Willoughby: Henry P. Cowenhoven — one of the most important Aspen pioneers

The Wheeler and Jerome remind us of the legacy of Jerome Wheeler. On Galena Street, two of the dominant buildings attest to their creator, H.P. Cowenhoven.

Cowenhoven spent his adult life involved in mercantilism and mining. He participated in the 1849 California Gold Rush, spending three years there. In 1859, he flocked to the bustling Colorado gold rush, landing in Black Hawk. There, he invested in mines and ran his mercantile business. 

He was one of the earliest Aspen settlers, moving from Black Hawk in 1880 to open Aspen’s first store. His assistant in Blackhawk, D.R.C. Brown, came with him and became his partner, although that was fast-tracked because Brown married Cowenhoven’s daughter. The following descriptions of the many enterprises, therefore, are also attributed to Brown.

The store, on the corner of Cooper and Galena, initially sold groceries, hardware, and mining supplies. In 1883, Cowenhoven added a feature, being a supply depot. If you wanted something, he would find where it could be purchased, order it, and have it delivered to Aspen. Being the first, and then a primary supplier, worked mutually for those starting mines and for him. They would buy some of what they needed on credit, and he could take it out in mining stocks. In addition, he heard the daily news of discoveries and progress enabling him to invest wisely. Consequently, he and Brown became part owners and sometimes directors of many mines and ended up being major owners of some of the best producing mines.

Cowenhoven was the first treasurer for Pitkin County. He was also very involved in the formation of one of the local fire department stations, one named after him. He also invested in the Castle Creek Water Company. He engaged in funding the first electricity production for the town.

Working with David Moffat, a longtime railroad magnet including the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad that built one of the two lines to Aspen, they founded the first bank in Aspen: First National Bank in 1886. Brown was the vice-president, and Cowenhoven one of the directors.

The two constructed commercial buildings. The first project was to build a larger version of their store on Galena Street. The second, still standing today, took several years. During construction, it was referred to as the “brick block.” The three-story building had store fronts on both Galena and Hyman housing their bank and their offices. Soon after the completion of that project, they began work on another brick and stone building across the street housing their bank. Cowenhoven built what many referred to as a palatial house on Hallam Street. It cost $35,000 — close to a million in today’s dollars.

He invested in two of the major infrastructure projects for mining. One was the tramway that went from the area where the gondola is today stretching all the way to Tourtolotte Park. The longest tunnel of its time in the Smuggler area bears his name.

He died in 1896 at the age of 81, still engaged in his businesses until two days before he expired. He was lauded by the many who he engaged with in Aspen, referring to him as the “Father of Aspen.”

Tim Willoughby’s family story parallels Aspen’s. He began sharing folklore while teaching at Aspen Country Day School and Colorado Mountain College. Now a tourist in his native town, he views it with historical perspective. Reach him at redmtn2@comcast.net.