George E King
American
Architect - AsNotedIn
Architect - AsNotedIn
| Y/M/D | Description | Association | Composition | Place | Locale | Food | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y/M/D | Description | Association | Composition | Place | Locale | Food | Event |
| 1877/02/00 | Arnett-Fullen House, built at a cost of $4,000 for Willamette Arnett, nears completion (not finished until 1882). It's the first house in Boulder with hot and cold running water. | Architect | Arnett-Fullen House | Boulder |
History
Phillip King and Mary Ann Nash married in 1830 in London and produced 8 children: Eliza Caroline (1831), James Isbister (1832), Mary Ann (1835), Eliza Caroline (1838), Harriet (1840), John (1842), Susan (1844), Rebecca Emma (1848), Elizabeth Jane (1850) and George Edward (1852).
In approximately 1871, John King, with his brother George and brother-in-law James, travelled from England to the United States to seek work. They were builders and carpenters. John returned to England and over the course of the next decade he traveled back and forth across the Atlantic to spend periods of time working in the States.
George King remained in the United States. He married Harriet Smith in 1874 in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1875 he arrived in Boulder, Colorado, with his new wife and proceeded to establish himself as an architect and superintendent of building. He designed the Arnett-Fullen house in 1877 and also designed the first building, Old Main, of the Colorado Agricultural College (now Colorado State University) in Fort Collins in this time period.
King then moved his young family, George Edward King, Junior born in 1875 and John William in 1876, to Leadville, Colorado. From 1878 to 1885 George made a name for himself as the leading architect in Leadville and surrounding counties. In addition to the Temple Israel building in Leadville, he was responsible for the following buildings: the Tabor Grand Hotel; the Delaware Hotel; the 9th Street School; the Central School; the US Post Office; the Lake County Court House; the Clipper Building (Silver Dollar Saloon); and his own home at 212 West 9th Street. Many of his buildings stand to this day. Two more children were born to George and Harriet during this time: Alice in 1880 and Arthur Philip in 1881.
The family then moved to El Paso, Texas, where George again had a flourishing architectural practice. As he undertook more and more work in Mexico, by the early 1890s he opened up offices in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Durango, and Chihuahua. The family moved to Mexico City, renting out their house in El Paso. From approximately 1893 to 1910 George undertook many government contracts, building theatres, governors' residences, and many other grand buildings. These included the Casino Club in Juarez, the Opera House in Zacatas, and the Opera House in Mexico City. Some of these buildings still remain. The family had to flee the country back to Texas in 1910 at the time of the Mexican Revolution. The harsh conditions experienced in this flight took their toll and both George and Harriet died in 1912.
An article in the Boulder County News on December 29, 1876, was devoted to King's early work in Boulder. It stated: Let his works praise him. He has designed and in most cases superintended the construction of the following named buildings erected in this town the past season: A R Stewart's block; Schuyler Austin's block; C.G. Van Fleet's building; Mrs. D.R. Bowler's residence; W P Sale residence and boarding house; L Jacob's store; Chas Frey's residence; Chas Donelson's residence; Mrs Sarah A Alien's residence; A E Lee residence; Will Arnett's residence; A L Welch and Co's block; and Mr Winch's store. - NRHP, 24 November 2008
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