The Strater Hotel honored “the man who built Durango,” Thomas Guthrie Pierce, by dedicating room No. 300 to the longtime pioneer and entrepreneur on Monday.

About 15 people gathered in the hotel’s “Oak Room” to watch an honorary video narrated by his son Danny Pierce. The video told the story of Thomas Pierce and his contributions to Durango.

As a well-known entrepreneur and pioneer, Thomas Guthrie Pierce was heavily involved with Durango’s restaurant, mining and brickwork industry during the time.

Thomas Pierce was born in Cheriton, Iowa, in 1869. Because of an abusive relationship with his father, he left home at 14 where he journeyed across the frontier with little resources. In 1885, he managed to find his way to the panhandle of Texas where he was given shelter and employment by famous cattleman Charles Goodnight. Pierce worked for Goodnight for two years before leaving to work on the Marshall Pass railroad between Salida and Gunnison.

After saving enough money working on the railroad, he was able to send for his family. In 1889, they settled in Crested Butte where members of Pierce’s family had already resided and Pierce went to work in the mines.

Tragedy struck in 1891 when an avalanche killed his older sister and her daughter. Saddened by their death, the family moved to Durango.

Thomas wanted to open his own business and decided to open two restaurants downtown with his brothers. Because of the success of his two restaurants, Pierce diversified his business by purchasing a ranch near Cedar Hill, New Mexico. He invested the profits made from the two restaurants into raising sheep in 1899.

After the death of his wife in 1917, Pierce dedicated himself to his work and purchased two coal mines: The Peerless and Sunshine mines. He also purchased a brick yard which provided bricks contractors used to build the western addition to the Strater Hotel in 1938, the J.C. Penny Building on Main Avenue and the Smiley Building.

Danny Pierce was honored that the Strater dedicated a room after his father. He said it was fitting considering Thomas Pierce’s bricks were used to build part of the building.

He’s spent a considerable amount of time in the Strater throughout his life. Whether it was him curiously peaking through the doors of the Diamond Belle Saloon as a child or through musical theater events as an adult, he’s always had a close connection with the building.

“Knowing that people come to this town to just marvel at the history, it’s really special knowing that my grandfather was part of putting it together,” said Danny’s daughter Rashel Meiworm.

She said his contribution was more than just bricks, it was building a community.

Danny Pierce wanted to highlight the charitable contributions his father made during the Great Depression. Thomas Pierce had made a fair fortune with his different Durango business endeavors including coal mining. Many people were poor as a result of losing their jobs during the depression.

Danny Pierce said during this time, two shanty towns had developed in Durango located where the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Plant is and along where Roosa Avenue currently resides.

People living in the shanties would ask Thomas Pierce for coal to heat their home. Free of charge, he would offer them coal regardless of whether they paid him back.

“He was a hard working entrepreneur but he wasn’t all about the money,” Danny Pierce said. “He cared for his friends and workers and kept a lot of people alive during the depression.”

Danny Pierce is the last of Thomas’ 17 children. Thomas was 77 years old when Danny was born. Thomas died in 1952 at the age of 83 when Danny was only 6.

Danny Pierce said Thomas’ funeral was one of the largest events held in Durango at the time.

Strater Hotel General Manager Tori Ossola was excited to host the room dedication. During her five-year experience with the Strater Hotel, she had yet to host a room dedication ceremony.

She said the historic hotel tries to dedicate rooms to local families who’ve contributed to the development of Durango or famous people.

“I’m so thankful to the family for approaching us because I’m not from Durango originally and so learning about the town’s historic people is very important for me,” Ossola said.

Roy Meiworm, who conducts historic tours of the hotel, said it was important that the dedicated room was in a part of the hotel where Thomas Pierce’s bricks were used.

Room 300 is located in a corner room overlooking west Seventh Street and Narrow Guage Avenue

tbrown@durangoherald.com