Evan Albright
Occupation: Liquor Store Owner
Born: N/A
Birthplace: N/A
Died: N/A

Mrs. Albright
Occupation: N/A
Born: N/A
Birthplace: N/A
Died: N/A

Evan Albright was a Leadville liquor merchant and owner of E. Albright & Co. at 520 Harrison Avenue where he sold liquor, wine, and cigars. There is unfortunately insufficient information to give a full description of Evan’s age or place of birth as he arrived in Leadville after the 1885 Colorado Census and left by 1888. [1] Based on the sources available, however, it is likely that Evan arrived in Leadville in late-1886 or in the first half of 1887. He was married but it is unclear whether he had children or any other relatives in Leadville. [2]

The first record of Evan’s presence in Leadville was an advertisement for his store published in the Leadville Evening Chronicle on September 9, 1887. [3] Leadville’s city directories listed two Albrights who could have been the Evan Albright in question: an E. R. Albright in 1887 and an Evan B. Albright in 1888. [4] The 1887 directory also noted a Will C. Albright residing in Leadville, however there is no evidence that he was related to Evan. [5]

By mid-January of 1888 the Albrights moved into the home once inhabited by prominent Jewish merchant David May and his family, located at the corner of 5th and Pine Streets. [6] Beyond the purchase of another Jewish family’s home, the Albright’s were also in business with and attended parties hosted by other Jewish Leadville residents. For instance, Henry Kellerman was briefly the manager for E. Albright & Co. but left town in February 1888. [7] Evan also attended a party held by Jacob and Henrietta Schloss at their West Fifth Street residence on March 18, 1888. [8] Many of the attendees of the party were also Jewish, including the Kahns, Schayers, Schoenburgs, and Hirschs.

Evan’s store was the victim of a fire on January 28, 1888 which started at Furlough and Hawkins. The Herald Democrat article on the event described the fire as spreading to Evan’s “wholesale and retail establishment” which had “only been opened but a few weeks.” [9] The fire and use of water to put it out apparently did little damage to Evan’s store. The details of his supposed new establishment are not clear; however, Evan did rename his business, still located at 520 Harrison Avenue, to Tony Faust Corner by February where he started to sell the “celebrated Tony Faust St. Louis beer” in addition to wine, liquors, and cigars. [10]

Evidence that the Albrights were planning to leave Leadville appeared by May, 1888 when Evan left for a “prolonged” trip to the eastern U.S. [11] Evan sold his business by late-June of the same year to Adolph Hirsch, another prominent liquor merchant in Leadville. [12] The Albrights then departed Leadville on July 26, 1888 and moved to Trinidad, Colorado to start a new business. [13] Their departure was supposedly due to the negative effects of Leadville’s high altitude on Evan’s health.

Advertisement for Evan Albright’s store at 520 Harrison Avenue, September 9, 1887.

“E. Albright & Co.”. Leadville Evening Chronicle (Leadville, CO). September 9, 1887. Page 1.