112 E. 1st Street

Description

Real estate appraisal card. 112 E. 1st Street, lot 17, block 4, in Salida, Colorado. This building was erected in 1886, when it was indicated as "not complete" on the Sanborn map. The lot on which the building stands had previously held a hose house. In 1886 the building was divided into a furniture store and a grocery. The building, originally known as the Hively-Mandeville Block, was erected by Edwin H. Hively. Edwin W. Hively was an influential businessman and civic leader of Salida. Hively was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1854. In 1879 he moved to Colorado, settling first at Monarch, where he mined and had a grocery business. He worked in a hardware store in Canon City and then moved to Salida in 1882 and was partner in another hardware store, Hively, Young & Co. Hively erected two brick business buildings in Salida, this one and another known as the Hively Block, where he had an office. He operated a limestone business and then a real estate and insurance business. Hively was active in promoting the construction of an opera house, was involved in the erection of the St. Clair Hotel, and was a stockholder in the creamery. He also served as town treasurer. He was married to Emma Beeler of San Antonio, Texas, and they had two children. The Hivelys left Salida after the death of their daughter, Camille, and Edwin Hively died in California in 1920. He had sold this building to J.W. DeWeese in 1918. The 1888 Sanborn map indicated that the building housed a furniture and undertaker business and a harness business. An 1889 drawing of the building indicates that Haight & Churcher, furniture and undertaking were located here. The firm was engaged in building and contracting in Salida prior to 1887, and "did most of the heavy contracting and building" in the early days of the city. In 1887 they went into the furniture, carpet, and undertaking business. Haight had come to Cleora in 1878 and erected the first building at the settlement three miles below the future site of Salida. Frank B. Churcher moved to Cleora a year later. In 1900, the Salida Semi-Weekly Mail reported that the firm of Haight & Churcher was "one of the strongest in this part of the state. They carry a stock of furniture and carpets valued at over $20,000 and also own considerable improved real estate. Besides, they are financially interested in several outside business propositions." By 1903, the business had become Churcher & Johnson, operated by Frank B. Churcher and Oscar L. Johnson. The 1890 Sanborn map still showed the furniture and harness shops in the building. By 1893, the harness shop had been replaced by a printing business. A historic photograph of the building shows that the printer was the Salida News Printing Co. The News, a Democratic paper, was founded in 1883. In 1888, the newspaper changed from daily to semi-weekly. The News specialized in artistic job printing, from visiting cards to circus posters. By 1898, the printer had been replaced by a second-hand shop. In 1904, a steam laundry (the Best Steam Laundry, David B. Lee, proprietor) was operating here, in addition to the furniture and undertaking business. The laundry was electrified and modern, with an electric collar machine, a lace curtain stretcher, and washers. The laundry was the oldest in the Salida area. W.H. Flannery was the proprietor. The business was still operating in 1927 (at 124 E. 1st). The upstairs of the building (which was then known as the Conquest Block), contained professional offices in 1904. Dr. G. Rin Hara, a dentist, had offices here in 1903. Dr. Hara was a native of Tokyo, Japan. He moved to the United States in 1892 and graduated from the University of California. He moved to Denver in 1897, where he received his degree in dentistry. In 1898 he established a practice in Salida. In 1909, Churcher & Johnson were still operating here, and a second-hand shop operated by C.F. Foote was in the second storefront. The same types of businesses were shown on the 1914 Sanborn map. In 1922, the city directory listed Lorton-Wenz & Baham, furniture dealers and undertakers, in this building. The firm consisted of George Lorton, J.F. Wenz, and D.D. Boham. Mr. Lorton also served as Mayor of Salida. By 1927-28, the firm had become Travers & Boham. The 1930-31 city directory listed the Travers Co. (furniture and undertaker) at this address. Guy V. Travers was the proprietor. In 1951 the city directory listed Hill Brothers, novelties, at this address, operated by Myron E. Hill. By 1961, Hartman's Furniture & Antiques was listed here (Ray & Fern Hartman, partners). Salida Automotive (auto parts) operated by Earl and Robert Palermo was also located here. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.