Something special awaits you here.

These four houses, developed from 1886 to 1926, were placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior on September 19, 1987.

Fort Morgan has a history of vigilance and resourcefulness in reclaiming the Great Plains and making them into prosperous farms.

The district was part of the original 1883, 160 acre tree claim of George Warner, a leading promoter and developer of Fort Morgan.

In 1886, Warner built on the northwest corner of his farm a typical four room homesteaders house with a stoop, thus starting the domestic development along Sherman Street.

In those early days, Sherman Street was not only a vehicular thoroughfare but also a route for cattle and sheep which were herded form the Burlington railroad stockyard do the outlying farms. Sherman Street remained a dirt and gravel road until 1945.

The Sherman Street Historic District was designated on September 10, 1998. The homes are significant for their individual architectural styles and for their association with prominent pioneers of Fort Morgan.

These homes are private residences and are not open to the public.

The Curry House
404 Sherman Street
Victorian Queen Anne (1898)

James P. Curry bought the first two acre lot from the Warner farm for $150. Curry’s brother-in-law, Charles Eyser, was the contractor who built the two and one-half story wood framed Queen Anne styled house. The wrap around front porch is decorated with turned balusters, a spindle frieze and fan-like brackets under the eaves. The second story square porch ahs a pyramidal roof topped by a finial.

The out buildings include a water tower that supplied the house with indoor running water with the help of a now demolished windmill. A barn with an attached carriage house was built for the Curry’s milk cow and matching thoroughbred horse team and buggy. The out house also testifies to old customs.
Curry’s genius in the business field had a profound effect upon the development of Fort Morgan. In 1888, Curry and his wife Alma homesteaded a ranch south of Fort Morgan. By 1890 he became active in the founding, promotion and administration of banks. He became the president of the First National Bank in 1903. He took an active part in directing irrigation projects and served for 20 years as president of the Fort Morgan Irrigation District. He also served one term as Morgan County Commissioner in 1895.

Their social life was centered around close friends and family The Curry house has been the scene of many social functions of clubs, church and private dinners. The Curry’s maintained a lively interest in civic affairs and in caring for and helping others who needed financial assistance.

The Warner House
508 Sherman Street
Victorian, Queen Anne (1886)

Around 1900 the original, hand formed soft brick homestead house was completely remodeled into a one-and-one half story Queen Anne style. A polygonal tower and a low balustrade was constructed in the L above the front corner entrance. The sloping porch roof is support by Tuscan columns.

The Warner house is significant for its association with its original owner, George W. Warner. He and several friends incorporated the Fort Morgan Land and Canal Company that brought the first irrigation water to the area. With a fellow pioneer he founded, edited and published The Fort Morgan Times. As a politician he was involved in the formation of Morgan County out of old Weld County. He was the first clerk of the District Court and the first Justice of the Peace in Morgan County.

The house was built for his bride, Louise Farnsworth, a lively lady with a great enjoyment for life. The Warners entertained generously and readily, formally and informally. The house served as a hotel for all the Republican leaders and the yare was the setting for a Chautauqua tent. The Warner family always gathered for holidays. Easter and July 4th the group played softball on the front lawn; on Labor Day they played football and on Christmas and new years they skated and played ice hockey on the frozen yard.

The Bloedorn House
440 Sherman Street
Gerogian Revival (1926)

The traditional Georgian house is uniquely located at the eastern terminus of Bijou Street facing west. A combination of various Colonial styles was used in the design by Mountjoy and Frewen, Denver architects. The Georgian style is predominant in its brick exterior with the decorative quoins and classic symmetrical two-story form. The moderately pitched roof has an eyebrow dormer and the eave overhang is embellished with a modillion cornice and dentils. The front door is accented by a porch which is supported by Tuscan columns and decorated with an elliptical fanlight and side lights. The two-story south sun room has a low balustrade on the flat roof.

In 1919, John and Corliss Bloedorn moved to Fort Morgan from Nebraska to purchase the Fort Morgan State Bank which quickly became the Farmers State Bank. John Bloedorn was school board treasurer for 30 years and established the Bloedorn Foundation through which educational scholarships are channeled. He was also on the board of directors of the Great Western Sugar Company for 10 years.

For more than 40 years this delightful outgoing couple lived comfortably and opened their home and gardens to their friends. Dinner parties followed by dances in the ballroom on the third floor, literary and bridge club meetings, parties and luncheons were frequent and all were hosted graciously and completely in this stately house.

A wood rail fence with brick columns also emphasizes the Georgian style of this house.

The Graham House
428 Sherman Street
American Foursquare (1914)

Ralph and Olivia Graham, who also owned 8,000 acres of farms and grazing land known as the Bijou Ranch, chose Sherman Street for their town home. The American foursquare styled house was designed by Denver architects, Stein and Westfall, and contracted by William Killebrew for 10,628. This typical two-story square plan was constructed with brick walls that were stuccoed and it is topped with a hipped roof, gabled dormers and broad overhanging eaves. The focal point of the façade is the gabled entry porch supported by heavy square piers.

On the south lawn a long pergola designed to support grape vines, connects to a gazebo at the east end.

Ralph Graham was active locally and statewide in the livestock industry. He organized the Morgan County Lamb Feeders Association and was president of the Colorado Nebraska Lamb Feeders Association. He was appointed by Colorado Governor Carr to the State Highway Board.

Olivia Graham was an heiress to the fortunes of the Gilmer Lumber Company of Remig, Texas and contributed significantly to the social quality of life in Fort Morgan. Olivia was a gracious lady and her refinement and gentle culture were in evidence in her home, her family, her entertaining and her gardens. She brought new varieties of vegetation to the area from Texas such as the first Burr Oak trees.