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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 31st 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.


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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