1733 Canyon Blvd - Albert and Eliza Stephens

Albert Stephens, his wife Eliza, and her nephew Robert lived in this house from about 1908 to 1910. Albert worked as headwaiter at the O’Connor Hotel on Walnut Street. He was born in Georgia, and Eliza and Robert were born in Kentucky. Living on the north side of the railroad tracks, they were separated from the Black residents living on the south side of the tracks on Goss Street.

It was a noisy and gritty time living there but they planted a garden in the back. The house was built about 1870, and has a board and batten construction on the outside. It has an interesting history. Farmer Robert Culver owned the land in this area, but sold the property to Robert Woodard in 1871 who sold it to Wolf Hannenstein in 1872 who sold it Amos and Augusta Bixby in 1880.

Mr. Bixby owned a newspaper, the “Boulder County Herald,” and also wrote Boulder’s first history in 1880 called History of Clear Creek and Boulder Valleys. He was postmaster to boot. He turned around and sold it to Swedish immigrant Anders J. Nelson in 1882. That’s a lot of transferring! Those were all white citizens, but there were several Black citizens who lived in this neighborhood off and on, including a pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church [Stop 22] who lived right around the corner in a now-demolished house on 18th Street.

In 1977, the historic preservation organization Historic Boulder purchased the house to save it, rehabilitated it because it was in poor condition, and landmarked it in 1978. When the Stephens were living here, no one would imagine that the little house—called the “Little Grey House” by Historic Boulder—would be so important that the city considered it worthy of preservation. In fact, the entire neighborhood was designated as the Chamberlain Historic District in 1995 honoring the working-class citizens who made it their home for so many years. Later on, Albert and Eliza moved to the Little Rectangle.

Directions to Stop 16: Turn left on 18th Street, then cross 18th Street to the alley between Canyon Boulevard and Walnut Street. When you arrive at 19th Street, Stop 16 will be on your right.