Frisco in Summit County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Staley-Rouse House

Circa 1909

— Listed on Colorado State Register of Historic Places —

Staley-Rouse House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2017

1. Staley-Rouse House Marker

Inscription.
Originally constructed for freighter William H. Staley and his wife Alvarena Staley in 1909, this log building features unusual vertical and horizontal log construction with rare keyed notching and has a cross-gabled roof. After William Staley's accidental death just prior the completion of the house, Alvarena remarried a man named David Rouse and they resided here until 1930. The design and construction, rare to Colorado, may reflect Nordic (possibly Finnish) influences and demonstrates a high level of skill and workmanship.

Despite alterations to the house in the 1980’s, it is one of the best preserved buildings in Frisco on its original location and is an example of the town's early architecture. The house exchanged many owners until it was purchased by the Town of Frisco in 1998 for commercial space.

Original Owner: William H. & Alvarena Staley

Erected by Town of Frisco, Colorado.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 39° 34.564′ N, 106° 5.731′ W. Marker is in Frisco, Colorado, in Summit

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County. It is on Main Street just west of 6th Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Marker is mounted near the Staley-Rouse House entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 518 Main Street, Frisco CO 80443, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies and on the Continental Divide.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Foote's Rest (within shouting distance of this marker); "Ski for Light, Art for Sight" (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Town Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Frisco Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Frank & Annie Ruth House (approx. ¼ mile away); Schoolhouse (approx. ¼ mile away); Log Chapel (approx. ¼ mile away); Bill's Ranch House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frisco.

Also see . . .
1. Staley-Rouse House. William and Alvarena Staley moved to Frisco

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2017

2. Staley-Rouse House Marker

from New Mexico in 1893 and stayed throughout the town’s slow period before the revival of mining in the early 1900s. William worked as a teamster hauling freight and operating a horse-drawn sleigh in the winter. Within a few years, his growing family and the town’s renewed prosperity prompted him to build a new log house on Main Street. Unfortunately, William died in a wagon accident on October 16, 1908, while the house was still being built. Alvarena saw construction of the house through to completion and moved there with her children in January 1909. (Submitted on April 23, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Staley-Rouse House. History Colorado website entry (Submitted on March 29, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Staley-Rouse House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2017

3. Staley-Rouse House

(marker visible just right of entrance)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 491 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.