101-103 W. Main Street

101-103 W. Main Street. 100 West Main Street. The original two story business building at the corner of S. Pikes Peak and W. Main St,, built with local white brick from Pueblo and white stone trim from Norman McKay's quarry, was considered "the handsomest and most pretentious building in Florence." It was erected by the Blunt family for business in 1896-1897. Joseph Blunt came to the United States from England before the Civil War and eventually started a homestead at Coal Creek, raising nine children with his wife Rebecca. The family made it's wealth from the Cripple Creek mines and then settled in Florence in 1894. Known as "Bank Block" this building once housed the Bank of Florence and still has the walk-in bank vault intact. It also was home to the "Florence Reading Room" or city library, as well as a post office and the "Florence Building and Loan". In December 1949, "Blunt Block" tragically burned down destroying the several businesses and private apartments it housed. It was called one of the worst calamities in Florence's history., In 1950, the site was purchased by E.A. Mineer of Shiprock, N.M. and Florence, who planned to reinforce the foundation and walls in order to rebuild a modern one story commercial building. Since then, this location has been home to medical doctor offices, dentists, florists, and barber shops among others. To this day it boasts the original 1950's metal lettering on it's side wall, "Florence is a GLT" (great little town).