Trinidad, Colorado - A Historic Building Survey
Barela Building
Map location #27.
This building has a series of very illustrious owners who played significant roles in the development of Trinidad, the surrounding area and even had wide impact on the entire Colorado Territory and later the state of Colorado. The original deed to this lot at 234 North Commercial was held by the vigorous entrepreneur Maurice Wise from 1881 to 1883 at which time he sold it to the politically powerful Casimiro Barela. Senator Barela was the owner when the building was constructed in 1883. Dr. Michael Beshoar first leased the building but it was later acquired by his family who held it for many years. Dr. Beshoar, along with his many medical and civic activities, was the founder of Trinidad's first daily paper, the Daily Advertiser, in 1879 and he used space in this building for his press.
One architectural detail worth noting on this quaint little Victorian building is the ornate tin cornice.
The first photograph taken in 1915 depicts preparations for a parade on Main Street. The second photograph was taken in July, 1970.
Legal Description: South part of Lot 3; part of Lot 4; Block 124 OTS.
Figure 56 Barela Building
