Cortez in Montezuma County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Cortez Post Office

1908

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 10, 2020

1. Cortez Post Office Marker

Inscription. The original building on this site was built for Dr. G.H. Harrington in 1886. After the wood frame one-story building was destroyed in the Clinton Hotel Fire in 1907, the existing two-story sandstone building was constructed and served as the U.S. Post Office for over four decades until the early 1950's.

This old building housed a number of businesses after Dr. Harrington's Office & Pharmacy were destroyed and the Post Office moved, including Mike's Drug Store (Mike Kozmalski), Montezuma Appliance Store (Bill Runck), The Ark (a pet store with boa constrictor displayed in the front window) and the Quality Book Store & Earth Song Haven Tea Room.

The upstairs was used as a temporary doctor's office and illegal gaming rooms (until the local cowboys were taught the error of their ways by a card shark). Future plans include a V.I.P. Haven.

Caption: The pressed metal ceiling and hardwood floors remain almost as beautiful as they were at the turn of the century.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 37° 20.92′ N, 108° 35.158′ W. Marker is in Cortez, Colorado, in Montezuma County. Marker is on West Main Street (U.S. 160) west of North Market Street

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, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 34 West Main Street, Cortez CO 81321, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Office Outpost (J.C. Penney Building) (a few steps from this marker); Wilson (Stone Block) Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Citizens State Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Marshal W.G. Clucas Residence (within shouting distance of this marker); Cortez Travel (Duncan Beauty Shop) (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Duff Mercantile (within shouting distance of this marker); E.R. Lamb Mercantile (within shouting distance of this marker); Montezuma Valley National Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cortez.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 10, 2020

2. Cortez Post Office Marker

Former Cortez Post Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 14, 2020

3. Former Cortez Post Office

Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 191 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on November 15, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.