Virtual Walking Tour

The Sanford House

Designation—None

Sanford House, c. 2003.

he Sanford House located at 2505 W. Alamo is indeed a mystery. According to the Sanford family, Albert and Olive Sanford erected the house. However, other sources indicate that it was built by Silas Madge and then sold to the Sanford family. Regardless of who had the home built, its association with the Sanford family is significant. Albert Sanford was the curator of the State Historical Society in the 1890s and the property remained in family ownership until the 1920s.

The building is representative of the numerous rough-faced stone structures constructed in Littleton of Castle Rock rhyolite. It is a single story, front gabled roof building with over hanging eaves. The entrance is off center and the windows are rounded arches with stone surrounds. The porch has a gabled roof supported by triangular braces. The stone windowsills show the tooling marks from the cutting process.

After use as a residence, the building served numerous functions including a tax service business and the Continental Trailways Station. In 1986 Sally and Ted Cain obtained the vacated structure and renovated it to serve as a fine arts gallery for several years. 

Bibliography

Front Range Research Associates, 1997 Inventory, Littleton Historic Buildings, Inventory Record for the Sanford Residence, Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Inventory Form 5AH1176.

Inventory Sources:
Arapahoe County Assessors Records
Littleton Historical Museum Files
Littleton Sentinel Independent, April 29, 1987
Littleton Independent, December 26, 1991
Denver Public Library Clipping Files "Littleton"
Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Inventory For, 5AH178, June 15, 1982
Littleton Independent, July 17, 1986.

Photographs courtesy of the Littleton Historical Museum, unless otherwise noted; to order copies, contact the Museum at 303-795-3950.

Compiled by Kris Christensen

Last revised December 2003