Salida Centennial Photo Collection
Salida, Colorado celebrated its centennial in 1980. The Salida Centennial Committee compiled this collection of old photographs to help preserve the history of Salida and the surrounding areas. Photos were donated from: • Frank Thomson • Donna Nevens • Salida Museum • Alice Chinn • Salida Fire Department • Josephine Soukup (Kratky) • Ernest Brownson • Alta Proctor • Janice Pennington • Dick Dixon
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- Bird's Eye View of Salida after 1890
- A photograph of Salida taken on Tenderfoot Mountain after 1890. Ernest Brownson Collection.
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- Bird's Eye View of Salida before 1890
- A photograph of Salida taken on Tenderfoot Mountain before 1890. Ernest Brownson Collection.
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- Bird's Eye View of Salida ca. 1883
- Salida ca. 1883-1884. Steve Frazee Collection.
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- Bird's Eye View of Salida in 1883
- In 1883, Salida (no longer South Arkansas) was growing in three directions from the river. The Craig Opera House is at the corner of Second and F Streets and the Presbyterian Church, the first designed for religious services, is a little white frame building at the corner of Third and F Streets. A few days after this photo was taken in mid-May, the F Street bridge was seriously damaged by normal spring runoff when two sections were ripped from the center. The Monte Christo Hotel is complete and Central School, a small stone structure, is barely visible. Work hasn’t started on the new two-story brick addition that created a landmark. Salida Museum Association Collection.
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- Bird's Eye View of Salida in 1888
- Although most of the mess from the January 1888 fire is cleaned up in this summer photo, evidence can still be seen. Despite a massive rebuilding effort – mostly in brick this time – there are still many open lots along F Street above First Street. Rubble from the fire is visible where it was dumped along the bank of the Arkansas River near the F Street Bridge. After two major fires, it is interesting to note how much larger the area that is today Riverside Park has become. Dick Dixon Collection.
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- Bird's Eye View of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Depot and Railyards
- As many as 100 trains a day passed through Salida – and sometimes there were 15 or more passenger trains. That was apparently the case on this day in 1884. The coaches on the far track are awaiting wash jobs before returning to service. Tenderfoot Mountain is visible in the distance. Ernest Brownson Collection.
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- Boy Standing in a Field of Sun-Dried Bricks
- Clay was packed into three-brick molds which were then dumped on the ground in long rows to sun dry. This unidentified boy may have been responsible for the thousands of bricks drying around him. Most of Salida’s buildings are made of this soft, red local brick. Janice Pennington Collection.
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- Boy Standing in a Field of Sun-Dried Bricks
- Brick making was often a family business that included children, parents, and maybe a hired hand or two. Sun-dried bricks were stacked, 20,000-50,000 at a time, creating their own kiln. Plastered with mud to limit air, a fire was kindled and carefully monitored to harden bricks. Janice Pennington Collection.
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- Brickmaking in Salida
- There were several brick manufacturers in Salida whose work is evident in Salida's historic district. They made use of the soft red clay near the Little Arkansas River. This is probably the Allen Brick Yards, operated by brick mason George W. Allen, which was located outside city limits. H.F. Knickerbocker lived close by to it. Pictured from left – unknown person, Roy Knickerbocker, Henry Franklin Knickerbocker, unknown person, Tom Knickerbocker. Addie Mitchell Collection.
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- Burro Train at St. Elmo, Colorado
- West of St. Elmo, 12,154 foot Tincup Pass provided one of the early access routes to Western Slope mining areas. Burro trains such as this one loading in front of the St. Elmo Hardware provided quick, inexpensive and relatively sure transportation for most general supplies. After arrival of the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad, the town became a major shipping point for heavy freight as well and there were a dozen or more companies that were able to handle almost any kind of shipment. Busy winter stagecoach traffic forced drivers to replace wheels with sled runners for the hazardous trip over the Continental Divide between 13,555-foot Emma Burr Mountain to the north and 13,124-foot Fitzpatrick Peak to the south. Haley-Bratton Collection.
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- Burro Train on Old Monarch Pass
- A burro train hauls timber on Old Monarch Pass. Ernest Brownson Collection.
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- Charles Hanks
- Charles Hanks. Haley-Bratton Collection.