Photo: Goodman Brothers parade float

According to their family history, the Goodmans were in the paint and glass business in this area starting in 1876. Upon the founding of Durango in 1880, the business was officially opened and located on the corner of Ninth Street and Main Avenue. Later, it was moved to the site pictured above, 140 E. Eighth St., where Bank of the San Juans is now. In 1881, it was said they had painted 75% of the buildings in town. This photo is undated but appears to have been taken near the turn of the century. George and Frank Goodman, the owners, can be seen sitting in the middle of the float wearing top hats. By 1911, they were also in the undertaking business, with the storefront located next door at 144 E. Eighth St. They left the undertaking business after the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu epidemic. Four generations of Goodmans ran the paint business for 113 years under various names, versions and locations, including the 800, 900 and 1300 blocks of Main Avenue. They sold the business in 1993. The new owners kept the last variant of the name, Goodman Art Supply, and continued the business into the 2000s, with the last location in the same place pictured here. Read more about local history at durangoherald.com/westishistory.<br><br>Ed Horvat for The Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org