William H Briggle House

In addition to being a rough and tumble mining camp, Breckenridge was also a Victorian town where gentlemen and ladies socialized at each others’ homes. One of the largest and best-appointed houses was owned by socialites William and Kathleen Briggle. In 1898, they bought an 1896 one-room log cabin and immediately enlarged it by six rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs. Today, the Briggle House has been restored to its original Victorian style, giving visitors a glimpse into the life of one of Breckenridge’s more affluent families.

William Briggle came to Breckenridge from Canton, Ohio, to work as the cashier at the Engle Bros. Exchange Bank. He soon became involved in politics, serving as mayor in 1903 and 1905. At the time of his death in 1924, he was a county commissioner. Katie, an accomplished musician, played five instruments, taught piano lessons and held concerts in her front parlor.

The exterior of the house also signifies wealth and prominence. Dark-green trim represents dollar bills; silver, incorporated into the primer, lies underneath the white clapboard. Large windows in the dining room and front parlor resemble bank windows. Inside are luxuries that further differentiated the Briggles from most townspeople. At a time when closets were taxed as rooms, the couple had a dressing room that contained three closets! Visitors see dresses, suits, shoes and hats that still fill the closets. They also see what Katie’s neighbors envied most – her cold pantry.