Experience the history of Florence, Colorado with these Self-Guided Walking Tours. Learn about the founders and the town they built, through the buildings still standing and those that once were.

It is strongly recommended when embarking on any of these self-guided walking tours to wear closed toe, comfortable walking shoes, be sure to take water and wear appropriate clothing for the expected weather conditions. Be courteous and use caution as these tours may walk through neighborhoods, city shopping and industrial areas. Some tours are several blocks and the terrain may be uneven or pose potential hazards. Damaged sidewalks, no sidewalks, dirt walks, drainage ditches, street traffic and other hazards are possible. Use the self-guided walking tour info at your own risk.

Acknowledgements
*Building markers/inscriptions noted were erected by the City of Florence.

EAST MAIN STREET

100 East Main – Florence Hotel

101 East Main – First National Bank of Florence
In the late 1800’s a prominent businessman, J.A. McCandless began accepting modest deposits in his mercantile store and making small private loans. As the community grew and the need developed he began to consider the banking business more seriously.
In 1887 McCandless and a partner Henry Topping, began a private banking business. At that time, Florence, which was incorporated in September 1887, was growing rapidly and a building boom was in progress. The business did very well and on September 8 1891 the business was incorporated as the Bank of Florence, a State Bank.
In 1897 the Bank of Florence moved into the Blunt Building. It did a very extensive business for the first few years, but the depression 1893 and 1894 severely crippled the venture. As a result the bank was reorganized on February 2, 1895. Under the leadership of McCandless and Charles Gast, a lawyer and director the bank continued to grow and prosper. It steadily gained profits in spite of a financial panic in 1907 that forced many banks to close their doors.
With the financial support of the Thatcher brothers from Pueblo on May 31, 1900 The Bank of Florence received its charter as the First National Bank of Florence. In 1913 McCandless after many more profitable years, resigned as vice president and director.
The great depression of 1929 forced many business firms to clos, workers lost their jobs and farmers lost their farms. The First National Bank of Florence survived these difficult times and later returned to prosperity. The leadership of William Morris no doubt accounted for much of this success. He had faithfully and skillfully served the bank for 41 years until his death in 1957.
On January of 1964 Robert Morris, William’s son sold the bank to Henry Williams and Arlow Beamon and the bank went through first major remodeling. The from of the building was rebricked and the interior drastically changed. The bank was then sold again.
In 1991 it celebrated it’s one-hundredth anniversary.

104-110 East Main – Union Block

109 East Main – McCandless Store
This three-story brick building was built in 1894 by James A McCandless to provide larger space for the McCandless Mercantile business. The business was first located at the corner of Main Street and Pikes Peak Avenue in 1882. This new building would also provide needed office space and hotel rooms for the increasing population of the town.
An elevator had been built at the rear and was believed to be the oldest of its kind in the county. Hand-powered and geared in such a manner, one man could lift several hundred pounds by pulling on a rope. It was used to lift baggage, furniture and supplies to the tenants on the two upper floors. Each room had a coal heating stove and during winter months, several boys had a job to fill the coal and wood bins on each floor. The rooms on the two upper floors surrounded an indoor atrium that was open to a central skylight down the center of the building
McCandless sold the mercantile business to A.I. Hadley. This business was later moved to the Houston Block in the next block west.
The building has since been used for several types of businesses including furniture, hardware and laundry. In 1972 the forty rooms were vacant.

120 East Main Street – Cornwall Block
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed 1897 Builder: John Stewart & James Hall
Prior to 1895, an adobe structure stood on this site and served as a post office. The adobe structure was destroyed by fire and was replaced by a new brick building in 1897 by L.E. Cornwall. This building is representative of Florence’s late nineteenth century architecture, as reflected in its brick and stone construction, the first story storefront, metal lintel above the storefront, rock-faced lintel and still courses, large windows facing the street on the upper story, and decorative secondary cornice with star ornaments. This building has served as a part of the commercial district for more than 100 years.
• 1897 Post Office
• 1900 Photography Studio on second floor, operated until 1949
• 1902 National Club Saloon
• 1906 Antler Bar
• 1912 Fulton Meat Market
• 1919 Miller Brothers Garage
• 1925 Bundy Auto Company
• 1937 Bundy Motor
• 1947 Doyles Auto and Pixler’s Radio
• 1949 Hagaman Gas and Appliance
• 1975 Florence Auto Parts
• 2004 Everything Twice and Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store
• 2006 Retail space
This building is now Royal Contemporary and houses an art gallery and artists’ studios on the first floor, and a private residence on the second floor.

125 East Main – Lobach Building
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed in 1897-98
Originally it housed a clothing store and confectionary and cigar store on the first floor and the Elks Lodge on the second floor. Edwin Lobach, who had interests in oil production and real estate, lived in Florence for 51 years and was involved in the public life of the city for much of that time, including his service as a county commissioner. The millinery firm was known as Kirk & Rinner was Florence’s first exclusive establishment of this kind. The confectionery and cigar store was owned by R. C. Thompson.
In 1905-1906 Walker Brothers, a grocery and dry goods firm, was located in the building. In 1909, the Florence Citizen conducted its business here. By 1916, this was the location of the Golden Rule dry goods store. In 1921 the city directory listed the Salmon Grocery and Pritchard’s Candies in the building. In 1926 there was no longer a lodge upstairs. In 1937 it was Dailey’s Tire Shop. By 1953 Robert Bell was operating the Bell Garage at this location. Sometime between 1937 and the 1950’s the original front of the building was removed and an overhead garage door was added In 1960 this was the location of the Western Geophysical Company. In 1985 Turons Limited was here. From 1994 until 1998 a furniture manufacturer known as Builders of the Southwest were in the building. From 1999 thru 2006 the building was completely restored adding two apartments upstairs and New Spirit Day Spa downstairs. The overhead garage door was removed and replaced with a storefront and entrance rebuilt along the lines of the original appearance in 2006.

WEST MAIN STREET

100 & 101-103 W. Main Street (104-108 South Pikes Peak Ave )
*Building Marker/Inscription:
The original two story business building at the corner of S. Pikes Peak and W. Main St,, built with local white brick from Pueblo and white stone trim from Norman McKay’s quarry, was considered “the handsomest and most pretentious building in Florence.” It was erected by the Blunt family for business in 1896-1897. Joseph Blunt came to the United States from England before the Civil War and eventually started a homestead at Coal Creek, raising nine children with his wife Rebecca. The family made it’s wealth from the Cripple Creek mines and then settled in Florence in 1894. Known as “Bank Block” this building once housed the Bank of Florence and still has the walk-in bank vault intact. It also was home to the “Florence Reading Room” or city library, as well as a post office and the “Florence Building and Loan”. In December 1949, “Blunt Block” tragically burned down destroying the several businesses and private apartments it housed. It was called one of the worst calamities in Florence’s history.
In 1950, the site was purchased by E.A. Mineer of Shiprock, N.M. and Florence, who planned to reinforce the foundation and walls in order to rebuild a modern one story commercial building. Since then, this location has been home to medical doctor offices, dentists, florists, and barber shops among others. To this day it boasts the original 1950’s metal lettering on it’s side wall, “Florence is a GLT” (great little town).

100 West Main – Houston Opera

103 West Main – Blunt Building

105 West Main – Knights of Pythius

106 West Main – City Drug
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed 1890-1895
City Drug was the first occupant in late 1894. By 1897 McCreery & Widerfelt operated a drugstore described as “full and complete in every particular”. Not only did they have a full line of goods, but also a soda fountain. From 1900-1929 John D. Stewart operated the Stewart Drug Store.
From 1937 through the early 1960’s the building housed the Florence Pharmacy, owned by T.A. Davis and H.D, Andrews. Between 1963 and 1966 John and Carol Fox operated Fox Drugs and later Fox Rexall Drugs.
In 1971 Day’s Meats was selling its products here. During 1973-1975 Litz Auto Supply was here. The building may have been vacant between 1977-1994. Between 2000-2007 several businesses were located here: Colorado Real Estate, DJ’s Fiber-Crafts and Blue Moon Vintage Clothing. Later businesses included Creative’s Cork and Ito’s Steak House.

113 West Main Street
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed in 1893 (est.) Architects & Builder: Unknown
This building, erected in (approx.) 1893, housed a dry goods store operated by J.H. Dils. By January, 1897, Robert A. Ramsey purchased the stock and business of Dils for his Golden Rule Store, managing the business himself. Golden Rule Stores operated by collective purchasing by many of their stores from wholesalers, thus allowing them to pass on reduced prices on quality merchandise to the public. In 1905, the main floor was a clothing store and the upstairs housed Masters’ Photography Studio. Up through 1916, the building housed stores providing jewelry, watchmaking & optical services and musical instruments, then harness makers E.T. Smith & Son, followed by Burgess & Luther in 1918.
From 1923 until the 1930’s, ice cream and confectionery was found here under the name Huber’s Broken $ Store. E & E Bakery followed in 1937 and in 1941 Florence Bakery occupied the building. 1948 found Florence Jewelry with Edgar F. and Alvin Pixler as resident jewelers. Alvin lived upstairs until the store closed in 1967. Owens Upholstery provided services of home and auto upholstery and commercial custom built furniture from 1971-1979. They also sold CB radios and sound systems. Ark Thrift store was located there offering furniture, appliances, clothing and antiques as a nonprofit. Developmental Opportunities, a mental health clinic took over by 1993, and then in 1994, the Homestead Shoppe. White Phoenix, owned by Denise Ramey offered tattoos, jewelry, records, tapes, videos and clothing in 1996 followed by Ark Thrift Store and Job Training Service in 1998. From 1998 until 2002, the building served as a Sports Bar. Memory Lane Antique Mall came into being in 2002, and operated until 2007, when the building was sold. Aspen Leaf Bakery began in 2007, offering food and baked goods, as well as furniture, cookware and other culinary items. Christine, the owner learned the trade from pastry chefs in New Orleans, also attending the CIA. In 2010, Kristen Espinoza took over the business, changing the name to Aspen Leaf Bakery & Café, serving home made breakfast and lunches, and pastries, cookies and pies. The business is thriving under her ownership.

112-114 West Main – The Daniels Block Building
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed in 1897 – The Daniels building replaced the W. R. Daniels residence, which was the original building on the property. The first story of the building consisted of two stores. One was the W. J. Daniels Drug Store and the other was known as G. A. Eldredge Dry Goods.
In 1897 two doctors occupied two of the upper level rooms for their practices. Other uses for the upper level included an attorney’s office, two private apartments and the quarters for the London & Cripple Creek Reduction Company. The Florence Tribune also had offices here at one time.
In 1927 Jim the Tailor and the Crow Drug Company shared the building until the 1950’s. Jim’s Clothing was in the building from the 1950’s till 1975. In 1975 a fire set by two boys resulted in the destruction of the building and the death of one man living in one of the upper level apartments.
A new one-story building was built on the site in 1976, and continued to operate as Jim’s Clothing until 2003. Mercantile and antique businesses operated here continuously through the present.

118 West Main Street – J. C. Penney
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed 1928 – After its construction in 1928 this building housed a J. C. Penney’s store for about 30 years. James Cash Penney, who came to Colorado to fight tuberculosis, worked as a clerk in the Longmont Golden Rule store, a chain store predecessor of his future department store empire, and opened this store in 1928.
In 1953 Nu-Way Cleaners combined 118 W. Main and 120 W. Main as one store. It was operated by Mike Perrino who operated Nu-Way until his death in 1960. In 1966 W. A. Allison had his Allison Cleaners here.
In 1976 this building was “World of Variety” owned by Pat and Vern Eisele. The business featured a large selection of baby goods, stationary and household items. True Value of Florence, a hardware store, was operating here by 2000.

119 & 119 1/2 West Main – Florence Firehouse, Florence City Hall
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed in 1892 Architect: Unknown
This building was originally constructed to house the Florence Firehouse and City Hall.
Built in late Victorian style, the building was the location of the Florence City Hall from 1892 until 1920. It housed a jail, the mayor’s office, and the fire department. In the 1900 official Sanborn Fire Insurance Map the building was recorded as containing a hose cart, one Marshfield Steamer and one hook and ladder. A belfry was added to the northwest corner of the building in the 1890’s and is shown in many of the early photographs of Main Street Florence.
Since the 1920’s the Florence Firehouse building has housed many small businesses and specialty shops, a Western Union office, several cafés in the 1940s -1950s, liquor stores, offices, and a credit union. Of late, the building has been an antique shop and the studio gallery for several prominent Florence artists.
Many of downtown Florence’s Victorian storefronts have been preserved and reflect the prosperity of the era from 1880 to 1920 when oil and mining industries in Fremont County were producing at their peak.
These elegant, well crafted buildings illustrate the remains of an era when skilled masons handcrafted each building from local brick and stone based on designs by architects arriving from the East and bringing the sophistication of Victorian architecture to the American Frontier.

120 West Main
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed in 1890
This property has been used for many businesses. In 1895 it housed a grocery store. By 1900 “The Fair” store was housed in this building. A harness shop owned by Henry J. Owens was located here in 1906, with R.H. Paton, M.D. conducting his practice upstairs. A boots and shoes and furnishings store was located here in 1912, and Gibbs Jewelry operated in this building in 1916. At some point the Blunt Bakery and Confectionary was here. From 1925-1930 City Bakery was listed at this address.
In 1953 this building was combined with the building at 118 W. Main Street and operated as Nu-Way Cleaners which was owned by Mike Perrino until his death in 1960. Since then the building has been combined with 118 W. Main Street. Beginning in the 1970’s, “World of Variety” owned by Vern and Pat Eisele was in both buildings for many years. True Value of Florence, a hardware store, has been operating here since 2000.

121 West Main Street – Van Nest Building
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Estimated to have been built in 1885 for owner, Van Nest (likely Albert J. Van Nest), likely lived on the second floor along with his wife and five male lodgers. It is not known what type of business operated on the main floor at first. By 1901, August Fast owned the building. Kelso’s Department store operated on the ground floor beginning in December, 1896. He advertised notions, underwear & hosiery, blankets, shoes, shirts, overalls, tinware, glassware, groceries, and school supplies. April of 1897 Waddles Grocery was in occupation and then Florence Grocery Company in June, 1897. By 1900, a bakery was in the building and added an oven in back. By the end of 1900, the bakery was out and D.K. McRae hardware and implements were in. 1909 showed offices upstairs and a milliner on the first floor. Both 1912 and 1926 Sanborn maps saw a bakery in the first floor.
In 1936, the Oasis Café and Bar occupied a building down the street. The ornate bar and backbar was moved down from Cripple Creek to Florence. The Oasis moved into this building in 1939 and existed here until it was renamed the Oasis Tavern in 1953. Five rooms were listed upstairs for rent at that time. The tavern changed very little during the next 25 years, under the ownership of Dan & Mike Brator, brothers, however, Dan made note to a local newspaper that it was standing room only while the mines were operating! Over the next 25 years the tavern had a few owners and operators, currently owned by L & M Enterprise, LLC and operated as Jess’ Best Barbeque.

122 West Main Street – Carmondy Block
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed 1894
Thomas Carmondy was the original owner and his business advertised furniture, carpets, Queensware and undertaking services. The embalming room was described as having “every latest improvement”, and his other stock “is unexcelled by any of its kind in Fremont County.” By 1905 the building housed the furniture store of S. W. Lee. By 1916 Carmondy was operating a real estate business.
In 1923 Florence Recreation was listed offering bowling and ice cream. By 1953 it was known as Huskie Bowl. In 1960 the business was named the Florence Bowling Alley.
In 1964, Ken’s Furniture was in this location and also the building to the west. This business continued to at least 1985. The building passed through several owners and became Diamond Lil’s Antique Store in 2004. In 2006 the building was sold and housed Windmill Antiques and is currently occupied by Heartland Antiques.

124 West Main Street – Julius McCandless Hardware
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Julius McCandless, the nephew of James McCandless was the initial owner and set up his hardware store in the building in 1894 and lived on the first floor. He sold farming implements, hardware, tools, mining supplies, stoves and dishes. Julius, with Thomas Carmody, who owned the building to his east, built a two-story addition at the rear of their buildings in 1899. Julius used his for storage and extended the building back to the alley and included an elevator in the addition. McCandless lived in the upstairs with his wife, children and a Swedish servant. The Fulton Market did business here in 1916, with meat and sausage offered. McCandless and Son Grocery store was here in 1923, after which the building housed Bastian’s Marine Beauty Shop, cleaners and Tailoring, and a Shoe, Dress and Hat Shop. It was a Gamble Store by 1946, and in 1953, The Hagaman Brothers’ Gas and Appliance store did business here. Above the store at that time was LL Tripp Real Estate & Management Agency. Between 1957 and 1985 the store held Furniture, and Bargain Mart opened in 1986, offering tables, chairs, furniture, skateboards, bicycles, toys, baby items, jewelry and used appliances. 1993-1995 it was a gallery, and in 1998 The White Phoenix moved across the street to this location. The store was a sports collectibles and western memorabilia shop in 2006 & 2007 and in 2008 sold rocks, minerals, jewelry, Navajo and Apache pottery, and other Indian memorabilia. Heartland Antiques and Gifts took over the retail space late in 2009 carrying antique furniture, new and estate jewelry, decorator items, western clothing and beautiful home furnishing items.

126-128 West Main Street – Andrews Block
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Original Owner: Henry Sherman Andrews. Constructed in 1898
Henry Andrews, a real estate investor, erected the building with space for two businesses on the first story and rooms for renters on the upper story. Although the first story has been altered by chang- ing from two storefronts to one, the upper story remains as original.
Jones Grocery was in 128 W. Main until 1918 and was identified as “one of the leading mercantile establishments of Florence.” In March of 1899, The Merchants and Farmers Bank opened in 126 W. Main for only a short time. There was a jewelry store listed between 1900 and 1916 as being in 126 W. Main. A boarding was operating on the second story by 1920. In 1923 Fremont Tailoring occupied 126 W. Main, and T. S. James & Co., a furniture store and funeral director was housed in 128 W. Main. The 1927-28 city directory listed Skagg’s Safeway store in 126 W. Main and Wynn’s Variety store in 128 W. Main. By 1937, Safeway was the only business listed in the building, continuing through 1960. The Upstairs housed Rock Wool Insulating Co. in 1946, and rooms and apartments by 1953.
Between 1962 and 1994 the following businesses were located here: Pioneer Drug, Star Super Market, Van’s Refrigeration and Bargain Mart (an antique store). In 1994 Oil City Merchants, an antique mall, opened. The name reflected Florence’s old nickname “the oil city.” The mall featured 24 shops and was the first of its kind in Florence. Oil City Merchants is still operating today.

129-131 West Main Street – Wilson Block & Wilson Annex
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed 1897 and 1900 Architect: James P. Julien
The building was built by George Wilson to house his hardware store on the first floor and his residence and hotel on the second floor. He and his wife, Emily, and their four children lived in the building.
George was a two-time mayor of Florence, city treasurer and a member of the city council. In 1920, Wilson Hardware was sold to Sam and Mary Rankin. Sam died in 1935 and Mary continued to run the business and lived upstairs until her death in 1955. In 1948 Mary purchased the Colonial Poultry Building which she gave to St. Joseph Hospital. It is located on the east side of the Florence Municipal Building. Presently the building is owned by Lawrence and Beryl Baker who live in the renovated second floor. The first floor houses two antique stores.

132 West Main Street – Lovell Block
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed 1894 – When the building was completed in July, 1894, the first occupant was Lewis & Yost general merchandise store. They offered dry goods, notions and furnishings (everything sold at bedrock). The firm was one of the oldest in the city. By 1906 the store was operating as Lewis Grocery. By 1909, this was the site of the Palace Theater. In 1910 a confectionary shop was in business, and a café by 1913. By 1920 a billiard hall was in operation. By 1925 the business was known as All American, an ice cream and confectionery, as well as a billiard hall and cigar store. By 1934, the building housed Florence Creamery. In 1943, the creamery was purchased by 35 -year old employee Annie Rocchio for $500. In 1950 a bakery in the basement was added to the creamery. Annie started the Malt Shop in the building in 1953. The restaurant featured Sloppy Joe sandwiches and “to die for Chop Suey Sweet Rolls.”
At the same time, the building was the site of the Denver-Colorado Springs- Pueblo Trailways and Rio Grande Trailways bus station. The upper floor contained apartments. The Malt Shop and Bakery were still run by Annie Rocchio and Marge Hudnall until 1972.
In 1973,the building was sold to the Bufmack’s, who continued the Malt Shop into the 1980’s. Baked goods were added and by 1981 it was known as Bufmack’s and continued until 2000. In 2002, Main Street Grille & Bakery occupied the building.

Pikes Peak Avenue

103—111 S. Pikes Peak – Florence Hotel
*Building Marker/Inscription:
Constructed in 1890 and 1891
The Florence Hotel was constructed in two separate sections. The south section faces Pikes Peak Avenue, and was built in 1890, while the north section that faces Main Street was built in 1891. The south section was built as the Florence Hotel, and then they continued to build the north section to add on to the hotel. It was named as one of the best hotels of the time, featuring 40 guest rooms, and was still inexpensive with rooms from $1.50 to $2.00 a night.
The Bank of Florence which was started by James McCandless and his partner Henry Topping moved into the lower corner of the hotel in 1891 and moved to 101 West Main in 1897. The upper floor continued as a hotel into the mid 1930’s. The lower floor continued to hold many different businesses until the late 1980’s including liquor stores, barber shops and real estate offices.
In 1998 the building was in disrepair and there was talk of demolishing it. A group of people (Larry Lasha, Leon Lasha, Bob Weller and Nancy and Lewis Schwartz) bought the run-down building and named it the Ugly Green Building, or the U.G.B.
They remodeled it over the next four years, removing 42 loads of trash and structurally reinforcing the building.
In 2006, Canon National Bank, Accent on Life Counseling and Verizon Wireless occupied the north building and Louie’s Place occupied the south section. Canon National Bank moved to a larger building in 2006, however, the Loan Processing and Bookkeeping Departments remain in this building which the bank still owns.

104-108 South Pikes Peak Ave (100 & 101-103 W. Main Street)
*Building Marker/Inscription:
The original two story business building at the corner of S. Pikes Peak and W. Main St,, built with local white brick from Pueblo and white stone trim from Norman McKay’s quarry, was considered “the handsomest and most pretentious building in Florence.” It was erected by the Blunt family for business in 1896-1897. Joseph Blunt came to the United States from England before the Civil War and eventually started a homestead at Coal Creek, raising nine children with his wife Rebecca. The family made it’s wealth from the Cripple Creek mines and then settled in Florence in 1894. Known as “Bank Block” this building once housed the Bank of Florence and still has the walk-in bank vault intact. It also was home to the “Florence Reading Room” or city library, as well as a post office and the “Florence Building and Loan”. In December 1949, “Blunt Block” tragically burned down destroying the several businesses and private apartments it housed. It was called one of the worst calamities in Florence’s history.
In 1950, the site was purchased by E.A. Mineer of Shiprock, N.M. and Florence, who planned to reinforce the foundation and walls in order to rebuild a modern one story commercial building. Since then, this location has been home to medical doctor offices, dentists, florists, and barber shops among others. To this day it boasts the original 1950’s metal lettering on it’s side wall, “Florence is a GLT” (great little town).

120 North Pikes Peak Ave – James A. McCandless Housebr>*Building Inscription:
Constructed in 1889 • Architects: Balcomb and Rice
This residence is the second home of the McCandless family and was built after he achieved substantial wealth from a variety of enterprises.
The picture taken in March 1889 shows the McCandless family. The person 4th from the left is Florence McCandless whom the town was named after.
James McCandiess, known as “the father of Florence”” was very influential in the development of Florence. He was: the first postmaster, member of the first fire department, helped develop the early school system, county commissioner, state senator, co-developed the Bank of Florence, and was one of the incorporators of the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad.
In 1931 Cecil Holt established the Holt Funeral Home in the house. In 1951 Frank Witty bought the business and named it the Florence Mortuary. The Witty’s advertised “ambulance service day or night”. Mr. Witty was deputy coroner for 38 years. He retired in 1994 and sold the business to Cecil Holt’s grandson, Bill Holt, Jr. The Holt family continues to operate The Florence Mortuary from the house today.

Santa Fe Avenue

113 North Santa Fe Ave – The Santa Fe Building
*Building Inscription:
Constructed 1895
Architectural detail: Brick, stone. Two story brick structure with unusual architecture that gives the building the appearance of two dissimilar towers built together.
This building was called the “Albion Hotel” in 1900. It became the office and hospital of Dr. William M. Sheridan in 1905. From 1909 to 1916, Dr. F. A. Sutorious lived and practiced medicine in this location.
In 1920, the Presbyterian Church next door purchased the property for a manse. Dr. James R. Burchfield, Pastor, lived here until 1949. In the following years, the building became both a private residence and a business property.

Second Street

201 West 2nd Street – First Presbyterian Church
*Building Inscription:
Constructed in 1896
Construction funds were raised among the townspeople and soon there were 42 charter members. The cornerstone was laid on February 11, 1896. This house of worship was completed for just under $6000. The pews are the seats secured from the Old Opera House. The church was dedicated January 17, 1897. The windows were donated and made throughout the history of the church as memorials to active pastors and members. Pastor C.C. Warner presented the Church with a bell in 1898, which hangs in the belfry. The congregation increased rapidly having 203 members and 260 in Sunday School by 1901.
In the fall of 1916, a manse immediately to the south of the church (113 N. Santa Fe Avenue) was purchased. In 1919 a $3600.00 Kimball Pipe Organ was acquired utilizing a donation from Kate Stock. It was it the first pipe organ in Florence.
In 1950, the McCormack Apts. (Rock Island Hotel) across the street to the east and south were acquired by the Ladies Aid Society for a fellowship hall, Sunday School classrooms, a dining hall and church pastors. The church closed on Easter, 2003, the fellowship hall became the Gathering Place for community activities.

Third Street

315 East Third Street – McCandless School

FRONT STREET

101 East Front – Braden/Griffith Building

127 East Front Street – Fremont Hotel

105 West Front Street – Diebert Building

107 West Front Street – McDonald Block, Spaghetti Factory

121 West Front Street – March Motors

Florence Carriage Co

Fox Machine Shop

Jack Building

Callahan Block

Orricho Block

Railroad Street

100 Railroad Street – Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Depot
*Building Inscription:
Constructed in 1918 • Architects: D & RG
This building was constructed in 1918 as a combined passenger and freight depot. The track side displays the name Florence. The street side shows the name of the railroad.
The depot was dedicated on July 5, 1918. 300-400 people attended the event. It was used by the railroad until 1968. By that time through passenger service via the Royal Gorge was discontinued. The structure was donated to the City of Florence.
In 1970, the open west section of the building was enclosed; the east section was enclosed in 1979. At that time the Florence Council on Aging was incorporated and began using the facility as Florence Senior Center.
In 2009 generous grants and donations allowed purchase of the building from the City of Florence and it was eventually renamed Florence Senior Community Center.

Maple Street

215 Maple Street –