Real estate appraisal card. 134 F Street, lots C & D, block 21, in Salida, Colorado. This building was erected during 1889-1890 and was known as the Disman-Alger Block. Information about the building was published in 1890 in Western Architect and Building News: "For Alger & Disman: two-story brick block, 50 X 75; two store rooms in first story, eleven office rooms in second story, entire front iron and plate glass, galvanized iron cornice, cost $8,500." The architect was D. Chenoweth and the contractor was J.T. Johnson. A.M. Alger and Ben Disman were two of Salida's oldest and most successful businessmen. Both had arrived in the city in the early 1880s. Alger's was described as the oldest and most comprehensive drugstore in Salida in 1900. Ben Disman opened a clothing store in 1884 and was the city's leading dealer in men's furnishings. Both men had their businesses in other buildings (Alger in the Craig-McGovern Block and Disman in the Central Block) and erected this building after the fire of January 1888 to house other businesses. The 1890 Sanborn map shows a crockery and stove store in 138 F and a notions store in 134 F. By 1898, the notions shop also sold clothing. By 1903-04, the city directory listed the Bateman Hardware Company at 134 F. The company was operated by G.F., F.L., and W.C. Bateman, and offered hardware, plumbing, crockery, lamps, glassware, tin and sheet iron work, Hercules powder, and mining supplies. The company had been founded when Salida was laid out and was considered a pioneer enterprise. The history of the company was intertwined with that of the city. George F. Bateman and his son, Fred, had come to Salida from Pueblo and opened a tin shop. The tin shop added hardware and became G.F. Bateman & Son. In 1894, the youngest son, Walter, entered the business, and it became Bateman Hardware Co. The company moved to 119 F Street by 1905. The other storefront contained the post office (Frank 0. Stead, postmaster) and Hull & Wise newsstand and cigar store (Minnie E. Hull and Harry 0. Wise, proprietors). Among the professionals occupying the upstairs offices were: W.S. Brown, physician; Frank N. Cochems, physician in charge of the Red Cross Hospital; Frank M. Russell, dentist; and Thomas Shaffer, physician and assistant surgeon at the Red Cross Hospital. By 1909, Hall & Hall Ladies' Furnishing Goods shared the 134 F storefront with Mrs. Minnie Swaim, milliner. The Post Office Bookstore was located in 138 F. By 1914, the building was being utilized by a jewelry store (138) and a drugstore (134). The 1922-23 city directory indicated that Alexander's Drug and Jewelry Store operated here. The same business was listed at this address in 1927-28. William C. Alexander moved to Salida in 1901 from Texas and bought out the jewelry store of P.T. Shirkey & Son. In 1910 he bought the drug business of G.W. Armstrong. Alexander was a doctor of ophthalmology and had previously operated a jewelry store in Dallas. W.C. Alexander was elected mayor of Salida in 1917 and in 1927. The Alexander Drug & Jewelry Store was also listed here in 1930-31, while Edward 0. Churchill, cigars and barber was occupying the other store space. By 1951, F.W. Woolworth, managed by Herbert Putnam, was located in this building. The upstairs rooms continued to house offices, including several doctors. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.