1892, 1968, 1986 & Today

The family all gathered around Henry, paying their last respects and talking of his many accomplishments.  The conversations went from his successes in business to the many funny stories of a lifetime filled with good humor and practical jokes.  The room seemed dark even though it was well lit, tears and laughter filled the gallery as the brief ceremony began.  30 minutes later Henry was off to his final resting place.  Life would soon return to normal, well as normal as you would expect in this small community.   This story would repeat itself over the many years, only the participants would change. 

The Mortuary was a beautiful home that served as a private residence as well as Aspen’s only mortuary at the time.  The proprietor was a local businessman, politician and family man by the name of Thomas “Tom” Sardy.  The house was originally built in 1892 by J.W. Atkinson, the local sheriff at the time.

Years later, in 1986, the house was converted to an exclusive hotel with a highly regarded restaurant.  An addition to the back of the property provided additional guest rooms and was referred to as the Carriage House.  It was during the years it operated as the Hotel that the staff did all that it could to distance itself from the home’s past as a mortuary.  For obvious reasons I am sure some of their guests would be uncomfortable knowing what had taken place in the house (hotel) in its past.  On one occasion while looking around in the lobby I made a passing comment about its past and was quickly told that the house was never a mortuary and was only a rumor.  I had heard that this was a common response and I wanted to hear it for myself.

With a small grimace on my face, I responded by asking why my grandfather was in a coffin on this very spot back in 1968.  My comment was met with an odd look on their face and if there had been a cricket nearby that would have been the only sound you could hear.  I smiled, thanked them for their time and left.  I must admit that I rather enjoyed doing that and it brings a smile to my face every time I think back to that day.  The house was later converted back into a single family residence as it remains today.

Throughout the years, the large pine tree in the front yard has been regarded as Aspen’s official Christmas tree and is lit each year to signal the start of the Christmas season.  This tradition has survived through all the changes of ownership and uses of the mansion.