Trinidad, Colorado - A Historic Building Survey
Hamerslough Building
Map location #9.
The Hamerslough Building is a fine example of the results of Victorian exuberance and eclecticism. Of special interest among the many intricate details are the Romanesque capitals and the German Gothic corner towers.
Hamerslough is a pioneer name in merchandising in the area, Ralph Hamerslough being the first of the family in Trinidad. He founded the R. Hamerslough Co. in partnership with DeBree, locating the business on West Main and Beech in an old adobe, one-story building. When W. B., the brother of Ralph, came to Trinidad from Germany in 1885, he entered the company working as a clerk. A second store, which went to DeBree when the partnership dissolved, was opened in the Packer Block in 1887.
In 1900 the Hamersloughs bought one half of the present building from M. Biernbaum and then a year later acquired the other half of the building and improved and remodeled it. When Ralph died in 1903, W. B. (Ben) incorporated the company and continued the business under his name until 1930.
The first photograph is dated prior to 1910; the second is dated July, 1970.
Legal Description: South 144 feet of Lot 1; Block 113 OTS.
Figure 20 Hamerslough Building
