146 W. 1st Street

Description

Real estate appraisal card. 146 W. 1st Street, lots 15 & 16 and part of lot 14, block 5, in Salida, Colorado. Information for the building on the left, 144 W. 1st: Based on Sanborn fire insurance map evidence, this masonry building was probably erected between 1909 and 1914. A steam laundry occupied an earlier iron clad building at this site and the 1914 Sanborn states that a steam laundry occupied this building at that date. The Troy Laundry was located here (addressed as 150 W. 1st street) in 1909 and 1911-12. John M. Campbell was the proprietor. Campbell came to Salida in 1881 and entered business in 1892. The Salida Mail commented that "since that time it can be safely said that he has made as many friends as any man in town, for his genial good nature and square business dealing have increased his business to a point where it has enabled him to equip his laundry completely with steam." In 1908 a new mangle was installed. The Salida Transfer Company's office and warehouse was located in this building according to the 1922-23 and 1927-28 city directories. The business featured household goods and piano moving and storage. Frank M. Peairs was the proprietor. The 1927-28 and 1930-31 city directories also list the Rainbow Garage at this address (number 144). The 1929 and 1945 Sanborn maps show this property in use as a garage. A large rear addition, erected between 1914 and 1926, had resulted in an L-shaped building that had a capacity of forty cars. The Rainbow Garage probably took its name from the nickname for U.S. 50 through central Colorado-"The Rainbow Route." The Speedway Garage was shown at this location in a 1937 photograph. The address is not listed in the 1951 city directory. At the time of the 1981 historic buildings survey, this building housed Downtown Auto Body. NOTE: The rear of this parcel once held an iron clad building that was labeled on 1909 and 1914 Sanborn maps as "Negro tenements." The building had served as baled hay storage in 1904. This building was removed when the principal building was expanded between 1914 and 1929. For the building on the right, 146 W. 1st: According to Sanborn fire insurance maps, this building was constructed between 1904 and 1909. The building was addressed as number 148 on 1909 through 1929 Sanborn maps and as number 146 on the 1945 edition. In 1909 and 1914, this building housed a store carrying boots and shoes and dry goods. The 1909 city directory showed the Ladies' Cash Bazar [sic] in this location (then addressed as 148 W. 1st Street). The clothing store of Nicholas Muto was listed here in 1927-28. The 1929 Sanborn map shows an unidentified store here. The 1930-31 city directory listed Quinn's Produce Company here. The wholesale operation was headed by Lawrence Quinn. A 1937 photograph indicates that the Little Casino Cafe was located here. That restaurant was still located here in 1951, with Ben Passarelli as the manager. Rocket's Bar and Grill was listed here in the 1961 city directory; M.G. Stancato and F.C. Nation were partners in the firm. The Office Bar occupied the building at the time of the 1981 historic buildings survey. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.