Meeting tonight on Roberts’ Mansion

A community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight on a proposal to turn the historic E.J. Roberts’ Mansion bed-and-breakfast into a special events and restaurant facility.

The meeting at the mansion, 1923 W. First Ave., is intended to explain the proposal to anyone who is interested in the project, including neighbors. Owner of the facility is Mary Moltke. She is working with consultant Jim Kolva on developing the project.

The proposal includes indoor and outdoor seating space.

The Queen Anne Victorian mansion was built for pioneer businessman Bernhard Loewenberg in 1889 and acquired by Roberts in a financial trade in 1898. Roberts was chief engineer for railroad developments by D.C. Corbin, a pioneer businessman. Later, Roberts was president of Union Iron Works. He and Corbin owned a duck hunting ranch.

The house was listed on the national historic register in 1976 under the Browne’s Addition Historic District and on the local register in 1992. The listings call it the Loewenberg-Roberts House.