The Stockbridge House 2801 W. Colorado Ave.

The home, built in 1891 by Charles Stockbridge, the first Mayor of (Old) Colorado City, sits on the south west corner of Colorado Ave. & 28th St. in Colorado Springs. The home is considered to be a Richardsonian Romanesque style by the architect Walter F. Douglas and a Western Victorian by others. Mr. Stockbridge built this fortress like home in response to a fire which burned his first home, the El Paso House, to the ground in 1890. He built a second home on the site, and it too was burned down. It is speculated the fires were started by the hands of local citizens, so Mr. Stockbridge vowed that neither “fire, hail or the wrath of his fellow citizens could not destroy” this home. On July 1, 1980, the Stockbridge House was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is also widely known as the Amarillo Motel and Leasures Treasures.

Charles Stockbridge-

Born in Barrington, Cambridgeshire, England on November 27, 1843. At the age of 23, Charles married Annie Ayres in December of 1866 in Roxton, Bedfordshire, England. They became the parents of 12 children. Charles died at the age of 55 on November 24, 1899 in Colorado Springs after a severe diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes.

Charles temporarily left his family in England to pursue a new life in Colorado at the age of 26. After an attack by locals in Rocky Ford, he and his party were forced to walk to Pueblo, CO where he learned about the prosperous community of Colorado Springs. He found a job planting trees, and soon began his endeavors by opening a trading company to include firearms and ammunition which he would trade for blankets, rugs and other things made by the local Native Americans. It is thought that he made around $20,000 his first year in town by trading. During this time, Charles became interested in Colorado City. He opened a drug store and a brewery, held real-estate in Colorado Springs, and procured a large interest of the Fanny Rawlings mine in Leadville. His dream of a new life was becoming a reality. Charles brought his family over from England and bought the first building site in Colorado City known as the Baird and Smith Hotel (El Paso House). In 1887, Colorado City became incorporated and Mr. Stockbridge was elected as the 1st mayor, he served 3 terms.

Owners f the Stockbridge House:

1891- : Charles and Annie Stockbridge (Private Residence)

1922: Arvett E. Davis (Home of Furniture Bargains)

1923-1930: Vacant

1930-1943: Alexander Warwick (House of Warwick/Antique Store)

1952-1960: Mr. & Mrs. E.L. Wright

1960-1980: Richard and Joan Gran

1980-Present: Elden and Sylvia Leasure

(Research in progress: Dates are hard to find and prove accuracy, this is the best we have found so far.)