As part of the approval process, BendonAdams’ historic preservation specialist Sara Adams, created a historic preservation plan detailing the history of the Crystal Palace property and changes to the building over time. This was to ensure that the remaining historic materials were incorporated into the new building design. Historic photographs were used to determine the original structure and detail of the building, and the new construction has committed to restoring the building based upon this historic evidence.

This structure is a typical brick commercial building, constructed as the town’s prosperity grew. Brick provided greater fire protection than wood and indicated a sense of “permanence.” The oldest part of the building (the western part) was built by S.B. Clark in 1891. Named the Clark Commission Company, it was utilized as a wholesale produce house. In the early 1900s, E. M. Cooper bought the business and changed the name to Aspen Commission Company. The building was later vacant for a period of years, until bought by Mead Metcalf, who operated a dinner theater, “The Crystal Palace,” there from 1959 until 2008. The building has had numerous alterations, including additions to the east and rear which obscure the original character. All windows have been replaced and new storefronts have been constructed across the entire south facade.

The full historic preservation plan can be found below, providing significant detail on the architectural features that will remain.

300 East Hyman Preservation Plan

The building located at 300 East Hyman Avenue, aka the Crystal Palace, has been heavily altered over time. The applicant is committed to restoring the building based on historic photographs. A preliminary preservation plan is proposed to outline the methodology and documentation available and to identify areas that need further study in the field after removal and demolition of non-historic elements.

Methodology
Historic photographs, visual site inspection and onsite discussion with the Aspen Historic Preservation Officer were used to produce this plan.

History
This structure is a typical brick commercial building constructed as the town’s prosperity grew. Brick provided greater fi re protection than wood, and indicated a sense of “permanence.” The oldest part of the building (the western part) was built by S.B. Clark in 1891. Named the Clark Commission Company, it was utilized as a wholesale produce house. In the early 1900s, E. M. Cooper bought the business and changed the name to Aspen Commission Company. The building was later vacant for a period of years, until l bought by Mead Metcalf, who operated a dinner theater, “The Crystal Palace,” there from 1959 until l 2008. The building has had numerous alterations, including additions to the east and rear which obscure the original character. All windows have been replaced and new storefronts have been constructed across the entire south facade. www.aspenvictorian.com

Summary
The building is proposed to be accurately restored using available historic photographs. Questions about the original configuration of the storefront are unanswered. Comparing historic photographs to the current condition raise uncertainty about the original height of the Owl Cigar mural and the original height of upper floor window openings. Onsite mock-ups of brick details, as noted, are proposed for review by Staff and monitor during the construction process. Other items for Staff and monitor include verification of historic elements during demolition.

South Elevation/ Front Façade

Brick
The upper floor of the front façade has been entirely reconstructed. In addition at ground level, the eastern most column of the historic building has been reconstructed. The eastern most column was originally 3 and a half bricks wide. It was extended to probably accommodate the shed roof form. The corner column and the center column match original dimensions in the photographs, and appear to have original brick; however, past repointing used a grey mortar color typical of repairs over the past decades that did not match original mortar color common to Aspen in the 19th century.

Proposal
Remove the second floor (including the brick corbel) and the unoriginal column during demolition. Preserve and protect the corner and middle column on the south elevation. Reconstruct brick column to match historic photograph dimension of three and a half bricks wide. Determine in the field the authenticity of the brick directly above the storefront after the non-historic wood cornice above the storefront is removed. Reconstruct upper floor with bricks to match first floor west elevation, subject to Staff and monitor approval prior to installation. Color, dimension, mortar style and color to match typical historic commercial buildings in Aspen, subject to Staff and monitor approval prior to installation. A mock up onsite is recommended to confirm appropriate technique and application.

Brick corbel
The brick corbel detail above the storefront was added to the front façade and is carried around to the west façade.

Proposal
Remove the brick corbel and replace with a flat continuous wall plane to match historic photographs.

Cornice
A decorative cornice caps the entire building. The end brackets and corner pendant of the upper cornice matches the original photographs. As the building was expanded, the cornice was replicated to extend the length of the building on the west and south elevations. The authenticity of the dentil molding needs field verification.

The storefront also has a decorative cornice that completes the storefront. The end bracket of the cornice atop the storefront matches historic photographs; how- ever, the profile of the cornice molding appears to have been replaced or partially replaced when the cornice was extended to accommodate the addition to the building. Comparing the 1950s and 1966 photographs to the 1971 photographs shows that a flat back was added to the end bracket. The 1950s photograph shows only one end bracket. It is assumed that the other bracket was lost, possibly when the roof collapsed.

Proposal
Work with Staff and Monitor to replicate the original cornice for the top of the building and the original cornice above the storefront (which appears to be fairly simple molding) using historic photographs and information gathered during demolition. Examine the decorative corner brackets of the cornice above the storefront to determine authenticity as they may have been part of the original cornice that was salvaged and reused during a previous remodel. Work with Staff and Monitor to determine an appropriate molding for the cornice atop the storefront. Retain all material determined to be original.

Upper floor windows
During the 1960/70s remodel, an additional window was added to the upper floor for a total of 5 windows instead of the original 4 windows. The height of the window openings was reduced at some point – verified by counting bricks in the historic pre-remodel photographs. The upper floor double hung windows were replaced with casement style. The delicate brick detailing above the windows was replaced with a faux-Romanesque brick design. The window sills, originally pink sandstone, were replaced with what appears to be cast stone or machine cut sandstone.

Proposal
Restore 4 double hung windows, centered across the front façade and above storefront openings, to match historic photographs. All upper floor windows proposed to be wood and rectangular with wood filling in the curved opening to match historic condition. The 1971 photographs show the window openings to be about 31 bricks tall (current condition is about 23 bricks to the bottom of the exaggerated arch). Height of the windows in relationship to the storefront is unclear based on the angles and resolution of historic photographs. We propose to work with Staff and Monitor to continue to research and refine window height and relationship to storefront. Replace cast stone window sills with sandstone window sills – color to match typical sandstone of the era, subject to Staff and monitor approval. Replicate the delicate brick detailing around the upper floor windows to match historic photographs. An on-site mock-up is proposed to verify brick detailing with Staff and Monitor.

Storefront
The storefront has evolved over time as tenants changed hands. The original configuration and height is hard to identify in historic photographs; however close-up views of high-resolution aerial photographs seem to show the two openings between brick columns are divided into two entrances/windows. On the other hand, the 1893 aerial shows a centered entrance with windows on either side and no vertical division of the bay. When the Midnight Mine occupied the building from the mid-1930s to 1951, the far-right bay was a garage to house and service trucks and store equipment. The current height of the storefront may be shorter than the original condition (the blurry historic photographs make it hard to count bricks and verify height). Field verification after removal of the cornice atop the storefront will hopefully provide some answers. The intent is to restore the storefront to the original height and proportion.

Proposal
A wooden storefront is proposed. The entrance is proposed to the far left similar to the current condition. The right bay is proposed to be a large storefront window. Considering the uncertainty around the original appearance of the storefront, the proposed storefront is similar to the current configuration.

West Elevation/Monarch Facade

Brick
Similar to the front elevation, the upper floor brick has been entirely reconstructed, and the building has been extended to the rear, as evidenced by the change in foun- dation material from sandstone to concrete.

Proposal
Remove the second floor (including the brick corbel) during demolition. Preserve and protect the historic portion of the ground floor including the Owl Cigar Mural during construction. Reconstruct upper floor with bricks to match first floor west elevation including the American/common brick bond course evident on the ground level of the west elevation, subject to Staff and monitor approval prior to installation. Color, dimension, mortar style and color to match typical historic commercial buildings in Aspen, subject to Staff and monitor approval prior to installation. A mock up onsite is recommended to confirm appropriate technique and application.

Owl Cigar Mural
The historic mural harkens back to the original tenant of the building – the Clark Commission Company – a wholesale produce house. The historic mural was repainted in 1977 by RP Evans according to the signature at the base of the mural. The height of the Owl mural may have been changed as evidenced by its relationship to the storefront height in historic photographs vs. current condition. Around 66 vertical bricks are counted on the historic photograph and about 61 vertical bricks are counted onsite today. The unoriginal brick corbel may have resulted in a shortened historic mural. As noted above, the storefront height may have been changed as well.

Proposal
Protect the mural during construction. No change proposed.

Cornice
See discussion above. Remove brick corbel from west elevation.

Upper floor windows
During the 1960/70s remodel, the grouping and number of upper floor windows was significantly altered from the original 6 equally spaced double hung windows. The height of the upper floor windows, verified by counting bricks, was also reduced. The 1971 photographs show the window openings to be about 31 bricks tall (current condition is about 23 bricks to the bottom of the exaggerated arch). The upper floor double hung windows were replaced with casement style. The delicate brick detailing above the windows was replaced with a faux-Romanesque brick design. The window sills, originally pink sandstone, were replaced with what appears to be cast stone or machine cut sandstone.

Proposal
Restore 6 double hung windows. All upper floor windows proposed to be wood and rectangular with wood filling in the curved opening to match historic condition. Window openings to match historic dimensions. Spacing of the windows is slightly different than historic photographs to accommodate the proposed use of the building. A slightly different spacing is a subtle way to show that this elevation was reconstructed and is not original. Replicate original window height based on historic photographs. Re- place cast stone window sills with rough cut sandstone window sills – color to match typical sandstone of the era, subject to Staff and monitor approval. Replicate the delicate brick detailing around the upper floor windows to match historic photographs.

Ground level openings
Sometime after 1962, ground level doors and window openings were bricked in. Luckily there are clear ghost shadows indicating the location and dimension of these openings.

Proposal
Restore openings with wood windows or doors to match historic photographs and existing shadow lines. Work with Staff and Monitor to detail these elements prior to construction and installation. The openings are not proposed to be operable.

Steps and coal shoot
The remnants of a possible coal shoot and three concrete steps exist toward the rear (alley) of the west elevation, and sit within the right of way. The steps do not align with the ghost images of bricked in entrances and were probably shifted over time.

Proposal
Store concrete steps off-site during construction and replace in front of restored entrances at rear of west wall pending approval from Engineering via an encroachment license. The “coal shoot” is not proposed to be replaced.