Kullgren House

Kullgren House
Location209 East Cleveland Street, Lafayette, Colorado
Coordinates39°59′51″N 105°5′17″W / 39.99750°N 105.08806°W / 39.99750; -105.08806
Builtc. 1890
Architectural styleVernacular miner's cottage
NRHP reference No.83001299
CSRHP No.5BL.813
Added to NRHPMay 20, 1983

The Kullgren House is a historic residence located at 209 East Cleveland Street in Lafayette, Colorado.[1] Built in 1896, the house served as a private residence and boarding house for coal miners and later school teachers.[2] It remains as one of the best preserved examples of the residential architecture typical of the thriving element of Lafayette.[2] It is associated with Andrew Kullgren, who lived in the home from 1896 to 1919.[2]

History

The house was originally constructed in 1896 by Andrew Kullgren. The house was constructed as a residence with enough rooms to allow coal miners as boarders, which was a common method for owner's to bring in additional income.[1][2]

Andrew Kullgren arrived in Lafayette during the early boom years and by 1892 was operating a shoe store in the town.[2] He was elected to City Council in 1894 and served for three years. In 1896, Kullgren switched his line of business to manufacturing harnesses and had the home constructed.[2] He also constructed a small wash house at the back of the home, which provided an area for returning miners to clean up after working in the mines.[2][3]

In 1919, Kullgren sold the house to Ben Cundall from Sutton, Nebraska, whom worked in a local retail store and served as mayor of Lafayette on three occasions.[2][3] The property was part of the Cundall estate until it was sold in 1971.[2]

The house was approved by the Colorado state review committee for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places in early 1983[4], and was officially listed on the register on May 20, 1983.[2][5][6][7]

Architecture

The Kullgren House is a vernacular dwelling with a square floor-plan and a steeply pitched hip roof.[1][2] The open porch has original turned posts with gingerbread brackets.[3]

In 1908, the house was raised and remodeled with a stone foundation added under the building.[8]

In 1974, decorative brackets were removed from the front porch and wood railing was replaced with wrought iron.[2]

Significance

The Kullgren House is historically significant as a well-preserved example of Lafayette's coal-era miner's housing. The house demonstrates the more prosperous element of Lafayette.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kullgren House | History Colorado". www.historycolorado.org. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Weiss, Manual (January 23, 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Kullgren House". National Park Service. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Cramer, Anne (November 5, 1980). "Kullgren-Cundall house is of historical significance". Lafayette News. p. 12. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  4. ^ Garten, Carol (February 23, 1983). "Several buildings ready for national test". Lafayette News. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  5. ^ "Five local buildings officially on National Register". Lafayette News. July 13, 1983. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  6. ^ Pugh, Tony (July 12, 1983). "15 state buildings named U. S. historic landmarks". The Rocky Mountain News. p. 110. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  7. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Kullgren House". National Park Service. May 20, 1983. Retrieved March 13, 2026. With accompanying photos
  8. ^ "Improvement is the Watchword". The Lafayette Leader. March 13, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2026.