318-320 E. 1st Street

Description

Real estate appraisal card. 318 & 320 E. 1st Street, lots 18-20, block 2, in Salida, Colorado. The eastern portion of this building (320 E. First Street) dates to before 1892, while the western setback section (318 E. First Street) was built between 1909 and 1911. Charles F. and Belle Foote were listed at this address in the 1903-04 city directory. The couple apparently rented out rooms in the house, for four railroad conductors, an engineer, and a brakeman were also listed at this address. Mr. Foote ran a second hand goods store in 1903-04 and by 1905-06 he was a clerk with S.J. Bartle. Born in Ohio in 1849, Mr. Foote came to Maysville and then to Salida in the early 1880s. He had the misfortune to die in the "first serious accident in Salida with an automobile" in September 1909, when he was struck and killed at First and F by a vehicle driven by Dr. T.L.A. Shaffer. Foote was described as "one of the oldest residents of the city." The 1910 Census showed Foote's widow living at this address with her daughter and son-in-law (Grace and Harry A. Jones); Mrs. Foote was listed as the owner of the property. The 1911-12 city directory also showed a number of roomers, including five Denver and Rio Grande Railroad conductors, a brakeman, and a lawyer. Her son-in-law was also a D&RG brakeman. Outbuildings on the property were used during the 1904-14 period to house upholstering and carpentry functions. The western portion of the building (318 E. First Street) was listed in the 1911-12 city directory, which showed James R. Dougher, a conductor for the D&RG living there. It appears that this was a separate residence. By 1920, Emma Malloy, a forty-three-year-old widow from Illinois with three children, was operating a rooming house at 320 E. First Street. Her lodgers included two brakemen, a pipefitter, and a laborer with the D&RGW Railroad and a laborer at a granite company. By 1922, Emma had married Alpheus Staples, a miner and native of Kansas. Florence D. Malloy (Emma's daughter) was still living here and working as an operator for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph. Mrs. Staples died in 1929 and her husband moved to California. The 1920 Census revealed that Howard H. and Della Mashburn were residing at 318 E. First Street. Mr. Mashburn was a manger at the telephone company. In 1931, the western section of the building (number 318) was occupied by Edward V. and Norma Clare. Mr. Clare was a fireman for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Mr. Clare (known as "Frosty") was born in Salida in 1903 and lived there all his life. He retired from the Rio Grande as an engineer. Opal Major, a dishwasher at Neil's Cafe, resided there in 1951. In 1965, Larry J. and Shirley Houle and their two children lived in that section of the building. Mr. Houle was a welder at Climax Molybdenum. Charles C. and Gertrude I. Harmel were living the eastern section (number 320) in 1931; no occupation was listed. By 1951, 320 E. First Street was known as the Rio Grande Rooms, operated by W.l. and Clara May March. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.