A Digital Walking Tour of Salida

In the google map below, zoom in and click on a red pinpoint to view a historic image of a Salida building. Many of the photos contain detailed historical information from the Salida Historic Buildings Survey, courtesy the City of Salida and Front Range Research Associates. This Tour includes images from the Salida Library's Digital Collections.

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319 E Street
Real estate appraisal card. 319 E Street, lots 21-22, block 51, in Salida, Colorado.
319 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 319 E. 2nd, lots 7-9, block 29, in Salida, Colorado. This house is no longer standing.
319 E. Sackett Avenue
Real estate appraisal card. 319 E. Sackett Avenue, part of lots 8 & 9, block 2, in Salida, Colorado. This house was built between 1882 and 1886. At the time of the 1910 Census, this was the home of Ulysses and Cora Banks and their three sons. Banks was identified as a car repairer with the railroad and the couple were indicated as owners of the residence. Their oldest son, who was fourteen years old, worked as a wood hauler. Mr. Banks was born in Seymour, Indiana, on 27 March 1864; he married Cora Jacobs, a Kentucky native, when he was twenty years old. The Banks were still living at this address in August 1913, when Mr. Banks died following an accident in the railroad yard. While working with a steam shovel, a cable swept Banks off the top of a freight car and under the trucks of a passing train. Both of his feet were mangled and his legs were amputated below the knees at the Rio Grande Hospital. He died from the strain and shock seven hours after the accident. A number of Hispanic families lived in this house over the next several decades. In 1922, Mrs. Pauline Cordova and Mrs. Martha Lavato lived here; neither listed an occupation. In 1931, Michael Viallal resided in this house. He was a laborer for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Joe B. and Ruth Giron (Jiron?) were listed at this address in the 1951 and 1965 city directories. In 1951, Mr. Giron was a miner with the Flourspar Mining Company; by 1965, he worked for the Monarch Quarry. The Girons had three children living with them in 1965. According to an old appraisal card for the property, Angelo Mehos was a former owner.
321 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 321 E. 2nd Street, lots 7-9, block 29, in Salida, Colorado. This house was built in 1924 according to the Chaffee County Assessor. The house was a secondary house associated with another house no longer extant at 319 E. 2nd. The 1930 U.S. Census indicated that Salida businessman Alexander Ray McKenzi and his wife Bertha Louise owned this house. They were married in 1910. Alexander and Bertha McKenzie had two daughters: Joan (b.1925) and Amelia (b.1929). Bertha was born in 1890 in Texas. Alexander (b.1886) was a plumber, originally from Sillwater, Minnesota. Mr. McKenzie served as alderman of the second ward in Salida. He owned a large amount of property in the city. He died in March 1939, when he was described as "a progressive citizen and very popular." In 1951, Lyon J. and Ollie C. Woodruff occupied the home. Lyon was an equipment mechanic for D&RGW. Ollie worked as a seamstress. In 1965, this was the home of Orval and Eula Warren. The Warrens were retired. According to an old Assessor appraisal card, Elmer E. and Ethel Hutchinson once owned this property. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
322 E Street
Real estate appraisal card. 322 E Street, lots 6-7, block 50, Haskell's Addition, in Salida, Colorado.
322 W. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 322 W. 2nd Street, lot 17, block 19, in Salida, Colorado. This house is no longer standing.
324 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 324 E. 2nd Street, lots 20-21, block 24, in Salida, Colorado. This card is mislabeled 342 E. 2nd Street. In 1888, Albert Edmund Hanks erected what was described as "a commodious two-story eight room frame residence" on this site at a cost of $1,500. Mr. Hanks, born in 1847 in Connecticut, married Mary E. Harvey, a childhood friend. The couple had seven children. The family moved to Colorado due to a decline in Albert's health, and after spending much of two years "in camp," they settled in Salida in 1885. Here Mr. Hanks engaged in a lumber business located at the northeast corner of E. First and D streets, and served as secretary of the school board. Albert E. Hanks died in 1898. Mary E. Hanks died at this address in 1940, two days short of her 92nd birthday. Miss Helen Hanks was one of her surviving children. The first Hanks house was demolished after 1945, based on Sanborn maps and the current size and footprint of the house. An old Assessor's appraisal card indicates that Helen Hanks was a previous owner of the current house and was listed here in the city directory of 1965. She was a life-long resident of Salida, born in 1889 and graduated from Salida High School in 1907. Helen was employed by Henry R. Hay of the Hay Studio. After Hay's death, Helen owned and operated the studio. Helen Hanks passed away in 1973. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
325 E. Sackett Avenue
Real estate appraisal card. 325 E. Sackett Avenue, part of lots 7 & 8, block 2, in Salida, Colorado. This dwelling, facing the Arkansas River and the railroad yard, was constructed between 1888 and 1890. Henry C. Dunham, a canvasser, was listed at this address in the 1903-04 city directory. According to the 1910 manuscript Census returns, Charles H. and Dora E. Hartbaner and their two children lived here. The Hartbaners operated a laundry in the house. Also living in the house then were John E. and Leona B. Stone and their two children. Mr. Stone was a ditch digger. The Hartbaners and Mrs. Sadie B. Finley (no occupation) were shown here in the 1911-12 city directory. The association of the house with Salida's Hispanic community began by 1920, when two families and boarders lived here. The 1920 Census listed Thomas and Claudia Rendon and their four children at this address. Mr. Rendon, a 31-year-old New Mexico native worked as a hotel janitor; his wife was born in Colorado and was 28 years old. Edward and Rupatia Montoya also lived here, with their daughter, a granddaughter, and four boarders. Mr. Montoya, a railroad laborer, was from Colorado, while the remainder of his household were New Mexico natives. A total of thirteen persons lived in the house in 1920. The Luna family was listed at this address in the 1922-23 through 1951 city directories. Julian and Frances Luna resided here for many years. Julian Luna was born in Walsenburg, Colorado, in 1872 and married Frances Maestas (who was born in 1877 in Vallecitos, New Mexico) in 1895. The couple came to Salida in 1916, where Mr. Luna worked for the Rio Grande Railroad until his retirement in 1923. The Lunas were still living here when Mr. Luna died in 1951. Mrs. Luna continued to live here with her son, Jose J. Luna. Mrs. Luna died in February 1961 after "she was allegedly struck with the blunt end of an ax by her son Joe Luna at their Salida home" in January. In early February, charges were pending against Joe Luna, who was undergoing examination at the State Hospital in Pueblo. The house was shown as vacant in the 1965 city directory.
327 E. 1st Street
Real estate appraisal card. 327 E. 1st Street, lots 6-8, block 24, in Salida, Colorado. This parcel previously contained a house built between 1898 and 1904. The Assessor reports that the current building was built in 1960. The building was erected to function as a doctors' office. The 1965 city directory indicates that two doctors, Leonardi and Mehos (physicians and surgeons) were partners with offices here. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
328 F Street
Real estate appraisal card. 328 F Street, lots 8 & 9, block 49, Haskell's Addition, in Salida, Colorado. This house is no longer standing.
329 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 329 E. 2nd Street, lot 6, block 29, in Salida, Colorado. This duplex house was built between 1898 and 1902. Information about #329: In 1903, Salida pioneers Frederick L. and Silvie B. Coombs lived at this house. Frederick was a fireman for the Rio Grande Railroad for 56 years, before retiring in 1944. He was born in Chicago on March 30, 1873, coming to Salida with his parents (Mr. and Mrs. Harry Coombs) in 1890. Silvie Bower was born November 29, 1880 in Burlington, Iowa, and moved to Salida as a young woman. They were married in Salida on February 19, 1901. They had a daughter, Audrey J. Coombs in 1905. The family lived in Salida for the rest of their lives, although not at this address. Frederick died in December 1954. Silvie died ten years later, in November 1964 at the age of 83. By 1906, Orley Clark Ashenfelter (b.1874), and his wife Clara I. occupied this address and continued living here until at least 1931. The Ashenfelters were owners of the property. They were married in 1904 and this was Orley's second marriage. Orley, originally from Independence, Iowa, was employed by the D&RG. He first began working for the railroad in Salida in 1899 in the round house. In 1900, he became a fireman, and then became an engineer. Clara was born in Kansas in 1885. By 1910, they had two sons: Herman A. (b.1905) and Orley G. (b.1909). By 1920, the Ashenfelters also had two daughters: Aileen (b.1912) and Alendora (b.1913). Also living with the Ashenfelters at this address in 1922 were Victor H. and Gertrude F. Frey. Victor was a clerk with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By 1930, Clara Ashenfelter had died, and her husband and two daughters continued to live at this house. Orley was remarried to Emily Louise Ashenfelter who was born in England in 1886. Records indicate that Orley had Emily Louise committed for lunacy to the Colorado State Hospital for the Insane in 1930. It is unknown when she was released. Orley died in January 1939. Emily Louise died a few years later, in July 1945, at the Rio Grande Hospital. Glendora Groves, a clerk at the Salida Flower Shop, lived here by 1951 and was the owner of the property. In 1965 Raymond J. and Glendora Peters were owners of this building. No occupation was listed for the couple. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
329 E. Sackett Avenue
Real estate appraisal card. 329 E. Sackett Avenue, lot 6 and part of 7, block 2 in Salida, Colorado. This dwelling, facing the Arkansas River and the railroad yard, was constructed between 1882 and 1888. Jeremiah O'Connor lived here according to the 1905-06 Salida city directory, where his occupation was listed as foreman. Mr. O'Connor was born in Waterville, Ireland, in 1863 and came to America in 1884, first going to Indianapolis and then Salida. He was roadmaster in Salida for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad from that date until 1906. Subsequently, he worked in several other cities on the Rio Grande system and then moved to Fort Worth, Texas, in 1914, where he worked as roadmaster for the Rock Island Railroad until his retirement in 1928. The 1910 Census showed two families living in this house: Jack W. and Agnes (?) Wilson and their daughter. Mr. Wilson was a 35-year-old Pennsylvania native who worked as a painter. William H. and Mary F. Townsley lived here during that time. Mr. Townsley was a 64-year-old Illinois native who worked as a wood hauler at a wood yard. Three residents were listed here in the 1911-12 city directory: William Townsley still lived here (now working as a laborer); William G. Anderson (a helper); and Michael Mitchell (a lineman for the Salida Light, Power, and Utility Company). By the time of the 1920 Census the Maestas family lived here. Andres Maestas and his wife, Otemia, were New Mexico natives; he was 43 years old and she was 38. He worked as a laborer for the Rio Grande Railroad. The couple's seven children also resided here. The 1922-23 city directory listed Mary Maestas, the widow of Andres, at this address; she apparently continued to live here through 1951. In 1931, John and Laura Maestas were listed at this address. John, a son of Andres and Otemia, was working as a laborer for the Rio Grande Railroad. He was born in Vallecitos, New Mexico, in 1900 and worked for the railroad until his retirement. Eutinia M. Montoya, an employee of the Salida Hospital, lived here in 1965.

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