The Gut of 2018
While blueprints were drawn up for modernization, the house was gutted (see
picture below), then work mysteriously stopped. In 2022, in hopes of restarting the project, the
Lost History Museum hired John Sprague, Master Builder
to consult on a plan for at least occupancy again.
St. Louis architect Ken Burns generously calculated a framing detail needed to bring the second floor up to Jefferson
County's modern building code for occupancy. The original well driller estimated the cost to restore
running water, then [crickets] from the Mining Company. As of 7-31-2023 the president of the Valle
Mining Company has refused to let the Lost History Museum work on it despite the local and pressing need for
security in the valley along Valles Mines School Road and
given its
history of arson. Donald Declue's "Alta House", named after his late daughter and Howard Declue's house
were also burned mysteriously in the 1970's.