Machine Shop
1640 Miner Street

One of the oldest structures in Idaho Springs, this building changed ownership numerous times throughout the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century. During these years it housed a tailor, a barber, a coffee shop and later, a meat market.

In 1925, John Lynn purchased the property for a machine shop. John and his brother, Carl, had emigrated to the United States from Sweden, changing their name from Liljedahl to Lynn due to concern over the bad reputation of a “blacksheep” older brother. In 1880 they made their way to Idaho Springs to work in the mines. In 1922, John and his son, George, started a machine shop. Three years later this building, at 1640 Miner Street, became vacant and they relocated. The Lynn’s remodeled the building, eliminating the second story, and business prospered. After his father died, George kept the machine shop, but also did electrical work and the rewinding of motors. They owned the building through the 1940’s.

The structure is single story wood frame with pressed tin exterior facing. Stamped metal panels of this type were often used to Cover commercial facades in an effort to represent stone construction.

1640 Miner Street in Idaho Springs, Colorado