Real estate appraisal card. 132 W. 1st Street, lot 20, block 5, in Salida, Colorado.
First Story. The building was constructed between 1888 and 1890 as the eastern portion of the Union Block. The ground floor of this building housed a grocery s!ore in 1890, a furniture store in 1893, and a second hand store during the 1898 to 1914 period. The 1903 through 1922-23 city directories showed a furniture and second hand goods store run by Charles F. Calvin. In 1905-06, Calvin advertised that he was a dealer in new and second hand furniture, crockery, Queensware, stoves, tinware, and so forth. The 1929 and 1945 Sanborn fire insurance maps show an unspecified store in this location.
Second Story. The second story of the Union Block was originally used for lodging, according to 1890 and 1893 Sanborn fire insurance maps. The 1898 map labeled it as the Union Hotel, as did the 1903-4 and 1905-05 city directories. Both directories list Mr. and Mrs. T.N.B. Snyder as the operators of the hotel. An advertisement in the latter directory indicated that the establishment had twenty-four rooms, a large parlor with fire, books, and daily papers, hot and cold water, and electric lights. At that time, beds went for 25 cents a night, and rooms from 35 to 75 cents. In August 1906, the Salida Mail described the Snyders' Union House Rooms: "Their rooms are light, cheery, clean and airy, and the place throughout bears a homelike appearance that meets the hearty approval of all their patrons."
In 1909, the Union House furnished rooms were managed by Mabel Button. The 1911-12 city directory listed this as the Union Rooming House, Sylvester Pollock, proprietor. The pattern continued into the 1920s, with furnished rooms maintained by Mrs. Gertrude Van Camp (1922-23) and Mrs. O.C. Holly (1927-28).
By the time of the 1951 city directory, it appears that the second floor had been divided into two separate lodging facilities. The eastern section was known as the Linza Hotel, operated by Mrs. Delia Linza. The western portion was the Denver Rooms, owned by Ralph Spina.
History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
