Florence in Fremont County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Van Nest Building

121 West Main Street

— Construction: Est. 1895, Architect & Builder: Unknown —

Van Nest Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 5, 2023

1. Van Nest Building Marker

Inscription. Estimated to have been built in 1885 for owner, Van Nest (likely Albert J. Van Nest), likely lived on the second floor along with his wife and five male lodgers. It is not known what type of business operated on the main floor at first. By 1901, August Fast owned the building. Kelso's Department store operated on the ground floor beginning in December, 1896. He advertised notions, underwear & hosiery, blankets, shoes, shirts, overalls, tinware, glassware, groceries, and school supplies. April of 1897 Waddles Grocery was in occupation and then Florence Grocery Company in June, 1897. By 1900, a bakery was in the building and added an oven in back. By the end of 1900, the bakery was out and D.K. McRae hardware and implements were in. 1909 showed offices upstairs and a milliner on the first floor. Both 1912 and 1926 Sanborn maps saw a bakery in the first floor.

In 1936, the Oasis Café and Bar occupied a building down the street. The ornate bar and backbar was moved down from Cripple Creek to Florence. The Oasis moved into this building in 1939 and existed here until it was renamed the Oasis Tavern in 1953.

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Five rooms were listed upstairs for rent at that time. The tavern changed very little during the next 25 years, under the ownership of Dan & Mike Brator, brothers, however, Dan made note to a local newspaper that it was standing room only while the mines were operating! Over the next 25 years the tavern had a few owners and operators, currently owned by L & M Enterprise, LLC and operated as Jess' Best Barbeque.

Erected by the City of Florence.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1897.

Location. 38° 23.406′ N, 105° 7.132′ W. Marker is in Florence, Colorado, in Fremont County. It is on West Main Street (Colorado Route 115) west of North Pikes Peak Avenue ( Route 67), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 121 W Main St, Florence CO 81226, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley

and in Pikes Peak Region.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 5, 2023

2. Van Nest Building Marker

Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Carmondy Block (a few steps from this marker); Florence Firehouse, Florence City Hall (a few steps from this marker); The Mezzanine Antiques and Collectibles, LLC (a few steps from this marker); Julius McCandless Hardware (a few steps from this marker); Andrews Block (a few steps from this marker); 120 W. Main Street (a few steps from this marker); J. C. Penney (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilson Block & Wilson Annex (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 281 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 8, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.