The winged gargoyle with the toothy stare that watched over a historical home for 116 years is gone.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for the return of the heavy eagle statue that was perched atop the peak of the gable at 1532 Emerson St.
The Gargoyle House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is also known as the Zang House because it was built in 1889 for brewer Adolph J. Zang. The architect was William Lang, who also built the Molly Brown House.
The three-story stone home is now used by Where Grace Abounds, a nonprofit center for counseling and support groups.
Roger Jones, operations director for the center, noticed the gargoyle was gone a couple of weeks ago.
“I was over at Wendy’s across the street having lunch and noticed it looked like it was gone and assumed it was the angle I was looking from,” Jones said.
Jones said he saw footprints on the back stairs of the house, evidence that someone had been up on the roof, and realized the gargoyle had been stolen. He thinks it might have been taken on May 6 or 7.
No witnesses have come forward.
“I am assuming it was probably some kids or something, but I have no evidence of that,” Jones said.
It appears as though the feet of the gargoyle are still attached to the peak. Jones doesn’t know how it was removed or who would want it.
“I have no idea other than it’s just somebody who thought it was cool and wanted to take it for themselves,” he said.
Alyson McGee, public outreach coordinator for the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society, said the theft may alter the historical significance of the house.
“Something like a gargoyle would be considered a character-defining feature important to the appearance of the property, so it is impactful to have something like that stolen from a historic property,” McGee said.
The Historical Fund had recently awarded about $100,000 in grant money so work on the roof and rear stairs could be done. It may not be as easy to replace the gargoyle.
“It can be very difficult to get those types of features restored,” McGee said. “You’d have to find a stone material that was compatible in color and it could be very difficult to re-create it.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police, or Jones at 303-863-7757.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
