Hay Photos, Salida, CO
Ghost sign for Hay Photos Studio, 229 F Street, Salida, Colorado. In 1884, C. Henry Clark opened a photography studio in Salida. He kept busy taking images of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad and buildings around town. A threefold tragedy struck Clark during the 1880s, the first being that his son died. Then, in January 1888, Peter Mulvany’s new hotel caught fire, which spread and burned out about sixty businesses in town, including Clark’s. He was in the process of moving to this location at 229 F Street so most of his equipment was saved but all of his early day images of Salida were lost in the fire. About a year later, his daughter died of typhoid fever. Clark was a Christian Scientist and decided against calling a doctor to help her. Townsfolk found out and the rebuke was swift. After Ada’s death, Clark and his wife left town.
Charles Erdlen, who had been a partner of Clark’s, took over their gallery on the second floor of Hall & Howard’s grocery store at 229 F Street and sold landscape photography and took portraits of townsfolk. In 1894, Charles Erdlen was voted in as Chaffee County treasurer and sold his business to Frank Ray in 1898 who stayed in business for about a decade. In 1908 he sold the business to newcomer Henry R. Hay. Henry bought the entire building in 1923, and with that became Salida’s leading photographer specializing in general photography, portraits, Kodak finishing, and picture framing. Helen Hanks worked for Henry after her graduation from Salida High School. When Henry died in 1937, Helen took over the business. Helen sold The Hay Studio to Roy Morris in 1954 who subsequently renamed it the Morris Photo Shop. In 1971, it was sold again and renamed the Photo Image Studio.
Hay Photos, Salida, CO
Ghost sign for Hay Photos Studio, 229 F Street, Salida, Colorado. In 1884, C. Henry Clark opened a photography studio in Salida. He kept busy taking images of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad and buildings around town. A threefold tragedy struck Clark during the 1880s, the first being that his son died. Then, in January 1888, Peter Mulvany’s new hotel caught fire, which spread and burned out about sixty businesses in town, including Clark’s. He was in the process of moving to this location at 229 F Street so most of his equipment was saved but all of his early day images of Salida were lost in the fire. About a year later, his daughter died of typhoid fever. Clark was a Christian Scientist and decided against calling a doctor to help her. Townsfolk found out and the rebuke was swift. After Ada’s death, Clark and his wife left town.
Charles Erdlen, who had been a partner of Clark’s, took over their gallery on the second floor of Hall & Howard’s grocery store at 229 F Street and sold landscape photography and took portraits of townsfolk. In 1894, Charles Erdlen was voted in as Chaffee County treasurer and sold his business to Frank Ray in 1898 who stayed in business for about a decade. In 1908 he sold the business to newcomer Henry R. Hay. Henry bought the entire building in 1923, and with that became Salida’s leading photographer specializing in general photography, portraits, Kodak finishing, and picture framing. Helen Hanks worked for Henry after her graduation from Salida High School. When Henry died in 1937, Helen took over the business. Helen sold The Hay Studio to Roy Morris in 1954 who subsequently renamed it the Morris Photo Shop. In 1971, it was sold again and renamed the Photo Image Studio.