Delta in Delta County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Simpson-Sanders Bldg.

1896

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2025

1. Simpson-Sanders Bldg. Marker

Inscription.
1896 Locally called Anna Dora Opera House for the names of owners' daughters. The upstairs area had a platform and oil lamps for a stage which was used for H.S. graduations, operatic and theatrical events. Social gatherings took place and silent films were shown.

1922 Upstairs used for storage of farm equipment and tractor parts.

1939 Building was gutted by predawn fire, Dec. 27.

1940 Cleaned brick from fire were used to rebuild Delta Hardware Store.

1896 to the present The corner of Third and Main has been a hardware store.

For more information visit Delta County Museum at Third and Meeker streets.

Erected 1999 by The City of Delta.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 38° 44.602′ N, 108° 4.263′ W. Marker is in Delta, Colorado, in Delta County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 50) just north of West 3rd Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is part of the mural spanning the north side of the newer building at this location today. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 257 Main Street, Delta CO 81416, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Western Slope.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 326 Main, 100 Years a Hardware Store (here, next to this marker); Delta County Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Central School Bell (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mangum Memorial Wind-Chime (about 300 feet away); Delta Jail - 1890 (about 300 feet away); Site of Farmers and Merchants Bank (about 300 feet away); Robert E. Lee Steamboat Bell (about 300 feet away); Leslie J. Savage Big Bell Collection (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Delta.

Also see . . . High Country Highlights: Delta Ace Hardware - Keeping in Step (High Country Highlights).

(By Stu Carlson) Excerpt: The early evolution of the store even has ties to the notorious gun battle of 1893 where hardware store owner at the time, Ray Simpson, thwarted two members of the McCarty Gang in a shootout. The Simpson’s/Sanders store was located in the middle of the 300 block of Main Street. Not long after the notorious incident, the owners moved locations and built a two-story building on the corner of Third and Main where they operated a hardware store on the lower level and an opera house on the second floor.
After a change of ownership the opera house gave way to a demand for space and

2. Marker detail: Simpson-Sanders Building
the upstairs was commandeered by the hardware store. In 1915 the store was re-named The Delta Hardware Store, and remains so to this day. In the mid-1930s, a new owner, Tom Hensley, bought Delta Hardware with big plans in mind but two years later, during the week of Christmas, tragedy struck as a devastating fire leveled the entire building. Mr. Hensley soon rebuilt a single story structure which would be home to the store until after the turn of the next century…

(Submitted on January 3, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2025

3. Simpson-Sanders Bldg. Marker

The marker is painted at eye-level on the northeast corner of the building, facing north.

Anna Dora Opera House / Simpson-Sanders Building Mural Artist image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2025

4. Anna Dora Opera House / Simpson-Sanders Building Mural Artist

Anna Dora Opera House / Simpson-Sanders Building Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2025

5. Anna Dora Opera House / Simpson-Sanders Building Mural

The mural spans the north side of the newer building at this location today. The historical marker is at the left/east edge of the mural.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 3, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.