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FRISCO - After sitting for more than a year and a half on a temporary location, the Susan Badger house has been saved from demolition yet again, thanks to a new owner coming forward to give it a permanent home - directly across the street.
The little log house at 407 Galena Street in Frisco was originally scheduled for demolition in October 2005, when an article published by the Summit Daily News spurred Charlotte Clarke, owner of the Frisco-based realty company 4 Sale By U, to step in and save the house.
Clarke arranged for the Badger house to be relocated to 313 Galena Street, behind the home formerly owned by late Frisco resident Susie Chamberlain. Chamberlain's daughters, Peggy Alexander and Mickie Ostermiller, allowed Clarke to temporarily place the house there until last May.
As the spring deadline grew closer, Clarke knew she had to find yet another location for the historic house.
The little log house at 407 Galena Street in Frisco was originally scheduled for demolition in October 2005, when an article published by the Summit Daily News spurred Charlotte Clarke, owner of the Frisco-based realty company 4 Sale By U, to step in and save the house.
Clarke arranged for the Badger house to be relocated to 313 Galena Street, behind the home formerly owned by late Frisco resident Susie Chamberlain. Chamberlain's daughters, Peggy Alexander and Mickie Ostermiller, allowed Clarke to temporarily place the house there until last May.
As the spring deadline grew closer, Clarke knew she had to find yet another location for the historic house.
"I was desperate; I knew it was going to have to move or burn," Clarke said. "But it occurred to me that I had all the addresses of owners on Galena, so I wrote and told them that we would be willing to move it for free if they would just agree to keep it."
In March, Clarke sent out letters to everyone on Galena Street, asking homeowners if they would like to have the Badger house for free, to use as a garage or storage unit. Clarke got an immediate response from Bob Kessler, whose home is at 406 Galena - directly opposite from the original Badger home site.
"I went over and looked at it, and I fell in love with it," Kessler said. "The walls in this house talk - they convinced me I should save it."
As part of the deal, Clarke, who serves as president of the Alliance for Historical Preservation, agreed to pay for the moving of the house. In order to raise the funds, Clarke held an arts and crafts show on July 4 and 5 on the vacant lot off of Summit Boulevard across from the Lake Dillon Fire Station. The show raised $7,000 - more than enough to cover the $5,000 needed to pay the movers.
The relocation was done in the nick of time; the final deadline was extended to July 4, and the movers were there on July 3.
In March, Clarke sent out letters to everyone on Galena Street, asking homeowners if they would like to have the Badger house for free, to use as a garage or storage unit. Clarke got an immediate response from Bob Kessler, whose home is at 406 Galena - directly opposite from the original Badger home site.
"I went over and looked at it, and I fell in love with it," Kessler said. "The walls in this house talk - they convinced me I should save it."
As part of the deal, Clarke, who serves as president of the Alliance for Historical Preservation, agreed to pay for the moving of the house. In order to raise the funds, Clarke held an arts and crafts show on July 4 and 5 on the vacant lot off of Summit Boulevard across from the Lake Dillon Fire Station. The show raised $7,000 - more than enough to cover the $5,000 needed to pay the movers.
The relocation was done in the nick of time; the final deadline was extended to July 4, and the movers were there on July 3.
"I'm still elated about this," Clarke said. "I'm so excited when I think of that house having a permanent home."
Local history buffs have been anxious about preserving the house not only because it is a remarkable example of a Victorian miner's cabin, but also because of the remarkable life of the lady who lived in it.
Susan Badger moved to Frisco in 1934, after the death of her fiancée. Invalided by tuberculosis and not expected to live, the young woman rallied in the mountain atmosphere and made Frisco her home until her death in 1972. Throughout her life, she became a beloved figure in the town, dispensing advice and hand-outs both personally and professionally in her role as county welfare director. Fond of a hand of poker and a good cigar, Badger fit to perfection the image of the rugged pioneer woman with a heart of gold. Badger lived in the little cabin on Galena Street for 35 years, and locals with fond memories have always associated it with her.
Despite the passage of years, the house has retained its historical integrity, both in its structure and interior design. Inside, the original floorboards boast a trapdoor leading to an ancient root-cellar, while the walls are papered with the original sheets of a Denver Post newspaper from 1905.
Kessler, a local businessman and entrepreneur who has lived in Frisco since 1999, wanted to save the house because of its fascinating link to Frisco's historic past.
Local history buffs have been anxious about preserving the house not only because it is a remarkable example of a Victorian miner's cabin, but also because of the remarkable life of the lady who lived in it.
Susan Badger moved to Frisco in 1934, after the death of her fiancée. Invalided by tuberculosis and not expected to live, the young woman rallied in the mountain atmosphere and made Frisco her home until her death in 1972. Throughout her life, she became a beloved figure in the town, dispensing advice and hand-outs both personally and professionally in her role as county welfare director. Fond of a hand of poker and a good cigar, Badger fit to perfection the image of the rugged pioneer woman with a heart of gold. Badger lived in the little cabin on Galena Street for 35 years, and locals with fond memories have always associated it with her.
Despite the passage of years, the house has retained its historical integrity, both in its structure and interior design. Inside, the original floorboards boast a trapdoor leading to an ancient root-cellar, while the walls are papered with the original sheets of a Denver Post newspaper from 1905.
Kessler, a local businessman and entrepreneur who has lived in Frisco since 1999, wanted to save the house because of its fascinating link to Frisco's historic past.
"I've been reading about Susan Badger, and so many people have told me that they have a lot of memories about this house," he said. "Renovating it will be a cool little project, and I'm thrilled to be doing it."
Kessler has a self-admitted penchant for recycling. When the new playground was built, he installed the old swing set in his backyard, and has salvaged fixtures and wood from other tear-downs in the neighborhood as well.
"I have half of Frisco in my back yard," he said.
Kessler said that during the renovation process, he intends to keep the house in as original a state as possible. And although he plans to use it as a storage unit, he wants to keep it permanently open for tourists and locals to visit whenever they want.
"It's right in my back yard, and anybody's welcome to come over and look at it," he said.
Kessler has a self-admitted penchant for recycling. When the new playground was built, he installed the old swing set in his backyard, and has salvaged fixtures and wood from other tear-downs in the neighborhood as well.
"I have half of Frisco in my back yard," he said.
Kessler said that during the renovation process, he intends to keep the house in as original a state as possible. And although he plans to use it as a storage unit, he wants to keep it permanently open for tourists and locals to visit whenever they want.
"It's right in my back yard, and anybody's welcome to come over and look at it," he said.
