And the West is History: Lighthouse Texaco & Blue Pig Barbeque – ca. 1925

This Texaco gas station was built in 1923 by Michael Brennan. It had a tall lighthouse on top, built to draw attention to the business. The station was located just north of the Durango Fish Hatchery entrance on Main Avenue. Included within the building is the Blue Pig Barbeque that advertised “curbside service.” The fourth generation of the Brennan family still carries on the petroleum business in La Plata County. Standing in front of the pump with the 28 cents per gallon sign is Violet Haze Colvin. A Durango native, born in 1894, Colvin at age 63 learned floral design and became co-owner with her daughter of Gay Lynn Floral in 1957. She lived to the age of 79, dying in 1973. Her daughter closed the floral shop in 1974 upon her retirement. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 02.32.4 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)