Trinidad, Colorado - A Historic Building Survey
City Hall Building
Map location #4.
Residents of Trinidad and Las Animas County may have particular interest in the fact that the book All About Las Animas County written by Dr. Michael Beshoar and published in 1882 may be found in the cornerstone of the City Hall. According to the Chronicle-News, December 18, 1908,the book by Dr. Beshoar, an 1888 copy of the City Directory, and copies of two daily papers were all to be placed in the cornerstone of the new two-story stone building on North Animas Street at the dedication on January 1, 1909.
With a flourish of Victorian eclecticism, the architect designed towers from the late Italian Renaissance period, placed a French Renaissance balustrade atop the Hall, and fronted the building with Greek Ionic capitals on polished black granite columns on early Italian Renaissance bases. The total effect gives a strong Romanesque feeling.
The photographs (date of the first one unknown, of the later one July, 1970) indicate that the City Hall has suffered few exterior alterations by man or nature since its erection.
Figure 10 City Hall Building
