And the West is History: Crystal Barbershop Durango – ca. 1920

Pictured is William “Billie” Rudersdorf in his barbershop on Main Avenue. His customer is Thomas Rockwood. The barber and customer behind are unidentified. Rudersdorf founded the City Barbershop in 1899 with partner Harry Neer. Initially located under the Colorado State Bank Building at the corner of Ninth Street and Main Avenue, the barbershop moved to street level at 944 Main Ave. in 1905 and was renamed the Crystal. Rudersdorf bought Neer out in 1907 and continued to operate the business until he sold it in 1923. His customer Rockwood arrived in Durango in 1880 and operated the Grand Central Hotel at the southeast corner of 11th Street and Main, the old Durango Post Office site. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 88.10.27 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections).