Jerry is correct,
The buildings were nothing but empty shells when we worked up there in the 1970's. The Ticket office did have a dividing wall with a window opening in it, but the south wall (that you can't see) had a big hole in it and someone was storing concrete forms in there. The section house had remnants of the second floor, but they were anything but safe. Even if not in the original configuration, I am glad to see that they were saved.
The Section House (with the 45 degree side) was built in that manner because the main line (which actually ran to the Outside of the siding) met the siding in front of the building here. The siding is what is being rebuilt at the present time.
When the Colorado Central Narrow Gauge was up there in 1968 - 1978 (?). The track that the CC and C&S used as the siding was used to load and unload passengers at the platform. The track that was laid parallel to it, the former main line right of way, was used as a storage track. For those of us old timers who remember, the Depot was actually located in the top floor of the Hawley Merchandise Company Warehouse building. The CCNG used the old freight unloading door as their entrance by framing in the freight door and installing regular doors.
The buildings that you see today were restored and a wooden connecting piece was built between them. When they were in use, the Weekly Register-Call was located there after they moved out of the old Masonic building downtown. The Register-Call was sold to someone else after the death of Bill Russell (the long time publisher) and this individual moved out of the buildings and apparently sold them or is leasing them.
As a bit of an aside, I am also glad to see that the building has been painted. The bricks used to build these buildings was called "Hooper Brick". Hooper Brick was locally produced and not High fired. This brick, after all the years that it has stood there (1878 on) has been turning back into sand. The paint helps protect this brick from the elements.
Rick
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/11/2021 12:28PM by Rick Steele.