227 E. 1st Street

Description

Real estate appraisal card. 227 E. 1st Street, block 23, in Salida, Colorado. This house was built between 1886 and 1888. The 1903-04 city directory listed four persons living at this address. Two women living here were: Mrs. Helen Hinds, for whom no occupation was listed, and Mrs. Minnie E. Hull, an owner of Hull & Wise, a newsstand and cigar store. Also living here were Louis H. Ashenfelter, a helper for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and Charles McClelland, a brakeman for the railroad. Mrs. Minnie Hull still lived here in 1906 and continued to be affiliated with Hull & Wise. Also living here by 1906 was Harry O. Wise, who co-owned Hull & Wise with Mrs. Hull, as well as owning H.O. Wise & Son. It appears that Mrs. Hull and Mr. Wise were brother and sister. H.O. Wise & Son, conducted by Harry O. and Earl Wise, advertised "a full line of cigars, tobacco, news, and stationery; all the latest periodicals and magazines." In 1906, Earl Wise also lived here, as did Robert P. Conner, a machinist for the D&RG. In 1907, Harry O. Wise passed away in his rooms at the back of Wise & Son at 145 E. First Street. Mr. Wise was born about 1851. He moved to Salida from Council Grove, Kansas, about 1882 and became employed by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad as a freight brakeman, holding the position until about 1893. He retired after falling from the top of a freight car near Rifle and receiving injuries to his spine from which he never recovered. He was treated at the Rio Grande Hospital in Salida for three years, but his lower limbs were "totally incapacitated for further service." He conducted his successful business in a wheelchair, starting it after losing his railroad career and developing it into "one of the largest and best kept of any of the kind in this section of the state." At the time of his death, Harry O. Wise was described as "one of those genial, whole souled fellows who made friends of every man, woman or child who entered his place of business." The house completely changed occupants by the time of the 1911-12 city directory. Ross L., Earl E. and Alexander Hamilton Wilson lived here. Ross and Alexander both worked as machinists and Earl was a student. Alexander Wilson was born in Nova Scotia in 1860; his father was born in Scotland. Alexander immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10 in 1870. A resident of Salida since 1889, Alexander continued working as a machinist for D&RG until his retirement in 1928. He married Jane L., who was born in Wales in 1862. She came to the U.S. in 1885. Alexander and Jane Wilson had one son, William E., who was born in 1890. By 1930, Alexander Wilson was living at 741 G St and working as a janitor at a bank. He had also entered a second marriage, with Mary J., who was born in Michigan in 1860. Alexander Wilson died of pneumonia in January 1939. His obituary in the Salida Mail described him as " one of Salida's best known and respected citizens." Ross Wilson was born in Colorado in 1887. His wife Carrie (b.1892) was born in England. She came to the U.S. in 1899. Ross and Carrie Hamilton had one son, George H., who was born in 1910 in Colorado. Stephen E. and Dora M. Reddy lived here by 1922. Mr. Reddy was born in 1882 in Colorado. Both of his parents were born in Northern Ireland. He worked as a fireman. By 1930, Mr. Reddy was a roomer at 201 E. 1st and was working as a locomotive engineer for the stream railroad. Although the census indicates that he was still married, Mrs. Reddy was not listed as living with him. By 1931, Ray and Katherine E. Davidson were living here. Mr. Davidson worked as a fireman with D&RGW. He was born in Colorado in about 1894. Mrs. Davidson was born in Colorado in 1901. The Davidsons had two children: Margaret (10) and Rayetta (2). In 1920, the Davidsons lived in Nathrop, Colorado, where Mr. Davidson was a farmer. Frank and Frances Johnson occupied the home by 1951. Mr. Johnson was a partner at the Salida Planting Mill. The 1965 city directory did not list this address. An Assessor appraisal card indicates that Walter C. and Agnes M. Bateman were later owners of the house. History Colorado's Architectural Inventory Forms have more information and are available at the Salida Library.