119 E. 1st Street

Description

Real estate appraisal card. 119 E. 1st Street, lot 8 & part of 9, block 22, in Salida, Colorado. The September 30, 1887 Salida Mail reported: "Ira Thompson has leased all of the rooms in the new Bowne building on First and proposes to run a first class sample room in connection with the restaurant. The rooms on the second story will be handsomely furnished for either transient or regular roomers." J.B. Bowne was a Salida pioneer who was a member of the first hose company in the city. On October 7, the Salida Weekly Mail wrote, "Mr. Ira Thompson, manager of the Tontine restaurant, expects to have his place open for business by tomorrow evening. It will undoubtedly be the finest eating house in the county, and his many friends wish him success." In October 1888 it was reported that Boss Caswell had sold the Tontine to Mrs. L.G. Palmer. Mrs. Palmer reopened the business as the Palmer House. "The entire hotel has been refitted and new table service added." The Sanborn map of 1888 labeled the building the "Bowne Bl.," and showed the building with a restaurant and kitchen on the east and an office on the west. The upper story had furnished rooms. At the rear of the building was a small outbuilding and a dwelling was located at the rear of the lot on the alley. In 1889, the Salida News reported: "Under Mrs. L.G. Palmer's efficient management the Palmer House has attained a fine reputation as a first-class hotel. It is the only first-class house up-town and is always liberally patronized. Mrs. Palmer sets an excellent table, and the rooms are always neat and clean. The accommodations for traveling men are all that could be desired by the most fastidious. A free hack meets all trains, day and night, and porters are always on hand to attend to baggage." The Hotel Palmer was also indicated on the 1890 and 1893 Sanborn maps. By 1890 a saloon was indicated in the west storefront and a restaurant on the east. The dwelling at the rear had been turned into a laundry. By 1893, the saloon had been replaced by a clothing store, which was, in turn, replaced by a billiard hall by 1898. By 1898, the restaurant had been replaced by a drugstore. The 1903-04 city directory listed Phibbs & Gast cigars and pool at this location, operated by William Phibbs and David S. Gast. The firm became Phibbs & (Elmer E.) Hutchinson by 1905-06 (billiards, pool, cigars, tobacco, etc.). In 1909 the firm was indicated as a manufacturer of cigars. William J. Lippard (drugs, toilet articles, soda water, perfumery, and cigars) had a drugstore here, according to city directories. The business was started by W.J. Lippard in 1893. The drugstore continued to operate (later in other locations) into the 1930s. The furnished rooms were known as the Kansas House, managed by Mrs. Emma L. Dick in 1903-04, and the Savoy House in 1909. By the time of the 1909 Sanborn map, the building was divided into the billiard parlor on the west and a moving picture theater on the east. The billiard parlor, Phibbs and Hutchinson, was equipped with five Brunswick-Balke billiard tables with ivory balls. "The tables are the best this side of Denver and are favorites with billiard loving men." Lighting in the parlor was arranged to prevent shadows. The parlor had reportedly been greatly improved in 1909 and became a popular meeting place for men in town during the evening. The 1911-12 city directory indicates that the theater was known as the Isis Theatre, operated by Kelly & Close. A December 1909 article on the Isis reported that a sketch of "Over the River, Charlie" had been presented at the Isis. The production featured Marie Fay, "the new illustrated singer, from Denver." The article stated," ...the moving pictures, especially 'A Corner in Wheat,' was [sic] very interesting, and showed the result that is obtained when a corporation has secured a corner on wheat. The Isis orchestra played some choice grand opera selections. This in itself was a treat to the large crowd who gathered in this popular little theatre." In 1922 William Phibbs was still operating the billiard parlor, while the theater was known as the Photo Play, with F.R. Kelly as manager. The Photo Play was still here in 1927-28, and a theater was shown on the 1929 Sanborn map. By 1930-31, the city directory indicated that the theater was vacant. Mrs. Adele Borne managed the furnished rooms. The 1951 city directory indicated that Glenn's Billiards, owned by Glenn Newman, was located here. The upstairs rooms were operated by Delbert and Violet Henry. In 1961, Woods Billiard Parlor (retail candy, tobacco, and billiards), owned by Walter Woods, was located here, together with Salida Wholesale Tobacco and Candy (Doyle F. Harrington and Wayne E. Moon, partners). History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.