History Pioneer Park (Aspen, Colorado)

house ca. 1890

later webber served term mayor of aspen, elected despite revelations had abandoned wife , family prior marrying harriet. shortly after time, sherman silver purchase act repealed , city s economy began contract. decades afterward, population declined on 10,000 500 1930, called quiet years . many buildings , houses boom years abandoned , succumbed fire and/or effects of severe winters @ high elevation in rocky mountains. pioneer park house survived because after webber s death in 1911, became home of prechtls, local blacksmiths.

in 1944 purchased walter paepcke, chicago businessman who, along wife elizabeth, had seen potential aspen offered development of ski resort , financed initial development of aspen mountain ski area. paepckes began efforts make aspen cultural center. regarded founders of modern aspen result.

as 1 aspect of this, in 1949 walter paepcke, working university of chicago chancellor robert maynard hutchins, organized conference , festival in aspen commemorate bicentennial of german poet johann wolfgang von goethe. invited german humanist albert schweitzer come missionary , medical work in west africa give festival s keynote address; visit united states during 90 years of life. while in aspen, paepcke s guest, stayed in carriage house on pioneer park property. has since been named schweitzer cottage in memory , designated local landmark.

paepcke painted house pink while owned it; since has been painted light tan. , elizabeth built summer house , garage. may have built additions on carriage house, , added marble fireplace in living room. @ point after 1980 additional wings on building , swimming pool added. trees along street , property line have been allowed mature, isolating , shading house. there have been no other significant changes property.