The Pueblo Street Railway Company Stable Site

The Pueblo Street Railway Company Stable Site. 214-216 South Union Avenue. , Charles Young sold this property to John Long in 1873 for $400. In 1880, this was the site of The Topeka House, shown standing alone on the street in an early photograph. , The Pueblo Street Railway Company was incorporated in 1879. William Moore was President and James Orman, Moore's railroad construction partner, was Vice President. By the end of 1879, more than a mile of the horse-drawn railway was in operation. Beginning atthe intersection of West B Street and Victoria Avenue, adjacent to the Denver and Rio Grande Station, the single track ran east one block on B to Union Avenue, then northeast on Union Avenue to First Street, on First Street to Santa Fe Avenue and north on Santa Fe Avenue to Fifth Street. In deference to local sentiment, the track curved around the huge cottonwood tree at one point on Union Avenue. The initial roster of rolling stock consisted of five 16-foot horse cars and more than 20 horses. Their stables were located at 214 South Union Avenue. , In December 1889, stockholders organized a new company called Pueblo City Railway Company. In 1890, electric cars were introduced, which forced the demise of the horse-drawn public transportation. , From 1882 to 1915, the site was the George Jackson Livery and Boarding Stable. Even as the automobile became more popular, horses were still seen on Pueblo's streets. The end of the era of the horse coincided with the Flood of 1921. Many of the horses stabled in the Union Avenue area were trapped and drown in the floodwaters. The livery stables were not rebuilt. About 1915, the present building was built and has been altered significantly. , Max Kushnir opened Kushnir Furniture which his sons operated in 1938. His grandson, Ray, operates this family business today. , This project funded by a grant from the Colorado Historical Society State Historical Fund, Historic Pueblo Business Center Association, Security Title Guaranty Co., Kathie White, Mary Orf, John Demas, Friends and The Farley Foundation