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 big, important house in Denver, Colorado. It's part of the Humboldt Street Historic District. This whole area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. People think this mansion is the biggest and most impressive house in the district.
Building the Stoiber Mansion
The Stoiber Mansion, also known as Stoiberhof, was built in 1907. It's a three-story house designed in the Renaissance Revival style. This style looks back to old European buildings. The Denver company Marean and Norton designed the house.
This huge house has 30 rooms and is over 16,000 square feet. It was meant to be a place for parties and gatherings. The entrance hall is 50 feet long. The main living room is 40 feet long. The dining room is big enough to seat 50 people easily.
The mansion has nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms. It even had a swimming pool in the basement. There was also a bowling alley and a barber shop. An elevator could take people to the second floor. Outside, there's a fancy glass and metal cover over the front door.
The idea 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. After he 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 the Cheesman-Boettcher Mansion. That building is now the Colorado Governor's Mansion. In 1909, Lena Stoiber married Hugh Rood. He was a rich businessman from Seattle. Sadly, he died on the RMS Titanic.
The Reed Family Moves In
After her husband died, Lena Stoiber Rood sold the mansion. Verner Z. Reed and his wife, Mary, bought the house. They were known for their generous giving to good causes. Verner Reed owned oil fields in Wyoming. He was also a banker, a mining expert, and an art collector.
The Reeds had just returned from living overseas. They bought the mansion and often hosted many guests there. After her husband passed away, Mrs. Reed built another large house. It was a Tudor-style mansion in the Country Club Historic Neighborhood. Mary Reed helped start the Margery Reed Mayo Day Nursery. She also helped create the Mary Reed Library at the University of Denver.
The Humphreys Family Takes Over
In 1920, the house was sold again. Albert and Ruth Boettcher Humphreys became the new owners. 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 very important person in Denver. Ruth was well-educated and also gave a lot to charity. She was an early supporter of the Denver Art Museum. The couple 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 died in 1959. Albert later married the widow of Henry C. Van Schaack. Albert passed away in 1968. Since then, the mansion has had several different owners.
