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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407 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 407 E. 2nd Street, lots 11-13, block 28, in Salida, Colorado. This house was built between 1888 and 1895. The Sweeney family was associated with this home from 1903-04 until at least 1911-12. In 1903, John W. and Elizabeth Sweeney lived here with their children Anna C. (b.1888), William (b.1886) and John L. (b.1893). Helene McClean (b.1893) boarded with the Sweeney family at this address in 1910. John W. Sweeney, a pioneer resident of Salida, was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1854, coming to the U.S. in 1868. He spent time in Hartford, Connecticut, New York, and Texas, before coming to Colorado to work for the Rio Grande Railroad. His wife Elizabeth was born in Wisconsin in 1871. In 1906, John W. was a roadmaster with the D&RG but by 1911-12 he was working as a clerk at Upper F Pharmacy Co. He died in November 1930 at the age of 79. His obituary named him as one of the best-known railroad men in Colorado. Anna Sweeney taught piano for many years and served as a pianist for many public affairs in Salida. She lived in Salida her entire life, dying in March 1977 at Columbine Manor Nursing Home. Dr. William Sweeney died in June 1980 in Oak Park, Illinois. He graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in 1922 and had a general practice in Oak Park for 60 years. The 1920 U.S. Census indicated that Frank and Mary Wires [or Neira?] owned this house. Frank was born in Germany and worked as a railroad laborer. His wife was born in Illinois. By 1930, Hanley V. and Marie Helen McDaniels lived at this house. Hanley owned a cigar store at 117 F St. Hanley was born in Missouri in 1885 and Marie Helen was born in 1894 in Illinois. The McDaniels, who were married in 1919, had a daughter, Shirley R., who was born in 1929 in Colorado. J.M. and Rilda Allphin lived at this address by 1951. Mr. Allphin was president of the Allphin Motor Company. Harold R. and Evelyn M. McCormick were owners and residents of the house in 1965. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
410 D Street
Real estate appraisal card. 410 D Street, lots 3-4, block 58, in Salida, Colorado.
410 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 410 E. 2nd Street, lots 17-18, block 25, in Salida, Colorado. This duplex house was erected in 1904. In 1922, this duplex was listed in the Salida city directory as Wilcox Terrace. Information about # 410: In 1905-06, T. Arthur Pettigrew, a boilermaker with the Denver & Rio Grande, lived at this address. Longtime Salida resident Robert Dougherty (b.1869) lived here by 1910 with his wife Anna J. (b.1870) and their son Vivian C. (b.1898). Mr. Dougherty, a native of Canada, came to the U.S. in 1875 and to Salida in 1902. He worked as a brakeman for D&RG. By 1920, he had been promoted to conductor. He retired from the railroad in 1937 because of failing eyesight. His wife Anna, originally from Canada, died in 1943. She had originally come to the U.S. in 1891. Mr. Dougherty lived in Salida until his death in January 1956 at the age of 86. The 1920 US Census listed George C. and Caroline Smith at this address. Mr. Smith was a locomotive engineer. Both of the Smiths were born in Colorado. In 1922, Thomas and Helen Grieve lived at this house. Thomas worked as a civil engineer for D&RG. Clifford T. and Ruth L. Gibson resided here by 1930, during which time Clifford was a stationary engineer at the National Lumber and Creosoting Company. The Gibsons were married in 1929. Ruth was born in Indiana in 1912 and Clifford in Colorado in 1908. By 1951, H.L. and Betty Hockett lived at this dwelling. Mr. Hockett was a machine apprentice with D&RGW. The 1965 city directory listed "no information" for this address. An Assessor appraisal card indicates that Harry J. Quiggle once owned this property. Information about #412: The Roach family resided here in 1905-06. Family members included Mrs. Hannah M., George, and Charles B. George was a machinist with D&RG, and Charles was a foreman. Estelle Ruhlman also lived here with the Roaches in 1905-06. By 1911-12, Conrad Y. (b.1886) and Hugh U. Waggener lived at this house. Hugh was a fireman at the Salida Smelter. Conrad, a prominent Salida businessman born in Del Norte, Colorado, was married to Salida native Julia A. Sweeney in 1909. Julia was the daughter of Chaffee County pioneers John and Julia Sweeney. She graduated from Salida high school in 1909. Conrad's mother reportedly was the first white child born in Central City. Conrad was secretary-treasurer and owner of the Upper F Pharmacy Company, which he opened in 1911. Before going into business for himself, he worked as a pharmacist at Howell Drug Store. He graduated from Colorado University School of Pharmacy. Conrad died in an automobile accident in 1940 at the age of 54. He had been returning from a duck-hunting trip when the accident occurred. Julia Waggener died in a Pueblo nursing home in June 1964. By 1920, Harry J. and Ruth A. Clagett resided at this home. Harry was born in Ohio in 1895 and Ruth in Iowa in 1896. They had two children by 1920: Harriet (b.1916) and Clara E. (b.1918). Harry was an agent with American Railway Express. Clara E. Wright, the widow of William G. Wright, lived with the Clagetts in 1922. Stephen T. and Louise (Lucia?) A. Wooldridge lived at this house by 1930, with Stephen working as a packer at D&RGW. The Wooldridges were married in 1905. He was born in Missouri in 1885 and she in Oklahoma in 1891. Beginning sometime in the 1940s, Charles B. Van Cleave owned this property. He died in 1949, but his wife Laura Van Cleave continued to live here. She was born in Attica, Indiana on 13 November 1869. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was active in the Royal Neighbors Lodge, serving as one of their officers for many years. Laura Van Cleave died in Pueblo in March 1964 at the age of 94. She lived in Salida for 60 years before moving to Pueblo in 1963. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
413 W. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 413 W. 2nd Street, lots 1-3, block 35, in Salida, Colorado.
414 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 414 E. 2nd Street, lots 19-20, block 25, in Salida, Colorado. This house was erected in 1924 or 1927 according to Chaffee County Assessor records. Phillip and Eleanore M. Gallo were owners of this house in 1930, based on the US Census of that year and an old Assessor's appraisal card. They were married in 1918 and both were born in 1891. A Colorado native, Phillip (b.1891) owned a shoe repair shop at 140 E. 1st. The couple had a son, Bernard (b.1926). Phillip's widowed Italian father, Andrew Gallo, also lived with the couple in 1930. A naturalized citizen, Andrew Gallo (b.1861) first came to the U.S. in 1879. Phillip' s mother was also from Italy. By 1951, Elbridge L. "Sam" and Eula Samson lived at this address. Sam was a cashier at the Rio Grande Freight House. In 1930, Elbridge and his previous wife, Adersa, had lived at a different address in Salida, and he had been employed as a car checker with the railroad. Elbridge was born in Colorado in 1898. In 1965, Philip F. and Ruth Scott were the owners and residents of this house. No occupations were listed for the Scotts in the city directory. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
415 E Street
Real estate appraisal card. 415 E Street, lots 22-23, block 58, Haskell's Addition, in Salida, Colorado.
415 E. 1st Street
Real estate appraisal card. 415 E. 1st Street, lots 8-10, block 25, in Salida, Colorado. This house was built between 1888 and 1895. The 1903-04 city directory indicated that the family of Samuel G. Vandenburg lived here. Samuel Vandenburg, born about 1855 in Ohio, worked as a railroad conductor. His wife, Emma, was born about 1868 in Illinois. Their son, Harry, was born about 1891 in Colorado. Also living with the family was a female boarder who worked as a dressmaker. The 1911-12 city directory listed the family of Clarence Harvey Sunbury at this address. Members of the family continued to live here for many years. Salida pioneer Clarence Harvey Sunbury was born 6 April 1861, in Waterloo, Iowa. He came to Salida as a young man, in 1887, and he lived here for the rest of his life. He married Eleanor Sunbury (no relation to him) in Des Moines, Iowa, two years before coming to Salida. Mrs. Sunbury was born in Wisconsin and died in 1922. Together they had one son (Clarence Matthew) and three daughters (Merle, Bessie, and Erma). The Sunbury family was listed living on F Street in the 1910 Census. Mr. Sunbury lived for 19 years on a ranch near the Smelter bridge, known as the Sunbury bridge, and the railroad switch crossing his ranch was known as the Sunbury switch. He was living in this house with his daughter Merle by 1931, but had run the London Dairy for many years, as well as working as a conductor for D&RG for 45 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite Consistory at Pueblo. Mr. Sunbury died in May 1943, at the D&RG Hospital, after many years of failing health. His obituary referred to him as "one of Salida's oldest residents in both age and in years of residence." By 1922, Merle M. Sunbury lived here. Miss Sunbury, a native Salidan born in 1889, graduated from Salida High School and attended Western State College in Gunnison. She worked as a teacher in Monarch for several years before returning to Salida. She worked as a secretary/bookkeeper for Dr. George H. Curfman by 1922. Following that, she worked as secretary at the Chamber of Commerce for several years, before becoming a nurse's aid and working at D&RGW Hospital for many years. She was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension and a member of the Topaz Chapter 27 Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. She passed away in 1965, when she was survived by two of her sisters, Erma and Bessie. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
415 E. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 415 E. 2nd Street, lots 9-10, block 28, in Salida, Colorado. This house was built between 1888 and about 1895. The 1903-04 City Directory listed Bernard "Ben" Graf, a conductor, living here with his family. At the time of the 1905-06 City Directory, the Grafs were living on F Street, and a barber, M. Lawrence Mueller, had moved in to this house. Ada Daniels, an operator at Colorado Telephone Co., and Lillian Daniels were listed as boarders during 1905-06. The Graf family again was listed at this address in the 1911-12 city directory, including Bernard "Ben" Graf, his wife J. Maud, and their three daughters and four sons. By that date, Ben Graf was affiliated with the Disman Clothing Company. Graf was called a pioneer of Salida, having moved to the town in 1891. The Salida Mail judged in 1921: "He is rated among those early pioneers who helped to build the prosperous country of today.· He was initially associated with the Denver & Rio Grande Western railroad. In 1908, he purchased the historic Disman Clothing Company with Sam Murdock. The partners installed the first electric lights in the store, in the late 1880s. This enabled railroad workers to be able to shop at night. By the 1920s, the enterprise was known as Ben Grafs and was located at 1st and F streets. The Salida Mail stated it was "a real credit to the section ... one of the best stocked of its kind in the west today." By the 1920s the Grafs were living on F Street. The 1920 U.S. Census indicated that this was the residence of the Graham family. L. Graham, a conductor for the Denver & Rio Grande railroad, lived here with his family. Mr. Graham, age 32, was born in Nebraska. His wife, Minnie, age 27, was born in Missouri. The couple had four children, two girls and two boys, all born in Colorado. In 1922-23, this was the residence of salesman George W. Cantwell and his wife, Alice. By 1927-28, the Nixon family occupied the house. This included Alonzo M. Nixon, an engineer, and his wife Maymie B. Also living here were Elsie Nixon, a clerk at Mrs. R.A. Spino dry goods and J.W. Nixon, a brakeman at Denver & Rio Grande RR. The house had changed occupants again by 1930, when William J. and Eleanor McNamara took ownership of the house. William was an engineer with the Denver & Rio Grande railroad. Mr. McNamara was retired by the time of the 1935-36 City Directory. Born in 1886, he died in May 1951 after spending several weeks at the Rio Grande hospital. Eleanor McNamara continued living in the house after William's death, until at least 1965, according to the city directory of that year. She passed away on 14 November 1973. Her obituary noted that she had been a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the MSSA Club and a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary. She also taught piano and was the organist at St. Joseph's Church. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
417 W. 1st Street
Real estate appraisal card. 417 W. 1st Street, lots 4 & 5, block 18, in Salida, Colorado.
417 W. 2nd Street
Real estate appraisal card. 417 W. 2nd Street, lots 5-6, block 35, in Salida, Colorado.
417 W. Front Street
Real estate appraisal card. 417 W. Front Street, lots 5-6, block 7, in Salida, Colorado.
419 D Street
Real estate appraisal card. 419 D Street, lots 10-13, block 57, in Salida, Colorado.

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