Real estate appraisal card. 137-141 F Street, part of lots 14-17, block 22, in Salida, Colorado.
This building, originally known as the Wheeler Block, was built by Egbert and Lena Wheeler following the fire of January 1888. The January 3, 1888 Salida Mail reported that the fire had rapidly consumed the building owned by E.H. Wheeler: "E.H. Wheeler, hardware business in his own building on F Street. Loss $8,000; insurance $4,000." By 20 January it was reported that "E.H. Wheeler has nearly completed a corrugated iron building 25 X 60ft. facing 2nd Street. He will use this room for business until he can build on his old site in the burnt district." On September 4, 1888 the new building was completed, at a cost of $5,000. A grandson of the Wheelers, Bob Nevens, later reported that E.H. Wheeler died at an early age following an asthma attack, and Lena Wheeler then operated the hardware store on her own for several years.
By 1903-04 the firm of Paine & Paine Hardware was operating in this location (it is believed that Lena Wheeler sold the store to that firm). Edward M. Paine and Fred C. Paine sold hardware, plumbing supplies, and sporting goods. The other store was occupied by Crawford Millinery, operated by Mrs. Effie Crawford, in 1903-04. By 1905-06, this space contained Hall & Gorman Milliners (Mary A. Hall and Edith M. Gorman, proprietors). By 1914 the hardware shop (139) shared the first floor with an office (141). During much of the 1920s and 1930s Harry A. Clary, monuments, occupied 141 F and Paine & Paine Hardware was housed in 139 F. The store became Paine Newcomb Hardware and later Newcomb Hardware. During 1947-1994 Jack Cady operated Cady's Hardware in the building. The upstairs became the residence of the Cady family. For many years until the mid-1980s, Herbert and Ola Powell operated a barbershop and beauty shop at 141 F. The hardware space was then utilized as part of Gambles and the former barber shop/beauty salon is a beauty salon known as Head Quarters. Gambles closed in 2009.
History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
