400 F Street

Description

Real estate appraisal card. 400 F Street, part of lots 1-4, block 60, Haskell's Addition, in Salida, Colorado. This house is currently 408 F Street. Pioneer Salida surgeon Dr. Frank N. Cochems erected this house. Dr. Cochems was born in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in 1869, and his first language was German. He graduated from the Chicago Medical College, predecessor of Northwestern University, coming to Salida as chief surgeon of the D&RGW hospital. He was attracted to Colorado because of a love for the outdoors, according to the Salida Mail. He founded the Red Cross Hospital, which included a training school for nurses. Dr. Cochems reportedly established the facility because "the people of Southern and Western Colorado and Northern New Mexico were sorely in need of a hospital in which the confidence of all would repose unreserved." The institution was described as "one of the most up-to-date hospitals in the West, and the good work it has done throughout its career can hardly be overestimated." Several doctors served on the staff in addition to Dr. Cochems. The Red Cross Hospital was located at 123 G Street and later at 140 W. 3rd Street. The hospital closed in 1928. At one time Dr. Cochems served as president of Commercial National Bank. The Salida Mail reported that Dr. Cochems "gained a wide reputation as a surgeon and achieved an enviable medical career during his years of practice." He married Jane Nugent, who was born in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, and came to the United States as a child. She graduated from the University of Chicago as a Phi Beta Kappa. She studied classic dance in New York, Chicago, and California. In 1923 Mrs. Cochems opened a classic dance studio in Salida. Living with the Cochems in the 1920s were Lucille Foster (22) a niece from Michigan, and Anna Pryor (23), a servant from Illinois. The house was featured as one of the fine homes of the city in a Salida Mail article in 1927. The Cochems were still living here in 1928, but the 1927-28 City Directory listed the address of this house as 410 F St. In 1930, the Cochems estimated the value of their house at $12,000. The 1935-36 Chaffee County Directory listed the address as 408 F. St. and indicated that Dr. Frank R. Cochems continued to occupy the house. He retired in 1939. Dr. Cochems passed away December 1953, at the age of 85, at which time he was a resident of Denver. Services for Dr. Cochems were held at the Salida Elks Home and he was buried at Fairview Cemetery. This address was not listed in the 1951 city directory. By 1965 this was the home of Charles J. and Mary E. Zingone. Charles Zlngone was born In Salida in 1905 and was a lifetime resident of the community. He owned and operated Zingone Tailor Shop on west 1st street before retiring. Mr. Zingone passed away in 1967. Mary E. Zlngone was born in 1914 in Leadville. She graduated from Salida High School in 1933. In the 1960s, she worked as a dental assistant. Mrs. Zingone died in Salida in 1978. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.