Hartman Castle Preservation

Without the past, we would have no present or future. Indeed, this is true of Gunnison and a man named Alonzo Hartman. He had a varied and exciting past before coming to the Gunnison Valley as a young man. A descendant of Daniel Boone, he was born into a pioneer family in Iowa. His family later moved to Kansas and Colorado, staying on the forward push of white settlement. He had little formal schooling. He worked in the mines, downtown businesses in an early Denver, his father’s cattle industry, and started his own cattle and ranching business in the San Luis Valley.

Alonzo Hartman came to the Gunnison Valley on Christmas Day of 1872 as a government employee for the Los Pinos Indian Agency. He was responsible for the cow camp, located in the general area of the City of Gunnison. After being employed for four years, Hartman started a small trading post and store in 1876. Soon afterward, he helped to establish a post office and became the first postmaster. This building still stands at the Pioneer Museum.

With other partners, Hartman purchased 120 acres of land and laid out the townsite of Gunnison.

In 1882, he married Anna Haigler. They built a quarry stone home in Gunnison that still stands.

In 1885, he returned to ranching and established one of the first homesteads in the Gunnison Valley. This ranch eventually grew to over 2,000 acres. He is considered the first cattleman of the Gunnison Valley.

In 1892, the Hartmans decided to move out to the ranch. From Annie’s drawings, a Methodist minister designed a home in the Gothic architecture style, which Annie preferred. A turret was included so she, as an artist, could see in all directions for creating her landscape drawings.

The Hartmans would eventually leave the Gunnison Valley, though they always considered it ‘home.’ We are grateful for the home they left behind and for this amazing opportunity ahead of us.

It has long been the desire to establish this property as a public space. Dr. Lois Borland, in the 1950s, advocated the space for a museum, calling the Castle a ‘museum onto itself.’ She lamented that the group did not have the funds. In her 1962 book History With the Hide-Off, Betty Wallace worries that the Castle will go the way of the La Veta Hotel (demolished.) She expressed hope that it would be saved.

Following a recent visit, preservation architect Jody Reeser was pleased that the structure is in stable condition and said of the Castle: “The interior details that have survived in good condition are probably the most delightful surprise of all. It is rare to see so much surviving trim work, stair detailing, and fireplace surrounds in such beautiful condition. That is not to say there isn’t plenty of work to be done. Still, for a building of this era and this level of neglect, this building is a prime candidate for preservation and rehabilitation.” She also said, “It is one of the most significant buildings in Gunnison’s history.”

The non-profit organization will purchase almost three acres, which includes the first milled lumber home (to be used as housing), a block building (to be used as a caterer’s kitchen, bathrooms, and office space), and the Castle (to be used as a much-needed year-round event space). The grounds will be used for parking and gardens.

It depends on all of us. Hartman Castle has the potential to become a focal point for cultural and educational initiatives, attracting tourists and history enthusiasts from far and wide. Investing in its restoration rather than succumbing to demolition or decay can create a valuable asset contributing to Gunnison Valley’s economic and cultural vitality.

The loss of Hartman Castle would be a blow to Gunnison’s heritage and a missed opportunity to create a lasting legacy for future generations. We urge swift and decisive action to ensure its preservation, securing a brighter and culturally enriched future for our Gunnison valley and Hartman communities.

It is up to us!