The Horn Block
1428 Miner Street
This one-story brick and masonry building was built in 1885 by local postmaster, Wilber Horn. Prior to building at this location, Mr. Horn had converted his small newsstand in the post office to both a bookstore and grocery store, selling codfish and sugar, according to one 1879 newspaper. However, the grocery business must not have done well for the postmaster, because when he began at 1428 Miner, he abandoned groceries to concentrate on stationery and fancy goods, such as wallpaper, blank books, window curtains, and gold pens.
Just prior to the turn of the century, the post office moved and this building was converted into a restaurant. Later the store became a millinery, selling “women’s apparel for the head”.
Built of brick made locally, the building has a simple commercial vernacular design. The recessed entry is typical of most buildings in the historic district and the clerestory (row of windows separating the upper and lower facades) was designed to allow more light into the deep store interior.
1428 Miner Street in Idaho Springs, Colorado
