Trinidad, Colorado - A Historic Building Survey
Trinidad Waterworks Building
Map location #21.
Built by Delos A. Chappell, President of the Trinidad Waterworks, in 1879, this one-story stone structure is the second oldest building in this series and is surely one of the roost charming. (The oldest building we have listed is the Baca House which was built in 1869.) The stonemason who actually built the Waterworks was Charles Innes and he was a very fine and prolific artisan. Other Trinidad structures on which he was the primary stonemason include Chappell's home (Mullare Funeral Home), Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Zion Lutheran Church and the Poitrey Block (The Trinidad National Bank Building).
Renovation and enlargement of the system was undertaken in 1890. At this time the gravity system was adopted, but the original plant was retained for emergency use. At that time a new reservoir was built and the Purgatoire River was tapped about fifteen miles west of Trinidad.
The first photograph was taken in the period from 1870 to 1875. The second photograph was taken in August, 1970.
Figure 44 View of Trinidad and Fisher's Peak
