|  |
|
| |
A BUILDING IN DENVER NAMED THE "ENGELBACH BUILDING!!!
The Engelbach building in Denver, Colorado was built by Augustus Lorenz Engelbach and was designed by the Baerresen brothers. Augustus Lorenz Engelbach was born in Davenport, Iowa and was the grandfather of Emilie Engelbach Cuthbart who currently resides in California. Written below is some information provided by Emilie about her grandfather and the Engelbach building. Thanks Em!
"I don't ever recall being in the Engelbach Bldg in Denver, just driving by the outside of it. It is a red sandstone building. My Grandparents died about two years before I was born, so I only know the family stories from my Mother and her siblings. My Grandfather designed and manufactured much of the mining machinery used in Leadville at the time. He owned the Eagle Mining and Manufacturing Co in Leadville where he manufactured those things, as well as a number of other items, like the furnace that still works in the house. He was given a gold medal by the French Government at an exhibition in Paris(will have to find out the year in recognition of his inventions (My brother has it now along with a very fancy engraved scroll that goes with it.) He also designed much of what went into the house in the way of wrought iron edging on the roof line and the fencing (gone, alas, for scrap in WW I) He also designed the pattern of the marquetry floors and the stuccadore ceilings, so I rather imagine, he had a lot of imput on the design of his building. After he moved to Denver in 1900 or 1901, he started a restaurant supply business and had a number of other interests. He backed a Chinese man, Joe Yip in opening a Chinese restaurant that I used to love to go to when I was little (we moved from Denver to La Jolla when I was 9.) My most vivid memory is once going with my mother to visit her safe deposit box in Colorado Natl. Bank. An elderly man, dressed in what must have been a frock coat and striped trousers, came out of his office in the bank, I guess to see my mother. I was about five. When my mother introduced me, he leaned down to take my hand and very gravely said, "I am delighted to meet the granddaughter of August Engelbach. I want you to know, young lady, that I would have taken your grandfather's word over any other man's bond." I suppose because he made such a ceremony of saying that, I have never forgotten it and have always tried to live up to my grandfather's reputation."
NOTE: Emilie Engelbach Cuthbart is currently writing a family memoir about the life and times of her grandfather and grandmother during the silver boom in Leadville, Colorado. She hopes to have the manuscript published in the future. Can't wait to read it Emilie!!!!
Read about the building at this website!
