This wonderful stucco home was built in 1927 by Stoten and Lucille Stephenson. The Stephensons were from Fort Morgan, Colorado where Stoten was an attorney. The home was hand- built using moss rock that was hand-selected by Lucille. The stucco has never been painted since 1927 since the rose-colored paint was added into the stucco when the home was built. Lucille Stephenson exercised complete control in the building of their home in Waltonia. The home construction began in 1925 and was completed in 1927.

During the construction of their home, Lucille lived next door at the first cabin they had built on lot 8. Lucille planned the landscaping around their home by selecting grey slate rock for several terraces and steps which matched the rock pillars constructed at each corner of the house and on either side of the front entry.

The original kitchen was quite small. The home originally had four bedrooms, two upstairs and two on the first floor. Over time, the two first-floor bedrooms have been removed and the space used to enlarge the kitchen and provide a large eating area.

On August 28, 1928 the Waltonia Board of Directors voted to extend a water line from a small reservoir down to the Stephenson home, so the home became complete with running water. A croquet court was near the river on Lots 10 and 11 which was enjoyed by all the residents of Waltonia.

In 1953 the home was sold to James and Flora Summers of Greeley. James was a Realtor. They sold it to Byron and Darlene Dawson in 1956. The Dawsons made improvements to the land including a moss rock outdoor fireplace and patio right on the edge of the river. The Dawsons would stay at the home every summer. They enjoyed leaving the breakfast room windows open so they could watch a wild raccoon, which visited the area each night, find the food they had left for it.

The Dawsons sold the home to Richard and Jane Bartels in 1994. Richard is a CPA in Greeley. (Click here to visit Rich Bartels' web site, www.BartelsCPA.com) The Bartels had the cabin completely rewired and brought up to code in 1994, and had the plumbing brought up to current standards by installing copper pipes throughout. They also had a new water well drilled to a depth of 220 feet, providing a plentiful and reliable source of fresh, clean water. The Bartels have enjoyed the cabin on many, many occasions since 1994.

We would like to credit Mr. John Low for providing the majority of the history on this home. His book, “The Waltonia Home Company 1902-2002,” was the source of the majority of the history above. Thank you John! John and his wife Celia Low are wonderful neighbors of the Bartels in Waltonia.