Real estate appraisal card. 429 E. 2nd Street, lots 5-6, block 28, in Salida, Colorado.
This house was built between 1888 and 1895. Listed in this address in the 1903-04 and 1905-06 city directories was the family of George McLean, a foreman for Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. By 1911-12, Salida pioneer Mrs. Nancy Jane Albright (b.1850), the widow of David E. Albright, lived here with two of her sons: Roy C. (b.1886) and Eugene E. (b.1889), both of whom were born in Colorado. Nancy, who was born in Ohio in 1851, had previously been a school teacher. Eugene worked as a clerk at Bush & Strayer. Roy was a clerk at E.R. Alexander Mercantile Company. In 1922, Nancy and Roy still lived here, with Roy working as a clerk at D&RGW. Eugene had moved out by 1920, after marrying his wife Gladys. They had four children by 1920. Nancy Albright died in August 1928 in Grand Junction, where she was living with her son Eugene.
In 1930, William J. and Jeanette A Kasling were owners of this house. William was born in Germany in 1875. He first came to the U.S. in 1889 and was a naturalized citizen by 1930. Jeanette was born in Colorado in 1881. William worked as an engineer with the Rio Grande Western Railroad and also engaged in cement contracting over the years (which he had done since his youth). Their son, Robert W., age 17, also lived here. William retired in 1947 due to failing health and died in May 1951.
Leslie A. and Emma Mehls Shewalter resided at this address by 1951 and through at least 1965, most likely to 1970. They were married on December 23, 1908. A Colorado native, Leslie (b.1884) came to Salida in 1905. When he first moved to Salida from his hometown of Round Hill, Colorado, he worked at the Colorado Ohio Smelting and Refining Company. He later entered the railroad business. Emma was born in Saguache, Colorado in 1884. She graduated from Saguache County High School and taught school in the San Luis Valley before her marriage. The couple had a daughter, Margaret E., who was born in Colorado in 1919. In 1930, Leslie had worked as a retail merchant at a feed and implement store, with the family living at a different address in Salida. Leslie retired from his job as railroad conductor in 1952 and died in August 1969. Emma died in September 1971, a resident of Salida for
65 years.
History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
