And the West is History – 800 block of Main, 1974

This arson-set fire destroyed most of the buildings on the west side of the mid-800 block of Main Avenue in August 1974. It took more than 12 hours to be extinguished, with 13 businesses completely ruined. The fire started at 4 a.m. and was still burning strong about 9 a.m. when this photograph was taken. The businesses from left to right are: Gardenswartz Sports, Chez Louis Restaurant, Thompson Saddle Shop, Pacesetters Clothing, Taylor Raymond Jewelers, Metropole Hotel and Gambles Hardware. All were destroyed and eventually leveled. Two 24-year-old first responders lost their lives when a wall in the alley collapsed on them in the early morning hours. They were police officer Gale Emerson and firefighter Nick Parks Jr. Today, the Main Mall is located there. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 19.06.10 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)