By Shannon Lukens.

The City of Steamboat Springs has designated the Veterans Center Building as an historic landmark.

The plaque was presented at the Veterans Center, 924 Lincoln Ave., Monday in recognition of the building’s historic and architectural importance to the City of Steamboat Springs.

 

Erica Hewitt is doing the design and the architectural work on the renovation and is an Historical Preservation Consultant with the city. She was at the presentation with the Steamboat Springs Historic Preservation Commission.

“It’s a huge piece of history and part of the history of the development of Steamboat Springs as one of the J.W. Hugus buildings and his store. And then enter the VFW and they have had this building for a long time and this is a special part of Steamboat continuing the development of Steamboat and the veterans here in town.”

 

J.W. Hugus built the building as a general store in 1899, and it was also the second bank in Steamboat Springs. It has also been a roller rink, a bowling alley, an auto body shop, the local post office, and more. The VFW purchased it in 1948.

 

It is now The Veterans Center of Steamboat Springs.  The local veterans are trying to raise $3 million to renovate the building and turn it into a community center. It was also damaged in a fire next door in 2019 and insurance didn’t cover all of the repairs.

 

 

Like The Veterans Center Facebook page here.

Donate to The Veterans Center renovations here or through YVGives.org on Yampa Valley Gives Day on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Direct Link

 

Also at Monday’s gathering, veteran Jim Stanko shared “Your Household Guide,” from the VFW Auxiliary Post #4264 from the early 50s. It says the phone number was 690. It had lists of local veterans, insurance rates, causes of fire, and a lot more.

 

Here’s more on Monday’s designation from the City of Steamboat Springs; Dec. 5, 2023.

Historic Register Adds 924 Lincoln Avenue to Notable List
123-Year-Old Building A Beacon for the Community & Veterans

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-December 5, 2023-For the second time this year, the Steamboat Springs Register of Historic Places is adding a new listing, Hugus – Shubring–Cruse VFW Post 4264 at 924 Lincoln Ave, to the distinguished list of significant buildings in the community.

“The Veteran Center building meets two significant aspects for designation for our community – historic and architectural importance,” said Historic Preservation Planner Caitlin Berube-Smith. “Connecting to our past is the best way to form our future and this building is a place that has been serving the community for over a century and never along the way lost its community spirit.”

Originally developed in 1890s and constructed in 1900 as the J.W. Hugus & Company store including the Hugus owned Bank of Steamboat Springs, which was the second financial institution in town. The Hugus Company store closed in 1926 and over the next two decades the building has been home to many things including a US Post Office temporary location, auto body shop, a roller-skating rink, and bowling alley.

Following the end of World War II, the building was purchased in 1948 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and became VFW Post #4264, named after two local boys killed during WWII – Bernard S Shubring (Anzio invasion in Italy) and Charles J Cruse (Battle of the Coral Sea). Since first opening its doors, the post has been serving veterans and the community for nearly 80 years.

The building is architecturally significant with its current visible facade, as part of a group of buildings which exemplify the progression of building styles in Steamboat Springs from those of the early 1900s to post-World War II period to the mid-1970s. In addition, it is a contributing resource to the Steamboat Springs National Downtown Historic District.

Following a fire to an adjacent building in 2019 resulting in significant smoke damage to 924 Lincoln Ave, the Veterans Center is working to remodel and restore the 1909-1915 façade to the property as well as make interior modifications that will ensure the facility is one the entire community continues to enjoy.

“The Veterans Center becomes the 30th structure posted to the historical register and one that is vital to the history of the downtown area,” commented Historic Preservation Consultant Erica Swissler Hewitt. “The building will continue to be a beacon as well as a visual reminder of our hometown heroes, who helped shape our community.”
Historic Preservation assists in the preservation of the community’s natural and built historic resources helping to maintain distinct community character and promotes the importance of historic preservation as an economic development strategy. Current historic landmarks and resources can be viewed on the Steamboat Springs Register of Historic Places.

-WeServeTheCity-