| 1890 | 1890 The tracks of the Denver and
Rio Grande Western Railroad (DRGW) through Salida to Leadville were widened to standard gauge. Soon this route became the mainline through the Rocky Mountains with connections to the west coast. The former narrow-gauge through route over Marshall Pass was relegated to secondary status as a scenic route used by tourists to circuit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the San Juan mountain country and back to Denver via Alamosa, Veta Pass and Pueblo. The Leadville National Fish Hatchery became the first of its kind in the nation. First fireworks were reported from top of Tenderfoot Mountain. |
| 1891 | 1891 H Street School (later known
as Longfellow) was built to house high school students and some younger students. Fairview Cemetery opened. |
| 1893 | 1893 Repeal of the Sherman Silver
Purchase Act, by which the Federal Government had propped up the price of silver, was followed by the Panic of 1893. Tabor's bank fails along with many others in Colorado including Salida's bank at First and F Streets. |
| 1896 | 1896 Laura Evans came to Salida and
opened "female boarding" house on Front Street (later named Sackett), which operated until it was closed down by the city in 1950. Laura died in 1953 in her home at the age of 91. |
| 1897 | 1897 Officials laid the cornerstone
for the present Methodist Church at 4th and D Streets. |
| 1899 | 1899 The Calumet Branch of the D&RG
railroad quit running up the 7% railroad gulch grade. Closure was due to a flood that severely damaged the roadbed. |
| Old Newspaper Articles from Chaffee County | |||||
| Mining | Railroad | Ranching | Industry | Wildlife | |
| Fire & Water | Governement | Recreation | People | Events | |