The Chappell House

Built in 1883 by engineer Delos Chappell

by Bryan Zug,
September 29, 1997

The building that stands on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut Streets was built in 1883 by Delos Chappell. Chappell was an engineer by trade who made his mark in Trinidad by creating the town's first city-wide gravitational water flow system.

He graced his home with fine inlaid woodwork, magnificent stained glass windows, chandeliers, and an ornate staircase. Chappell built his house just one year after the Bloom house across the street was built. Along with the other homes on the block, the structure was known as Millionaires Row by most in Trinidad.

Chappell House in 2002
Photo taken by Charlie Barks of Adobe Gold Properties

As the story goes, Chappell was such a fine engineer that his contemporaries in Denver were very interested in keeping him in Trinidad. From their standpoint, why compete with him if they could at all avoid it? On order to keep him from moving up north, architects and designers from Denver are said to have given Chappell the home in Trinidad.

They were unsuccessful in their attempts to keep him confined to Southern Colorado. Chappell eventually moved to Denver and made his mark as a prominent citizen and business man.

Sources:

 

 

"A Walk Through the History of Trinidad" written by Jerry Stokes on behalf of the Trinidad Historical Society. 1986. Trinidad, Colorado.