was also a banker, a mining expert, and a collector of art.
The Reeds had just returned from living in other countries when they bought the mansion. They often hosted many guests and parties in their new home.
Mary Reed's Contributions
After her husband Verner passed away, Mary Reed built another large home. This one was a Tudor-style mansion in the Country Club Historic Neighborhood. Mary Reed was very generous. She helped create the Margery Reed Mayo Day Nursery. She also helped establish the Mary Reed Library at the University of Denver.
The Humphreys Family: New Owners
In 1920, the mansion was sold again. The new owners were Albert and Ruth Boettcher Humphreys. Albert E. Humphreys was a vice president at Humphreys Engineering Company. He was also the president of the Humphreys Gold Company. Ruth was the daughter of Charles Boettcher, a well-known businessman. Ruth was very educated and also gave a lot to charity. She was an early supporter of the Denver Art Museum.
The Humphreys raised their two daughters, Charline and Ruth Augusta, in the mansion. They were part of a special group in Denver called the "Sacred 36." Ruth Humphreys passed away in 1959. Albert later married the widow of Henry C. Van Schaack. Albert Humphreys passed away in 1968. Since then, the mansion has had several different owners.
