Real estate appraisal card. 125 E. 2nd Street, lots 6 & 7, block 31, in Salida, Colorado.
According to Sanborn fire insurance maps, this building was constructed between 1890 and 1893. Maps and city directories from 1893 through at least 1951 show that the building was divided into two parts on the first floor, generally addressed as 125 and 127 E. 2nd Street. A variety of businesses were located in this building over the years, with no long-term tenants. In 1893 and 1898, the west section housed a millinery while the east part was used as a dwelling.
The 1904 Sanborn map showed a wallpaper store at number 125 and a second hand store in number 127. Ramey Brothers (painting, paperhanging, and wall paper) was listed at 125 in the 1903-04 city directory. The proprietors were Cornelius E. and George L. Ramey. The 1905-06 city directory lists the Chaffee County Machine Shop at 125 E. 2nd Street. Charles Briggs was the owner of the firm, which manufactured novelties and all kinds of machinery and repaired safes, cash registers, and bicycles. Mrs. Adelia Wilson offered furnished rooms on the upper floor, which was known as the Burrington Block. Mrs. Meda Mahan, a dressmaker, lived and pursued her trade on the upper floor.
In 1909, a sewing machine store (the Singer Sewing Machine Company) was in number 127. The office of George E. Baldwin, justice of the peace, was located in number 125 in 1909 and 1911-12. The Salida Wall Paper Company occupied number 127 in 1911-12. A.H. Nordstrom and Mrs. Mary Henri were the owners, with Julian Henri as the manager.
The 1914 Sanborn map reported an office in number 125 and a wall paper and paint store in number 127. The wall paper store of John 0. Pearce was housed in number 127 according to the 1922-23 city directory. In 1927-28 the shoe repair store of F.P. White was housed in number 127. The 1929 Sanborn map, showed two unidentified stores.
In 1930-31, Bernard Bement offered furnished rooms (presumably including the second floor), and W. Val Benedict's shoe repair shop was in number 127. The 1951 city directory showed the Chandler Fixit Shop at number 125 (Clyde C. Chandler, owner) and Jack's Barber Shop at number 127 (Jack Merica, owner). The addresses are not listed in the 1961 city directory; this building having become part of the Salida Mountain Mail newspaper operation by that time.
History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.
