Real estate appraisal card. 444 E. 2nd Street, lots 23-24, block 25, in Salida, Colorado.
This house was built between 1888 and 1895. In 1903-04 prominent Salida citizen Oscar L. Johnson lived here. Oscar Johnson was born in 1855 in Sweden, and came to this country in 1882. He was a naturalized citizen by 1910. He was a highly skilled machinist for the railroad for many years after arriving in Salida. He then became an owner of Churcher & Johnson, a furniture store he operated with Frank B. Churcher. When Mr. Churcher died in 1918, Oscar retired. By 1905-06, Oscar Johnson had married Elizabeth Bly and they shared Elizabeth's house, which was just next door at 437 E. 2nd Street. This was Elizabeth's second marriage. Elizabeth had two children from her previous marriage, Jeanette and Theron Bly.
In 1905-06 Walter F. and Thomas Storey lived at this dwelling. Walter was a clerk with Crews-Beggs Mercantile Company and Thomas was an engineer with D&RG. By the time of the 1911-12 city directory, Theron S. Bly, son of Elizabeth Bly Johnson and stepson of Oscar Johnson, lived at this house and worked as a bartender. Born in October 1876 in Troy, New York, he came to Salida at the age of 10. By 1922, he still lived here, with his wife, formerly Madge Patton (b.1888), who he married in May 1908 at Belle Plain, Iowa. Madge was born in August 1888 in Quarry, Iowa, but moved to Salida in 1908 upon marriage to Theron. They had a son, William Bly. Theron was working as a brakeman with the railroad by 1922. He worked as a guard at the State Reformatory for several years. Theron died in August 1947. Madge Bly died in June 1980 at the age of 91.
James O. and Olive E. Felton Lasswell owned this house by 1930. The two were married in 1894. They had a daughter, Lulu (b.1897), and a son, Irving H. (b.1905), both of whom were born in Colorado. Olive was born in Kansas in about 1872. Born in Springfield, Illinois in 1862, James Felton came to Salida in 1884 and lived there continuously until his death. He worked for the railroad for 36 years, retiring in 1936. He worked jobs as various as hostler, fireman, engineer and traveling engineer. In 1939, James died at the age of 77. His obituary described him as a longtime Salida resident and well-known railroad man. Olive died in June 1962 at the age of 90.
By 1951, Joe E. and Margaret Dietrich lived here. Joe was the owner of Dietrich Heating & Metal Works. The 1965 city directory listed the owners of the house as Ralph A. and Magdalen Post. The Posts were retired. An old Assessor appraisal card lists Carl Mcllravy was a later owner.
History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
