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Carbondale, Colorado Historic Commercial Core Walking Tour
Item 11 of 17

Built in 1908, this is a tall one-story brick building with a generally rectangular plan. Like most of the buildings along Main Street, its design is typical of the Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements Commercial Style with a corbelled cornice, simple rectangular form, and large storefront windows; its masonry construction indicates a long-term commitment to the community on the part of the builders. In the early 1900’s this building housed Leonhardy’s Saloon and featured a bar with elaborate woodwork. In the fall of 1909, one year after this building was built, Carbondale’s first Potato Days celebration was held at the corner of 4th and Main.


View south towards 348 and 358 Main Street

Sky, Cloud, Window, Tree

Circa 1997

Wheel, Tire, Vehicle, Plant

Fred Walsen, of Arapahoe County, purchased the property from the Carbondale Town & Land Company in October of 1888. He sold the property to E. F. Prince in March of 1899. Prince sold the property a few days later to William T. Skidmore, who then transferred the property to his wife, Emma, in June of 1899 “with all improvements thereon”. Due to the jump in the price of the property--$150 when William bought it and $1000 when he sold it three months later--it appears that the building was constructed in that period. W. T. Skidmore ran a saloon, according to several local accounts. Emma Skidmore kept the property until 1902, when she sold it to A. E. Yewell; the Skidmores left Carbondale around 1903. Emma took up residence in Glenwood Springs and William moved to De Beque where he had an unnamed business (though it might have been another saloon). William was also reported as taking a trip to the Pacific coast with Frank Page to “sell territory for a patent door knob and bell.”

A. E. Yewell was a Glenwood Springs resident for 53 years and married Alice Kendrick, the daughter of Thomas Kendrick who was a prominent Glenwood Springs citizen. Both Yewell and Kendrick appeared in the Glenwood Post, discussing the important issues of the day. Yewell owned the City Stables -- a livery and transfer company in Glenwood Springs with K. C. Voorhees in 1898 -- and a stationer, Yewell & Ewing, in Glenwood Springs in 1902. A. E. Yewell sold the property in the summer of 1902 to Edward S. Hughes. Edward died in 1917 and the building passes to his wife Helen L. Hughes and his son Charles E. Hughes.

Town of Carbondale Downtown Survey Project, 2006, Reid Architect's Inc., Manuscript on file, History Colorado, Denver, Colorado.

Carbondalegov.org

Carbondale Historical Society

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Town of Carbondale

Garfield County, Colorado, Assessor's Office