Trinidad, Colorado - A Historic Building Survey
Plested Building
Map location #45.
David Gottlieb recorded the deed to the lot at 115 East Main in 1877 and began construction of a building. In the April 20, 1930 issue of the Chronicle-News, Mr. Gottlieb is quoted as saying, "I sold the property in 1888 for $29,000, or $1000 per front foot, which in 1874 I had purchased for $1,700." Evidently construction on the existing building began about the time S. C. Snyder acquired the land in 1888. The property which originally housed the Post Hardware Company later became the Branson-Griswold Hardware Store.
Mrs. Alice G. Plested became the owner of the property in 1892, and the building is still owned by the Plested family and is commonly referred to as the Plested Building.
The architectural style is quite consistently Romanesque. The scale of the building is considered to be quite good. The rhythm of movement and sensitivity in the selection of details lend to an elegant and graceful appearance.
Close inspection of the second photograph reveals a woman's face carved in the stone just above the lower right pillar. The story is that the contractor fell in love with a local madam. He carved her face in the stone, and without consulting anyone, slipped the stone into place as a tribute to her.
In the first picture part of the Plested Building can be seen to the right of the frame Canterbury store. The second photograph was taken in August, 1970.
Legal Description: Lot 5; Block 100 OTS.
Figure 88 Plested Building
