Pioneer Monument, Subscriber #32

Pioneer Monument, George C. Schleier, Subscriber #32

George C. Schleier was born in Germany in 1827 (some sources list 1825).  In 1843 he was living in Cincinnati and worked as a hatter.  He continued this trade in New York and then Milwaukee.  He moved on to Leavenworth, Kansas.  From there he joined a party headed to Pikes Peak Country.  He arrived in Denver on December 1, 1858.  His first venture was to partner with other to build a bridge in Golden.  He had the first two story house in Denver.  He then invested in freighting, and farmed on Cherry Creek until the flood hit in 1864.

In 1863 he was the city tax collector.  In 1867 he was on city council.  He was on the board of directors of the newly formed Denver Tramway Company in 1886.  His biggest real estate deal came in 1893.  He built a building at 16th and Lawrence and leased it to the People’s National Bank.  The People’s Bank failed in the silver crash.  He also had a building called the Skinner Bros. and Wright Building.  That building was eventually used by the American Furniture Company.

George Schleier is remembered for his mansion located at 1665 Grant Street.  It was designed by distinguished Denver architect Frank E. Edbrooke.  It has a overbearing turret on the front.  Rachel Schleier, George’s wife left the house to the Archdiocese of Denver for Father Mulroy’s Catholic Charities.  It was sold and turned into offices.  In 1999 it was listed for sale for $1,325,000.00, in 2005 it went up to $2,750,000.00 it is now valued in the area of $3,600,000.00.  Although taxes on a commercial use mansion are high, it pays to office in a historic mansion as many law firms have done.

Mrs. Rachel Filbeck Schleier died at 75 years of age on September 28, 1930.  She was a member of Denver Society.  She imported the chimes for Saint John’s Cathedral.  The growing Denver Art Museum was given $325,000 by Rachel.  The money opened the Schleier Galley on Acoma between 13th and 14th in 1949.

The Schleier Galley.

From the Denver Art Museum history/time line.

Resources: Smiley, History of Denver

Miracle on Cherry Creek, Bill Brenneman

WebSite: http://www.historic-structures.com/co/denver/schleier_mansion.php

Representative Men of Colorado in the Nineteenth Century: A Portrait Gallery