Otto's house in Ridgway for sale, and related photos & docs

Well, you do get interesting stuff in email once in a while... a house owned by Otto Mears in Ridgway is for sale.

The owner is Heidi Comstock, and can be reached at: thc@ridgway.us

She's sent me some interesting photos of the house and - probably most interesting to us - some documents showing original owners, including Otto.

I've posted them here;
[picasaweb.google.com]

And below is part of the sales abstract Heidi sent - enjoy!


“ The Arthur B. Hyde Building ” 1887

A Charming, Historic Victorian in Ridgway
Arthur B. Hyde and his brother originally homesteaded most of the land in the Ridgway Valley. Later, when the Denver Rio Grand Railroad came looking for a location for a new headquarters to launch the Rio Grand Southern line, they bought most of the land from the Hyde Brothers, and the Town of Ridgway was born! Ridgway is named for the first superintendent of construction for the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, Robert Ridgway. Streets in Ridgway are named for the founders, wives and daughters of the RGS Rail Company. (An adjacent street is “Hyde Street”.) At one time, The Arthur Hyde building site included all the property and water rights where Solar Ranches is now located. The existing, original manuscript abstract lists many legendary Ridgway personalities including the infamous Otto Mears ( Narrow Gauge RR entrepreneur and builder of the Million Dollar Highway over Red Mtn. ) along with Fred Walsen, Mary Criswell and D.G. Hartwell for whom Ridgway’s Town Park is named.

Zoned “Historic~Business” (Commercial)
The possibilities are endless!

New construction may be built to the property boundaries, 35 feet high (2-3 stories), with no set backs required. Although the house has been honored with historic designation, (See plaque by front door) the existing building may be removed and there are no “historical” architectural codes required for new construction (although the Town encourages a traditional historic look.). One may live in the building and/or operate, or lease a business(s) within as well. All of Lena Street is zoned “Historic Business” and it is the only paved street in Town with paved diagonal parking and new sidewalks.

“The Arthur B. Hyde Building”
509 Moffat Street, Ridgway, Colorado

Rio Grande Southern details!! [www.rgsrr.com]