2202 Goss St. - Oscar and Mary White

Oscar White, born in 1844, was a former enslaved person from Louisville, Kentucky. He fought for the Union in the Civil War. His portrait is the third photo above.

He arrived in Boulder in 1880. Oscar’s wife Mary arrived in Boulder later, and in 1890 they purchased this house at 2202 Goss Street. The historic photo featuring this house was taken during one of the frequent floods that Goss Street experienced. Oscar worked as a laborer and teamster, and Mary worked as a domestic which is about all that was available to Black citizens in those days.

One of things of which Oscar was most proud was joining with friends to mortgage their homes to buy the land in 1884 for the Allen Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopal Church [Stop 22] that stood at 18th and Pearl streets, northwest corner, for 99 years before being demolished. The land was purchased from Boulder early settler James A. Maxwell and the deeds of trust were given to him and his son, James P. Maxwell. There is a street in Boulder named after the Maxwell family. You will hear more about the church later if you take the north of Canyon Boulevard portion of the tour.

Mary was always an active member of the church. She was the first Sunday school superintendent, led fundraising, and helped with child rearing for congregation members. Mary was belatedly awarded a $30 per month widow’s pension for her husband’s service in the Civil War. She continued living here after Oscar died until she also passed in 1924.

Directions to Stop 3: Walk west on Goss Street to the southeast corner of 21st and Goss streets.