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The Susan Badger House, a historic structure on Frisco's Galena Street, will meet the wrecking ball unless an interested buyer - willing to move it - steps forward.
FRISCO - The little white house near the northeast corner of Galena Street and Fourth Avenue is indisputably old. The classic log slab home has been sitting in that spot for just more than a century and was once home to Susan Badger, Frisco's "silk stocking pioneer."
But that doesn't necessarily qualify the structure as "historic". It has been remodeled several times, its architecture isn't especially interesting and no major historic events ever transpired in the building.
Consequently, nothing stands in the way of the home's demolition, as a developer prepares to purchase the land beneath it. Nothing, that is, except for the hopes of a local history buff and real estate agent and the granddaughter of a Frisco pioneer family.
But that doesn't necessarily qualify the structure as "historic". It has been remodeled several times, its architecture isn't especially interesting and no major historic events ever transpired in the building.
Consequently, nothing stands in the way of the home's demolition, as a developer prepares to purchase the land beneath it. Nothing, that is, except for the hopes of a local history buff and real estate agent and the granddaughter of a Frisco pioneer family.
"I would just love to save this little place," said Charlotte Clarke, who owns 4 Sale By U Realty and sits on the Frisco Historical Society board. "Susan Badger was such a neat lady. She lived in that house for 35 years, pumping water from a well and chopping her own wood."
Badger, a native New Englander from an upper class family, came to Frisco in 1934 and moved into the house on Galena Street in 1935. She worked as the county welfare director, always wore a hat and formal eastern dress and made a ritual of afternoon tea.
"She was a very proper lady," said Rita Bartram, executive director of the Frisco Historical Society. "However, she had a love of poker and whiskey. She was a character."
When Clarke heard the land was under contract for sale, she contacted the property owner and asked if she could search for someone willing to purchase the home and move it to another location. The owner agreed and put a $5,000 price tag on the building.
Badger, a native New Englander from an upper class family, came to Frisco in 1934 and moved into the house on Galena Street in 1935. She worked as the county welfare director, always wore a hat and formal eastern dress and made a ritual of afternoon tea.
"She was a very proper lady," said Rita Bartram, executive director of the Frisco Historical Society. "However, she had a love of poker and whiskey. She was a character."
When Clarke heard the land was under contract for sale, she contacted the property owner and asked if she could search for someone willing to purchase the home and move it to another location. The owner agreed and put a $5,000 price tag on the building.
In October, Clarke plunked a "For Sale" sign in front of the house. Soon after, Joyce Deming of Golden expressed interest in taking on the project. Deming's grandparents homesteaded in Frisco.
"I've always loved that little cabin - I think it's just cute as a bug," Deming said.
Deming and her husband, Victor Hahn, are looking into the costs of moving the building and the feasibility of placing it on their property a block away on Galena and Fifth Avenue, in the company of two historic cabins.
"We're interested in trying to preserve it, as long as it doesn't cost a million dollars," Hahn said. "My wife always said if it came up for sale we should look at it. We didn't realize the lot was already going to be developed and we'd have to move the house, so that kind of complicated things a little bit."
"I've always loved that little cabin - I think it's just cute as a bug," Deming said.
Deming and her husband, Victor Hahn, are looking into the costs of moving the building and the feasibility of placing it on their property a block away on Galena and Fifth Avenue, in the company of two historic cabins.
"We're interested in trying to preserve it, as long as it doesn't cost a million dollars," Hahn said. "My wife always said if it came up for sale we should look at it. We didn't realize the lot was already going to be developed and we'd have to move the house, so that kind of complicated things a little bit."
Deming and Hahn have until April 15 - the scheduled closing date for the property's sale - to move the building.
"If we can't do it, we hope somebody else will be able to," Deming said.
Julie Sutor can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 203, or at jsutor@summitdaily.com.
"If we can't do it, we hope somebody else will be able to," Deming said.
Julie Sutor can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 203, or at jsutor@summitdaily.com.
