148 E. 1st Street

Description

Real estate appraisal card. 148 E. 1st Street, lots 23-26, block 4, in Salida, Colorado. This lot was shown as vacant on Sanborn maps of 1886 and 1888. The 1890 Sanborn map indicated that the western section of the building was "being built." The building is shown on the 1893 map, with a meat store furthest west, a boot and shoe store in the center, and a millinery on the east end. Center stairs led to the upper story. The 1904 Sanborn map showed a hall and reading room in the western space, a boot and shoe store in the center, and a tailor on the east. Herman F. Schuelke had a shoe shop here listed in the 1903-04 and 1905-06 city directories. The 1903-04 city directory listed architect Henry L. Silf with an office and residence here. James J. Baldwin had a business selling pianos, sewing machines, and sheet music at this location in 1903-4. By 1905-06 Baldwin's business had been replaced by the Merkel Co., operated by Bernard F. and Anna G. Merkel, and offering wallpaper, paints, oils, and glass in the eastern section of the building. In 1905-06 Samuel S. Hunt had a second hand goods store in the western section of the building. The upstairs included furnished rooms operated by Mrs. May Warnick. In 1909, the building was known as the Hanks Building, and the upstairs furnished rooms were "Ideal Rooms." Schmidt & Stingley, butchers, operated in the western section of the building, together with People's Market. At the eastern end of the building was the Salida Wiring Co. and B.F. Merkel, paint and wallpaper. The 1911 city directory listed the People's Market (Karl Schmidt, proprietor) "fresh and salt meats." Bernard F. Merkel advertised wallpaper at this location. The Salida Wiring Co. (S.B. Bostian, proprietor) offered "electrical supplies, all kinds of electric work at reasonable prices." Between 1911 and 1914, a large garage (the Colorado Auto Co.?) was built adjoining the east end of the building. The garage had a gas tank at the rear. The stores in the original part of the building held a meat shop, tailor, and paint and wallpaper in 1914. In 1922 H.F. Schuelke, cleaner, dyer, and presser, had a business here, as did J.J. New, a painter. The garage was operated by Timothy J. Ahern. By 1927-28, the Bonanza Stage Line, a bus service, was operating from the garage, which was also the location of the White Auto Company. The garage was shown with steam heat, electric lights, and a concrete floor on the 1929 Sanborn map. The White Auto Co. was the local distributor for Cadillac and LaSalle cars. Charles C. White owned and operated the business, taking over the former Colorado Auto Co. in 1917. White had been a resident of Colorado since 1885 and had previously worked with the D&RGW Railway and the U.S. Forest Service. In 1927 the Salida Mail wrote: "The garage boasts of large and adequate floor space for storage, a well equipped repair department where expert mechanics are on the job ready to give expert attention to all repair work, large or small, simple or complicated, on any make of car. There is a separate tire repair and vulcanizing department. All manner of auto accessories are carried." In 1927-28, G.B. Gaul had a shoe repair shop in the western part of the building. Mrs. Della LaPlant was offering furnished rooms on the second floor. The 1930-31 city directory indicated the White Auto Co. {Thomas C. White) offering auto repair in the garage, while parts of the west section of the building were vacant. In 1951, Stapleton Chevrolet (sales and service), owned by Harold Stapleton, was located here. The-same business was indicated here in the 1961 city directory. In 1981 the business here was Salida Auto Parts. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.