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Collection M 120:
Animas City (Colo.) government records
DRAFT inventory

Overview: minutes, ledger account books, abstracts of title and other records regarding the former Animas City until its annexation to the City of Durango (Colo.) in 1947, effective 1948.
Years this material was created: 1878-1947
Quantity: ca. 4 linear shelf feet (in 1.5 document cases and 2 flat boxes)

Links to contents

Preface	Introduction/ Scope and contents	Historical note	Animas City (Colo.) business licenses issued 1879-1896
Container list	Center of Southwest Studies collection inventories	Info for doing research at the Center of Southwest Studies	Center of Southwest Studies

Introduction/ Scope and contents

Historical note

Animas City is now part of the City of Durango. Until 1948 it was a separate city. Its southern boundary was north of Junction Street, and it extended northward to 37th Street.

The original Animas City was a log-cabin, gold mining settlement founded by the Baker Party around 1860 and located on the west bank of the Animas River. In 1874-5, Animas City was re-established, 12-14 miles south of its original placement, and populated by homesteading tracts. A governing body was established in 1876 for a population of approximately 3,000 and on October 5, 1878 the town voted for incorporation. Animas City anticipated a further boom from the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad’s San Juan extension, but the city raised the asking price for their land. Instead, the railroad built its own city, Durango (established on September 13, 1880), as a mainline depot stop, a few miles south of Animas City – and didn’t build a station where the train passed Animas City on its way to Silverton. Durango soon became the major shipping point and commercial center in the San Juan Basin, and Animas City began to face obscurity.

For many decades Durango and Animas City faced legal issues surrounding both the railroad and water rights. On October 12, 1886, Animas City’s town board attempted to press charges against the D&RG Railroad for failing to procure a right of way. Despite several land deeds and attempts to enforce the ordinances, Animas City declared Durango’s land lease for the railroad null and void in 1896. The water rights posed another threat. In 1887, Animas City owned the water rights to Junction Creek and agreed to supply Durango’s water for an annual fee of $3,000, with pre-set limits on water usage and a statute of limitations of twenty years. The cost of laying pipe and maintenance were to be split between the two towns. However, by 1889, Durango was threatening to use the water from Junction Creek regardless of priority rights. Within a few years Junction Creek was no longer a sufficient water source and Animas City wanted to negotiate for a water supply from Durango’s established reservoir on the Florida River. As water costs began to rise in 1926 with the installment of a water meter, Animas City struggled to meet the growing demands on their economy.

Future negotiations were refused on the part of both Animas City and Durango, and finally, the decision for annexation to Durango entered the Animas City ballot on October 28, 1947. Animas City needed funding for the infrastructure of its city utilities services, and Durango needed access to Animas City's sewage treatment plant (which is no longer in existence). With a population of approximately five hundred, 294 citizens voted for the annexation, with 114 against. Animas City was officially absorbed into Durango by January 1, 1948.

Animas City (source: Henry Chenoweth, found on www.ghosttowns.com):

Today there are two historical points of interest for this city that is in some respects considered something of a ghost town. The Animas City Cemetery (renamed the Old Durango Cemetery) is located on Florida Road just west of North College Drive and cannot be seen from the road. The Animas Museum (La Plata County Historical Society), located at 31^st St. and West Second Ave., occupies a former schoolhouse.

Sources: (web sites all accessed on October 4, 2004)

· www.durango.com/history

· http://ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/san%20juan%20branch/durango.html

· http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/co/costones/laplata/animas.htm

· http://www.durango.com/FAQ/History/History.htm

· http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/animascity.htm

· http://www.durango.k12.co.us/dhs/durangohistory/Towns/towns.html

· http://www.mountainstudies.org/DataBank/History/Towns/Durango.htm

· Luzar, Retha Beebe. The Animas City Story: A forerunner of Durango, Colorado (published in 1978) (call number: F784.A52 L8 at the Delaney Library at the Center of Southwest Studies)

Container list
Draft list compiled August, 1983 and revised January, 2002

Board of Trustees minutes, 1884 March 11 - 1899 March 21 (click here for a table of data from pages 200-209, listing business licenses issued 1879-1896, located by address)
Board of Trustees minutes, 1932 May 10 - 1947 Dec. 30
Board of Trustees ordinance book, 1878 Dec. 24 - 1888 March 13, Nos. 1-60
Board of Trustees ordinance book, 1911 Aug. 8 - 1947 Nov. 18, Nos. 139-227
Cash payments, 1940 September - 1947 May
Cash receipts, 1942 March 3 - 1947 Dec. 27
Dates of deposit with First National Bank of Durango, 1940 May 10 - 1948 Jan. 1
Police Magistrate court records, 1879 Jan. - 1883 Dec.
Property descriptions ledger, [undated]
La Plata County Abstract Company deeds list (abstracts of title), 1876-1900
Various accounts,1935 May - 1947 Dec.
Water record, 1939 Jan. - 1947 Oct.

Listed in August 1983 but not located at present:

Water license stubs, 1946 - 1948
Water work funds checks and stubs, 1945 - 1947
Money receipts stubs, 1945 - 1947
Animas City’s bank account book with First National Bank of Durango, 1938 - 1948
Cancelled checks and statements, 1946 -1948
Withholding statement forms and employees' withholding exemption certificates,1944 - 1946

Animas City (Colo.) business licenses issued 1879-1896 (approximately 216 licenses; listed in their order of entry in pages 200-209 in the bound volume of Board of Trustees minutes, 1884 March 11 - 1899 March 21):

Search tip: search for keywords using the Edit-> Find in Page (Ctrl+F) feature on your Web browser.

*Issued*	*License number*	*First name*	Surname or business name	*Lot number*	*Street*	*City*	*No. of months*	*Fee*	*Business type*			*Page # in ledger*
1/1/1879	1	F. A.	Foin		2nd	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	2	John	Schussler	52, 54	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	grocery store			200
1/1/1879	3	Proshier	Basbier	47	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	eating house			200
1/1/1879	4	William	Wickline	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	billiard table			200
1/1/1879	5	John M.	Trew	34	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	commission merchant			200
1/1/1879	6		Byers			Animas City	12	$0.50		dog owner		200
1/1/1879	7	G. M.	Refhart	30	2nd	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	8	G. M.	Refhart	36, 40	Main	Animas City	12	$1.00	grocery store			200
1/1/1879	9	Charles	Faigle	50	Main	Animas City	12	$1.00	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	10	J. L.	Russell	76, 78, 80	West River	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	11	John F.	Guilfoyle	35	2nd	Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	12	A. D.	Demasters	49	2nd	Animas City	6	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	13	J.	Townsley	74	2nd	Animas City	6	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	14	A. D.	Demasters	49	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	billiard table			200
1/1/1879	15	Walter	Wiggins	36	2nd	Animas City	6	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	16	Fred	McKee	75	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	grocery store			200
1/1/1879	17	J. E.	Seacome	49	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	grocery store			200
1/1/1879	18	Emma	Shaw			Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	19	A. L.	Bahoendty		Main	Animas City	6	$1.00	eating house			200
1/1/1879	20	R.	Gaines	50	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	grocery store			200
1/1/1879	21	J. D.	Scott			Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	22	John W.	Shaw			Animas City	12	$0.50	dog owner			200
1/1/1879	23	M.	SeDumm		West River	Animas City	6	$1.00	hotel keeper			200
4/1/1879	24		Wickline and Valliant	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	saloon			200
6/1/1879	25	Elisha	Keith	58, 60	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	hotel			200
6/1/1879	26	Elisha	Keith	58, 60	2nd	Animas City	7	$0.50	dog owner			200
*Issued*	*License number*	*First name*	Surname or business name	*Lot number*	*Street*	*City*	*No. of months*	*Fee*	*Business type*			*Page # in ledger*
6/7/1879	27	Howard and James	Gulver and Savender	49	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00	saloon			200
7/2/1879	28		Wickline and Valliant	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		billiard table		200
7/23/1879	29	J. P.	Wallace	34	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		notion store		200
7/23/1879	30	John	Schussler	50, 52	2nd	Animas City	12	$1.00		grocery store		200
7/23/1879	31	P. J.	Bates	62	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		restaurant		200
7/23/1879	32	John M.	Trew	61, 71	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		feed and sale stable		200
7/23/1879	33	John M.	Trew	34, 32	2nd and Main	Animas City	6	$1.00		commission merchant		200
8/4/1879	34	Shaw	House	6, 8	West River	Animas City	6	$1.00		hotel		200
8/16/1879	35	W. M.	Rhoades		West River	Animas City	6	$1.00		livery stable		200
8/27/1879	36	F. J.	Will			Animas City	6	$1.00		general merchandise		200
9/29/1879	37	Theodore S.	Bolle	30	West River	Animas City	6	$1.00		livery and feed stable		200
10/29/1879	38		Hansen and Byers	44	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		saloon		200
10/30/1879	39		Wickline and Valliant	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		saloon		200
11/19/1879	40		Fossberg and Downs		2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		saloon		200
11/22/1879	41		Gessbacker and Heasmoon		2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		eating house		200
11/22/1879	42	Theodore S.	Bolle		2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		saloon		200
12/22/1879	43		Gates and Bartt		2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		saloon		200
1/1/1880	44	John M.	Trew	32	Main	Animas City	6	$1.00		commission merchant		200
1/1/1880	45	F. A.	Foim	59	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		hardware		200
1/12/1880	115	F. J.	Will	38	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00		retail liquor dealer		200
1/17/1880	46	John M.	Shaw	26 to 30	West River	Animas City	6	$1.00		hotel		200
1/19/1880	47	George W.	Kephart	36, 40	Main	Animas City	12	$1.00		general merchandise		200
1/19/1880	48	George W.	Kephart			Animas City	12	$0.50		dog owner		200
1/19/1880	49	F. J.	Will	38	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
2/6/1880	50	Phil	Gates	62	East River	Animas City	6	$1.00			hotel	200
2/10/1880	51	Charles	Forsberg		2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			billiard table	200
2/13/1880	52	E.	Keith	60	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			hotel	200
2/17/1880	53	F.	McKee	47	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			restaurant	200
4/1/1880	54		Valliant and Hunter	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
4/20/1880	55		Valliant and Hunter	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			billiard table	200
4/21/1880	56	John M.	Trew	61 to 71	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			feed and sale stable	200
4/22/1880	57	J. L.	Russell			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/22/1880	58	J. N.	Dramer			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/22/1880	59	John W.	Shaw			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/22/1880	60	Henry	Schwenk			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/22/1880	61	Dr. J. P.	Wallace	32nd	Main	Animas City	6	$1.00			notion store	200
4/22/1880	62	John	Thomson			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/28/1880	63	Charles	Faigle			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/28/1880	64	George W.	Taylor			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/28/1880	65	A. J.	Nicholson			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/28/1880	66	Daniel	Sheets			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
4/28/1880	67	Henry	Savender			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
5/1/1880	68	John	Thomson	30	West River	Animas City	6	$1.00			feed and sale stable	200
5/4/1880	69	Theo L.	Bolle	30	West River	Animas City	6	$1.00			feed and sale stable	200
5/6/1880	70	F. A.	Forin			Animas City	14	$0.50			dog owner	200
5/10/1880	71		Wickline and Dahloft	44	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
5/14/1880	72	M. L.	Heck			Animas City	9	$0.50			dog owner	200
5/17/1880	123	W.	Wickline	57	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			retail	200
*Issued*	*License number*	*First name*	Surname or business name	*Lot number*	*Street*	*City*	*No. of months*	*Fee*	*Business type*			*Page # in ledger*
6/4/1880	73		Bealiner and Savender	47	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			butcher shop	200
6/4/1880	74		Myers and West	61 to 71	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			livery sale and board stable	200
6/7/1880	75	Frank	Chabrand	52	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			butcher shop	200
6/11/1880	76		Hamilton and Werndon	50	Main	Animas City	6	$1.00			grocery store	200
6/29/1880	77		Wickline and Dahloff	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			2 billiard tables	200
7/1/1880	78	John	Thomson	26	West River	Animas City	6	$1.00			livery and sale stable	200
7/2/1880	79		Valliant and Hunter	44	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			billiard table	200
7/2/1880	80	John M.	Trew	32	Main	Animas City	6	$1.00			commission merchant	200
7/5/1880	81	P. J.	Cates	62	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
7/13/1880	82	Maj	Harmon			Animas City	6	$0.50			dog owner	200
7/13/1880	83	Frank	Deschamps			Animas City	6	$0.50			dog owner	200
7/13/1880	84		Houghton and Co.			Animas City	6	$0.50			2 dogs	200
7/14/1880	85	F. J.	Will	36	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon retail liquor dealer	200
8/7/1880	86	W.	O'Connell			Animas City	5	$0.50			dog owner	200
8/11/1880	87	G.	Schware			Animas City	5	$0.50			dog owner	200
8/26/1880	88	W. E.	Sears			Animas City	5	$0.50			dog owner	200
9/14/1880	89		Valliant and Hunter	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			billiard table	200
9/22/1880	90		Chestnut and Slethus	58	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			wholesale liquor dealers	200
10/1/1880	91	Charles	Newman			Animas City	5	$0.50			dog owner	200
10/4/1880	92		Valliant and Hunter	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
10/13/1880	93	J. E.	Sacome and Co.	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon, license #92 transferred	200
11/9/1880	94		Wickline and Dahloff	44	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
11/10/1880	95	Victor	Hector	56	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
11/19/1880	96	Fred	Steinger	73,75,77	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			livery feed and sale stable	200
11/23/1880	97		Swina and Sela	48	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
12/4/1880	98	Theo S.	Bolle	30	West River	Animas City	6	$1.00			livery stable	200
12/6/1880	99		Myers and West	61 to 71	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			livery stable	200
12/29/1880	100	P. J.	Cates	62	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
12/31/1880	101	W. H.	Hayes			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
12/31/1880	102		Wickline and Co.	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			2 billiard tables	200
12/31/1880	103	Henry	Savender			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
12/31/1880	104	S. W.	Kephart			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
12/31/1880	105	Charles P.	Ashcon			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
12/31/1880	106	W. E.	Sears			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
1/3/1881	107		Scott and Bauer			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
1/3/1881	108	John W.	Shaw			Animas City	12	$0.50			dog owner	200
1/4/1881	109	Will H.	Fell			Animas City	12	$0.50			bitch	200
1/4/1881	110	Maggie	Davis			Animas City	12	$0.50			bitch	200
1/8/1881	112	J. E.	Sacome and Co.	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			1 billiard table	200
1/11/1881	113	P. J.	Cates			Animas City	12	$0.50			1 dog	200
1/11/1881	114	P. J.	Cates			Animas City	12	$0.50			1 bitch	200
1/18/1881	116	Samuel	Frayier			Animas City	12	$0.50			1 dog	200
1/19/1881	117	Poetty	Soiz			Animas City	12	$0.50			1 dog	200
1/21/1881	118	Dr. T. A.	Davis			Animas City	12	$0.50			1 bitch	200
1/29/1881	119	Thomas	Cain	58	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon for unexpired term of license # 95	200
2/14/1881	120		Davis and Co.	34	Main	Animas City	6	$1.00			wholesale liquor dealers	200
3/28/1881	121	W. H.	Talbot	48	2nd	Animas City	2	$1.00			retail	200
5/16/1881	122	Houvara	Culver	48	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			retail	200
6/1/1881	124	R.	Melville			Animas City	7	$0.50			dog owner	200
7/14/1881	125	Frank R.	Williams	61 to 71	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			feed stable	200
7/14/1881	126	F. J.	Will	38	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			retail liquor dealer	200
7/14/1881	127	W. H.	Wickline	51	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			2 billiard tables	200
9/14/1881	128		Berg and Goff	44	2nd	Animas City		$1.00			saloon	200
10/14/1881	129	W. H.	Wickline	51	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
11/9/1881	130		Berg and Goff	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			saloon	200
12/31/1881	131	H. R.	Goff and Co.	45	2nd	Animas City	6	$1.00			2 billiard tables	200
1/16/1882	132	F. J.	Wite	38	2nd	Animas City	3	$1.00			saloon	200
3/13/1882	133	T. F.	Emerson			Animas City	10	$0.50			dog owner	200
3/13/1882	134	M. S.	Darrow			Animas City	10	$0.50			dog owner	200
*Issued*	*License number*	*First name*	Surname or business name	*Lot number*	*Street*	*City*	*No. of months*	*Fee*	*Business type*			*Page # in ledger*
3/22/1882	135	J. N.	Moose			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
3/23/1882	136	D. L.	Sheets			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
3/23/1882	137	J. P.	Wallace			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
3/23/1882	138	Charles	Faigle			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
3/23/1882	140	F. J.	Will			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
3/28/1882	141	J. L.	Russell			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
3/28/1882	142	George	Willows			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
3/28/1882	143	Mrs. H.	Sehwenk			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
4/1/1882	144	H. R.	Durfee			Animas City	10	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
1/1/1883	151	J. L.	Russell			Animas City	0	$10.00			use of water from town ditch	200
1/1/1884	152	W.	Fletcher			Animas City	0	$3.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	153	W. E.	Sears			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	154	G. L.	Goon			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	155	Henry	Lavender			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	156	F. J.	Will			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	157	C. A.	Pike			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	158	T. J.	Emerson			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	159	Charles B.	Shaw			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	160	John	Shaw			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	161	H. R.	Schwank			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	162	W.	Keough			Animas City	0	$2.00			dog owner	200
1/1/1884	163	F. J.	Will			Animas City	0	$150.00			saloon	200
1/1/1884	164	J. P.	Wallace			Animas City	0	$5.00			use of water from town ditch	200
1/1/1884	165	F. J.	Will			Animas City	0	$75.00			saloon	200
1/1/1884	166	Charles	Faigle			Animas City	0	$5.00			use of water from town ditch	200
1/1/1884	167	J. L.	Russell			Animas City	0	$1.00			use of water from town ditch	200
1/1/1887	168	J. M.	Nicholas	211	Ankeny St.	Animas City	0	$75.00			saloon	200
1/5/1887	111	John M.	Trew	32	Main	Animas City	6	$1.00			commission merchant	200
1/1/1895	169		Warren and Co.			Animas City	0	$125.00			saloon	200
1/1/1896	170	W. N.	Bagby			Animas City	0	$8.50			use of water from town ditch	200

This inventory was prepared by Fort Lewis College archivist Todd Ellison in January of 2002. The historical note was researched and written by Fort Lewis College student and archival assistant Olivia Everett in October of 2004 (edited by Ellison). Data entry for the early Animas City (Colo.) business licenses was by another Fort Lewis College student and archival assistant, 2002-03.

Doing your own research: This description of a portion of the collections at the Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies is provided to inform interested parties about the nature and depth of the repository's collections. It cannot serve as a substitute for a visit to the repository for those with substantial research interests in the collections.

This collection is located at the Center of Southwest Studies on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Researchers wanting more information about using this material at the Delaney Southwest Research Library at the Center may email the archivist at archives@fortlewis.edu or click here to use our E-mail Reference Request Form (or phone the archivist at 970/247-7126). The Center does not have a budget for outgoing long-distance phone calls to answer reference requests, so please email if you wish to receive a response from the Center. To request reproductions/copies, click here for instructions.

Page last modified: January 24, 2008

Collection M 120: Animas City (Colo.) government records DRAFT inventory

Collection M 120:
Animas City (Colo.) government records
DRAFT inventory