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

Wilson (Stone Block) Building

1889

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 10, 2020

1. Wilson (Stone Block) Building Marker

Inscription. A symbol of the commercial stability of Cortez over the past century, the Stone Block Building was constructed in 1889 by the Baxstrom brothers from stone quarried west of Cortez in Hartman Draw.

The building stood idle for several years and was finally completed in the early 1890's. The Guillet brothers (P.T. and H.M.) operated Guillet Mercantile from the building in the 1890's. The building caught fire from the Hotel Clifton fire in 1907 and the wooden balustrade across the top was burned on the southwestern corner. The Guillets used a large supply of Navajo rugs which they soaked in water and placed over the balustrade and window frames on the west half of the building in order to save the structure.

Caption: The Wilson family started a pharmacy and soda fountain in the structure during the 1930's and purchased the building after WWII.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 37° 20.921′ N, 108° 35.136′ W. Marker is in Cortez, Colorado, in Montezuma County. It is on West Main Street west of

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North Market Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 West Main Street, Cortez CO 81321, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexico’s Alta California.

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); Cortez Travel (Duncan Beauty Shop) (within shouting distance of this marker); Cortez Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Duff Mercantile (within shouting distance of this marker); Montezuma Valley National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); E.R. Lamb Mercantile (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).

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 10, 2020

2. Wilson (Stone Block) Building Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cortez.

Wilson (Stone Block) Building image. Click for full size.

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

3. Wilson (Stone Block) Building

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 739 times since then and 53 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 Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.