Pueblo County Biographies

Pueblo County, Colorado
MARY A. CORNELIUS

Contributed by Jean Griesan.

Gast Home Was Setting For Fanfare - One of Pueblo's fine old Victorian homes is located at 1801 Greenwood. It was built in 1891 by Charles E. Gast, a successful lawyer. His wife, Elizabeth, was a native of Lancaster, Pa., who came here after their marriage in 1875. The home has been the scene of many gala occasions over the past century. One in particular was a reception hosted by Mrs. Gast on May 11, 1899. The account from The Pueblo Chieftain follows: "A charming home, tastefully decorated with a myriad vari-colored electric lights to lend a rainbow effect to the entire setting, was the scene of a most beautiful reception given by Mrs. C.E. Gast yesterday afternoon. The idea of a rainbow reception was the original conception of the hostess, and was carried out in every particular, making an altogether lovely scene. The parlor was decorated in pink, the library in red, and the many colors of the rainbow were shown in the dining room, the effect being more noticeable by a number of red, blue, yellow, green, violet and orange electric lights from which were suspended ribbons of the same hue, looped from the chandeliers to baskets filled with flowers of the same brilliant colors. The refreshment table represented a miniature lake, surrounded by banked ferns, and the cakes and ices were also in the rainbow shades. The entire house was thrown open to the guests, and a collection of Mexican curios upstairs attracted no little attention. During the afternoon, the entire Grand Opera House orchestra, concealed in an alcove, discoursed sweet music. More than 500 ladies attended the reception, among whom were many from eastern cities, Denver and Colorado Springs. It was altogether the most charming function given in Pueblo this season. Mrs. Gast, the hostess, wore a beautiful cream silk challie with green and heliotrope trimming, and the ladies on the reception committee wore gowns harmonizing with the general effect of the decorations. The ladies assisting were: in the hall, Mesdames C.C. Stein, T.J. Downen, S.R. Ritchie, J.B. Kilbourn, J.H. Voorhees; dining room, Mesdames T.M. Bowen, N.S. Walpole, C.M. Stickney, George J. Dunbaugh, Ward Rice, E.M. Marbourg; table, Mesdames F.L. Meston and Harmon Cozzens. Misses Jennie Thombs and Daisy Downen presided at the punch bowl." Pueblo Chieftain 2-9-1992

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