The Interior and Exterior Rehabilitation of the Lake City Hough Building.

 

 

The Hough Building is a two story plus partial basement business block and a longtime landmark in Lake City. It was constructed in two sections, the first section in 1880-81 (South Building), the second section in 1882 (North Building). The Hough is and example of late 19th Century commercial style. The building includes large storefront entries and plate glass windows, and elaborately detailed stone, cast iron, and architectural sheet metal elements. Both buildings are primarily brick, and have wood low arched windows with stone sills and lintels.

The buildings have housed a wide variety of mixed uses throughout its history. These include a basement tavern, a grocer and hardware store, a liquor store, a clothing boutique, a drug store, a number of restaurants, a private residence, a hotel and a theater. The Lake City Arts Council presently operates the Black Crooke Theater in the corner section, with local artist exhibits, cabarets, magicians, plays and musical events. Before the interior rehabilitation started the main floor of the North building was used as a restaurant ("Mammy's Kitchen").

Painting the cornice, left of the lift - new paint, right - before new paint

 

The exterior rehabilitation of the Hough Building will be done following the Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. The Colorado Historical Society/State Historical Fund supports this project with their Grant Program for Historic Preservation. The exterior project includes:

  • chimney repair and installation of chimney caps

  • installation of gutter system

  • cleaning bricks, masonry work

  • stabilization of South East corner

  • repair of doors

  • extensive window restoration

  • installation of storm windows

  • painting windows, doors, etc.

 

 

 

The interior rehabilitation of the Hough Building includes:

  • complete interior demolition of "Mammy's Kitchen"

  • interior structural work

  • new heating and air condition system

  • new electric wire system

  • moving the Black Crooke Theater to the North building

  • new light and sound system

  • new stage and seating system

Demolition of "Mammy's"

After the completion of the new theater the interior rehabilitation of the South building will begin. The Lake City Arts Center plans to operate a cafe or restaurant in the former theater building for the future.

This was the ceiling in "Mammy's" .