1 November 2015

Monthly Newsletter of the Pueblo Downtown Association

Do w n to w nSpotlightNovember 2015

www.PuebloDowntown.com • Phone/Voice Mail: 543-7155 • Immediate Response/Emergencies: 543-6676Contact Us! margaret@pueblodowntown.com • Pueblo Downtown Association, 503 N. Main St., Ste 652, Pueblo, CO 81003

Urban Renewal, Gifts Featured In November MeetingOur November 19 membership meeting will be a 7:30 a.m. breakfast at

the Pueblo Courtyard by Marriott—remember that the November meeting is at the third week because of Thanksgiving being the fourth Thursday. We will hear from Urban Renewal about various programs including progress on the RTA. We thank NorthStar Engineering for sponsoring this meeting.

Santa’s elves will have come early and left gifts for many lucky attendees. Our November meetings are always a lot of fun and a good way to get better acquainted with your neighboring business owners and their employees. Remember that we do not meet in December, but are ready to go again in January.

Vol. 25Number 5

All general meetings are open to anyone. Full members are contacted to remind them of the meetings. Please let us know if you are vegetarian or need gluten free food so we can notify the caterer. Cost to attend is $20 if your reservation is received by 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16; billing and late reservation rates are $25. Reservations may be made by email to margaret@pueblodowntown.com or by calling the office at 543-7155. Reservations for the meeting which are not cancelled by Monday, 4 p.m. will be billed at the $25 billing rate. We accept MasterCard and VISA.

26th Annual Parade of Lights Comes to Downtown on November 28

The Pueblo Christmas Parade of Lights always brings a touch of the season to the center of Pueblo. The theme for this year’s parade is Sights and Sounds of the Season.

The parade will feature Kerry and Karen Gladney as parade marshals; Kerry was a member of the original committee which formed the Parade of Lights. Santa makes an appearance every year. We expect about 80 lighted entries to make the trip from Colorado and Abriendo to the parking lot of signature sponsor Pueblo Bank & Trust. The parade route will be a little different this year as we will be going up Main Street, rather than Court Street, (see new parade route map accompanying this article). Children may make their holiday wishes known to Santa at Pueblo Bank & Trust after the parade.

Sponsors make the Parade of Lights possible. We would like to acknowledge the following association members: Pueblo Bank & Trust and The

Colorado Lottery, signature sponsors; Black Hills Energy major sponsor. Additional sponsors include ABC Bank, My Friend the Printer, Pueblo Board of Water Works, Toni & Joe’s Pizzeria, Security Service Credit Union, R. Peter Sonntag D.D.S. and Work Zone Traffic Control.

The Thanksgiving weekend date makes the parade a great way to kick off the Christmas shopping season and provides you with an opportunity to showcase your wares to those who come to the area. As business people, retailers particularly, you should at the very least have your businesses decorated for the holiday and be open as close to parade time as possible; we realize that once people begin setting up on the sidewalks it is hard for customers to get into your business.

The parade is one of the major events brought to you by the Pueblo Downtown Association.

Staging Area

PB&T

November 2015 2

Street Talk

byMargaretWard Masias

Please Don’t Forget Local Non-ProfitsWith a marginal economy

and rising prices for virtually everything we need to run a business, it is not difficult to say “We just cannot afford anymore.” Most of the non-profits in this community need help; at the Association office we get almost weekly requests to donate money, but we consider our treasury to be members’ money to be used for

the benefit of the area. Local government has cut its contribution to nearly every non-profit they have supported for years. In order to keep the valuable services, we the people of this community need to help.

Those of us in the downtown area do need to take a look at what is here. Many of the non-profits actually bring people to the area. Where would we be without the 250,000 visitors who come to the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center yearly—many of them from outside Pueblo County. People who are interested in history find their way downtown to see what is offered at El Pueblo History Museum, The Pueblo Heritage Museum and on the northern edge, Rosemount Museum. These are not only non-profits, they are attractions that bring people into the area, people who can shop, eat and stay for an extra day or two. Surely we can find a little to help them out and keep them operating. While not strictly historical the Center for American Values on the Riverwalk brings important military history and education on ethical behavior for students and adults alike.

There are three non-profit theater companies headquartered in the downtown area. None of these theater companies can operate solely on ticket sales. Think about choosing from the Damon Runyon Repertory Theatre, the Impossible Players or the Steel City Theatre

Company for donations as well as local entertainment; tickets to performances make great gifts or stocking stuffers.

Other non-profits in the downtown area provide human services to those who are in need. The Wayside Cross Rescue Mission, the Soup Kitchen, Salvation Army, Cooperative Care Center and the Senior Resource Development Center all help those less fortunate than us. Twenty-five or thirty dollars can go a long way toward providing services and perhaps keeping the crime rate down; crime costs considerably more than a small donation.

Downtown has many amenities that others would love to have; all of these require maintenance, a little extra can help keep the Riverwalk clean and green and Home of Heroes Association can use help keeping the monument in great shape. Let me state again that it is to our economic benefit to find a way to help keep downtown looking as good as possible. Let’s all dig a little deeper and see if we can find something for the groups who increase quality of life for us.

Member MentionsIf your business or organization has had a noteworthy event or

an anniversary coming up, please contact Margaret at the office. We would like to keep Member Mentions as an active monthly effort. Members only please.

Guest Columnists WelcomeIf you would like to send a guest column for this space, it

would be welcome. You will receive a by-line with your contri-bution. All you need to do is email your material of 500 words or less to margaret@pueblodowntown.com by mid-month before publication (i.e. by November 19 for mid-December).

Support the Pueblo Downtown Association & save money too! Call the Downtown Association office, 543-7155 to learn about the card and to purchase it as an Association member employee. Non-members may purchase cards at 80/Twenty Wines, JR’s Country Stores (Pueblo locations), My Friend the Printer or Springside Cheese Shop. Listed below are all discount card participants and the discounts they offer.

SaveDowntownDiscount Card!

withyour

1. 7th Street Station: 10% off food purchase.2. 80/Twenty Wines: 10% off selected wines3. All Season’s Catering, 10% off room rental4. Angelo’s Pizza-Riverwalk, 10% off dine-in meal (1 only per card per visit)

5. Carleo Creations: 15% off in-store merchandise6. Colorado Optical Eyewear: 10% discount7. Courtyard by Marriott: 10% off Bistro food only (excl. Starbucks, liquor)

8. Do Drop Inn: $5 off large pizza, dine-in9. Firestone Complete Auto Care: $14 off oil change10. Franco’s Bistro: 10% off food purchase11. Gray’s Coors Tavern: 10% off food purchase12. The Greatest Gift & Scripture Supply: 10% off reg. price mdse.13. Historic Arkansas Riverwalk: Buy 1 get 1 free boat rides14. J.R.’s Country Stores: 5 cents off per gallon gasoline

15. Mobile Record Shredders: 10% off shredding at our store16. My Friend the Printer: 10% off color copies17. Razmataz: 10% off full price clothing18. REPS Sports Gym: 15% off yearly membership19. Rosemount Museum: $2 off admission per visitor20. Sangre de Cristo Arts Center: $1 off admission21. Shamrock Brewing Co: 10% off food items22. Signs by Scott: 10% off sign orders up to $50023. Southside Lawn & Landscape: 10% off any resid. design/install job24. Spangler’s Home Fashions: 20% off area rugs25. Springside Cheese Shop: 10% off purchase26. Ten Spot II: 10% off entire purchase27. Tony Roberts, DDS: 10% off dental work

3 November 2015

Many Downtown Locations: Sound Venture Realty, 542-8426. Riverwalk:

1. 101 S. Main St., Waterfront Building, retail & office space, Rudy Padula, 671-4027 2. 102 S. Victoria, Olde Towne Carriage House building, restaurant-pub space, lower level, 543-1012, email otch@oldetownepueblo.com, see www.oldetownepueblo.com

Victoria Avenue: 215 S. Victoria Ave., Professional office space for local small business. Latino Chamber, 542-5513.

3rd & Main: 1. PEDCo’s BTC, offices from 160 sq. ft to 1,326 sq. ft. including “virtual offices” or day offices, light manufacturing space in basement, Crystal Romero, 546-1133. 2. Lottery Building, 2,500-7,000 sq. ft. available, Sound Venture Realty, 542-8426

5th & Main: The New Thatcher Building, offices 200 - 4,000 sq. ft., Sound Venture Realty, 542-8426

Locate Your Business or Office in the Historic Heart of PuebloThis directory is provided by the Pueblo Downtown Association to give prospective newcomers information about whom to contact for space in the area. Properties listed are Downtown Association members; there may be other properties in the area which do not appear here. All area codes are 719 unless otherwise noted.

6th & Main: RBC Wealth Management Building, 1,300 sq. ft. suite—can be divided in half, Sound Venture Realty, 542-8426

8th & Main: Katie Bonham, 545-1488 or 924-451813th & Main: Dan Molello, Jones-Healy, Inc., 545-81814th & Court: 333 Court Street, 300 sq. ft., Sound Venture Realty, 542-8426 13th & Grand: Dan Molello, Jones-Healy, 545-81815th & Greenwood: Greenwood Square, Lee or Kerry Gladney, 544-0583 West 4th Street:

1. 127 W. 4th Street, 1,400 sq. ft., Sound Venture Realty, 542-8426. 2. 710 W. 4th Street: near judicial center, 1,400 & 2,100 sq. ft., Rollie Leyh, 542-3876. 3. 801 W. 4th Street: Central Pueblo Center, Dan Molello, Jones Healy, Inc. 545-8181. 4. 827 W. 4th Street, Suite B, next to the DMV, 3,800 sq. ft., Sound Venture Realty, 542-8426

Holiday Decorations Going UpOur lighted Christmas decorations will be installed on the

poles in the area in mid-November. We should be able to have decorations on Santa Fe, Main north of 4th, Court, Grand and most of the east-west streets this year. The new poles on most of 4th Street are not equipped with electrical outlets so many of the decorations which have welcomed commuters through the corridor will be missing. We do appreciate the efforts of Black Hills Energy to install and take down these decorations for us.

Each year Pueblo County lights the Courthouse for the holidays, be sure to come to the area after dark and see how great it looks.

Sidewalk Matching Funds Available To Members

The Pueblo Downtown Association has funds available to be used as a match for sidewalk replacement in the downtown area. The match is 2% of total cost for each year of membership, up to 10 years (20%). Matches are for up to $1,500 for any project. You need to contact us with a project estimate and location (sidewalks must be in the downtown area). Upon completion of the project, you must submit a copy of a paid invoice for receipt of payment from the association. For more information contact the Pueblo Downtown Association office at 543-7155 or margaret@pueblodowntown.com.

People find us on the Internet!www.pueblodowntown.com

October page views 2,377Unique visitors 975

www.puebloparadeoflights.comOctober page views 1,605

Unique visitors 792We provide links to member websites from ours; if we don’t have your web address send it to us right away and we will be happy to add a link to your site.Graffiti Hotline 553-2501

County Commissioner Sal Pace addressed our October meeting at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center.

November 2015 4

Downtown HappeningsSangre de Cristo Arts CenterPurchase art classes online at sangredecristoarts.org/education anytime, anywhere. Find out what’s coming up by visiting sde-arts.org. For infor-mation call 295-7200. Admission: adults $8, children, military, seniors $6, 65+ members free.Art Exhibits: Nov. 18-Jan. 1, Own Your Own Art show and sale Through Jan.17, Untitled: A Journey to Nowhere Exhibition King Gal-lery Through Jan. 10, Invocation; Sacred works from the collection, second floor foyerThrough Jan. 17, Beautiful Grotesque, White GalleryThrough May 29, Touched by the hands of God: Michelangelo’s Models, King Gallery (every Tuesday is Touch Tuesday); visitors are invited to touch the bronze models.Buell Children’s Museum: Tues, Thurs., & Fri. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. & Sun. noon-5 p.m. Adults $8, children, military, seniors $6. 65+ Members free.Dec. 4, 12-5 p.m., Do-it- yourself Santa Exhibition.Events: Nov. 18, 5 – 7:30 p.m., Opening Reception Own your Own, Helen T. White Building.Dec 4, 4:30-7 p.m., Open House at the Arts Center with Own Your Own, Helen T. White BuildingDec. 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Own Your Own Saturday Sale, Helen T. White Building

Performances: Nov. 21, 1 p.m., Children’s Playhouse presents Nutcracker in a Nutshell, Arts Center Theater. Tickets $8/ $7 members.Dec. 4, 5, 6, 7:30 p.m., Nutcracker, the ballet, Arts Center Theater, Tickets $12/ $10 members.Dec. 5, 6, 2 p.m., Nutcracker, the ballet, Arts Center Theater, Tickets $12/ $10 members.

The Pueblo Arts AllianceFind maps and information about all news and activities in the Creative Corridor at PuebloArts.org, follow on facebook.com/PuebloPAG, face-book.com/PuebloCreativeCorridor or call 855-543-2430. Nov. 27, 28, Dec. 4,5,11, 12 Yule Love It Downtown, Pueblo’s and Shopping Crawl. Throughout the Creative Corridor, shopping in a festive atmosphere with performers, art and more.Dec. 4, 5-9 p.m., First Friday Art Walk, 35+ galleries, restaurants and businesses with newly hung shows, refreshments and live music and entertainment. Free rides in VanGO Art Shuttle, 17 stops complete loop every 20 minutes. All activities Free.

Broadway Theatre LeagueMemorial Hall. Call 719-295-7200 or visit broadwaytheaterleague.com for information and tickets. Jan. 24, 3 p.m., The ProducersFeb. 14, 3 p.m., Bullets Over BroadwayApr. 19, 7:30 p.m., Annie

Memorial HallSouth Main Street & Grand Ave. 866-722-8844. pueblomemorialhall.comTickets on sale now.Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Rudolph, the Red Nosed ReindeerDec. 17, 7:30 p.m., Mannheim Steamroller

Impossible Playhouse1201 N. Main St., 542-6969, www.impossibleplayers.org, & on Face-book. Tickets: $10 adult, $7 seniors and military, $5 students. Available for community rentals, call 542-6969. Proud to be impossible since 1966.

Steel City Theatre Company241 S. Santa Fe Ave. Ticket info sctcpueblo.com or 994-8298.

5th & Main Art Gallery Historic Federal BuildingOngoing: Listen at Lunch, 12:00-1:30 Fridays, L.C. Houston, piano & guitar, rhythm & blues.

El Pueblo History Museum301 N. Union. 583-0453. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 adults, $4 seniors, children 6-12, students with ID. “Family Saturdays” children 12 & under–free. For docent-led tours for groups of 10+, contact office a week in advance. Nov. 21, 11 a.m., Pueblo’s Homemade Holiday Pop Up.Dec. 4, 5 p.m., Ethnic Christmas Open HouseDec. 5, 10 a.m., Modern Homesteading: Crafting Party

Damon Runyon Repertory Theater611 N. Main St., www.runyontheater.org. Reservations, info 564-0579.Nov. 13-14, 7:30 p.m., Steel Magnolias, Tickets: General seating $14, Stu-dents/Active Military/Veterans $7Nov. 15, 2 p.m., Steel Magnolias, Tickets: General seating $14, Students/Active Military/Veterans $7

Pueblo Heritage MuseumVictoria & B St. In the 1924 Denver & Rio Grande Western Freight Depot near historic Union Depot & the Railway Foundation Museum. Exhibits of historical, cultural groups of SE Colorado. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Adults $5, Senior & Military w/ID $4, 6-12 $3, Heritage Center members & under 6 free. 295-1517 or www.theheritagecenter.us for tours and info.

Rosemount Museum14th & Grand www.rosemount.org. 37-room mansion built between 1891-1893 by prominent businessman John A. Thatcher. Most furnishings and artifacts are original to the family. Open 10 am-3:30 pm. Tues.-Sat. Tours every half hour; last tour at 3:30 pm. Grounds & veranda may be rented for special events. For group tours & information call 545-5290. Nov. 27 - Dec. 31, Christmas at Rosemount. Return to a traditional Vic-torian Christmas; museum is decorated inside and out using thousands of lights and trees in every room. Guided tours begin at 10 a.m.; last tour of day begins at 3:30 p.m. Self guided tours begin at 10 a.m. with last tour of day beginning at 3 p.m.; tour dates are Nov. 27, 28, Dec. 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30. (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Call to confirm holiday hours as they can vary. Admission: adults $6, seniors $5 and 6-18 $4. Group rates are available. The museum will be closed Dec. 31-Feb. 1. The museum reopens Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Pueblo’s Riverwalkwww.puebloriverwalk.org. For reservations of facilities or to arrange walking tours call HARP Authority, 595-0242 or email info@puebloriverwalk.org. Nov. 27, 5 p.m., Historic Arkansas Riverwalk Holiday Lighting

Center for American Values101 South Main, Riverwalk level, 543-9502. americanvaluescenter.org. The Center is part of the Walk of Valor and is open 10-4 daily. It proudly dis-plays the World Trade Center Steel memorial and Portraits of Valor, a beauti-ful collection of more than 140 portraits of Medal of Honor recipients.

5 November 2015

Downtown HappeningsPueblo Downtown AssociationDates for upcoming membership meetings. Locations, times, pro-grams are subject to change. For sponsorship information for other meetings, call Margaret Ward-Masias at 543-7155. Nov. 19, 7:30 a.m. Courtyard by Marriott, see page 1No meeting in DecemberJan. 28, 11:45 a.m. Convention Center, Downtowner Awards, sponsor: Executive ServicesFeb. 25, 11:45 a.m. Nacho’sMar. 24, 11:45 a.m. Angelo’s, sponsor: Pueblo Bank & TrustApr. 28May 26, 11:45 a.m., sponsor: Canon National BankJune 23, 11:45 a.m.

Pueblo Ice Arena1st & Grand, 553-2730, www.coolicepueblo.comMon. 5-7 pm; Tues., Thurs. 3:15-5:15; Fri. 12:45-2:45, $3 inc. skates Friday Night Lazer Lights 7:30-9:30 p.m. $6 per skater, includes skates. Sat-urday 12-2 p.m., 7:30-9:30 p.m. Students $7, Adults $8 both include skates.The Pueblo Ice Arena is turning 40 years old! Attend the Anniversary Kickoff celebration Monday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. at the arena at 1st & Grand. Ribbon cutting ceremony and speakers from Pueblo City Council, Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, Pueblo Latino Chamber, Colorado Lottery and Pueblo Parks & Recreation. Prizes, fun and retro-priced public ice skating session–$1.50 per skater from 5-7 p.m. The fun doesn’t stop there. Celebration continues through December with more retro-priced skating sessions, 70’s music Lazer Light Nights, Skate with Santa, “Toyland” Pueblo Figure Skating Club’s hol-iday show, free skating lessons, more. See calendar of events at coolicepueblo.com. For information contact the box office at 719-553-2730.

Pueblo Convention CenterCity Center Drive & Main. For information about events or to book space call 542-1100 or online puebloconventioncenter.com.Nov. 16 Pueblo Rotary Club #43Nov. 18--20 NRC ACWA Hydrolysate CommitteeNov. 20-21 Big Bear Brew FestNov. 23 Pueblo Rotary Club #43Nov. 24 Pueblo Urban Renewal AuthorityNov. 30 Pueblo Rotary Club #43Dec. 4 School District 70 Assistance LeagueDec. 6 Family Worship CenterDec. 7 Pueblo Rotary Club #43Dec. 8 Pueblo Urban Renewal AuthorityDec. 9 Mental Health America of PuebloDec. 10 Housing Authority of Pueblo Southern Colorado Residential Rental AssociationDec. 11 VestasDec. 12 The ARC of Pueblo ADX FCC of Florence Employees ClubDec. 14 Pueblo Rotary Club #43Dec. 18 GPS SourceNote these events are published so that businesses in the area will know who will be in the area. We encourage retailers and restaurants to make these folk feel welcome in the area.

Business & Technology Center3rd & Main, Lobby and Atrium areasMonday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Artwork by local artists. Art is for sale.

Convention Certificates ProgramThe Pueblo Downtown Association has a program aimed at getting

conventioneers into downtown businesses. At selected conventions, the Association presents $25 gift certificates to a conventioneer. These certificates list a single retail business or restaurant. Once the certificate has been presented to the business, that business may bring the certificate to Pueblo Bearing to receive $25 cash for the certificate or mail it to the Association at 503 N. Main Street, Suite 652, Pueblo CO 81003 to receive payment by check. The certificates are printed on dark red paper and will be embossed. Retailers may issue their own certificates for specific conventions if they wish. Call Margaret at the Association office, 543-7155, for information.

Board Members If you have questions about what is going on with the Pueblo

Downtown Association or would like information about joining the organization you may contact any of our board members listed below, of course you may also contact the office at 543-7155 between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m.• President Kim Kock, 544-6823• Vice President/Community Affairs Mike Carlisle, 671-1424 • Vice President/Finance John Myers, 543-9463• Secretary Tammy Fesmire, 565-4238• Treasurer & Webmaster Judy McGinnis, 252-3873• Past President Kerry Gladney, 544-0583• Past President Tom Bruss, 406-8661• Promotions Chair Peggy Willcox, 582-0682• Dancing with the Pueblo Starz Chair April Kasza, 584-9977• Facebook Coordinator Kristen Spicola, 584-0201• Project Assistant Jeanne Santillanez, 542-1100• Parade of Lights Committee member TJ Wright, 595-7300

Download the Downtown Association App Today

Our app is providing mobile phone users with information about the area and its businesses. For Android phones, visit http://play.google.com/store/apps?hl=en and search for pueblodowntown. If you use an Apple phone, visit http://itunes.apple.com/genre/ios/id36?mt=8 and again, search for pueblodowntown.

A benefit to all of our members will be the ability to provide “push notifications” to app users. The Promotions Committee will determine which pushes will appear on the app in a given month. Contact us with your proposed push for mid-January and beyond no later than December 4th. You will need to be somewhat flexible with your scheduling. We will notify you of the date your push will be posted. AllWays Unique, our app creator, has divided members by classifications; currently these classifications are Food & Fun, Retail and Service.

November 2015 6

7 November 2015

Pueblo Soap Company 1895A WalkThrough

TimeInformation & photos gathered by

Margaret Ward-Masias

I came across the article re-printed below and thought it would be of interest to many of you.

It Is Now In Full OperationVisit to the Pueblo Soap Company’s Extensive Plant

CITY’S LATEST NEW INDUSTRYFifteen Thousand Dollars Exclusive of the Building already In-

vested in the Enterprise—Pueblo Produced Materials Used Exclusively Whenever Possible—Eastern Manufacturers Unsuccessfully Try to Pre-vent The Growth of Business.

One of Pueblo’s newest and most thriving industries is the Pueblo Soap company which has recently opened a factory in this city at the corner of Victoria and Grand avenues. It is the most thorough plant of the kind in the west and starts with a flattering prospect. The company occupies the basement and two upper floors. It is incorporated and the officers are Charles W. Mills, president; R.E.L. Johnson, vice president, and Charles L. Burrall, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Mills has the active business management of the concern while Mr. Johnson is in charge of the practical part of the factory.

At the start the company invested about $15,000 in the business and this amount must be added to as the business increases. Mr. Mills had some difficulty when he came here in getting a suitable location but finally decided on the building which he is now in, which is in every way fitted for the purpose for which it is used. There was some little objec-tion raised to the location of the factory in the center of the city by those who did not fully understand the workings of the plant. But a commit-tee which visited a factory located in the heart of Denver reported that there could be no objection to it.

At present the factory employs 15 hands, part of whom are women, in the various departments. It has a capacity of 100 boxes of laundry soap a day and is running full time. The standard brands of laundry soaps which the company is turning out are the White Victor and White Wave. A lower grade of laundry soap, known as Bessemer, is also made. The chip soap for use in steam laundries, is put up in barrels and is pronounced superior to any in the market. Toilet soap is also made but a greater part of the time is taken up in making laundry soap.

Mr. Mills buys everything which he can here in Pueblo. His tallow and fat are purchased from different packing houses; the Newton Lumber company makes the boxes and the wrappers are printed here. They manu-facture their own lye and only such raw products as can not be bought in Colorado are sent for to the east. He finds that the tallow which the kick packers furnish is better than any which he can get elsewhere.

All the raw material is kept in the basement and the soap is handled almost exclusively by machinery until it reaches the girls who wrap it in the paper covers and pack it in the boxes. The raw materials are raised from the basement to the second floor by an elevator where the mixing is done in a large vat and the soap is made with intense heat it takes about twelve days to reduce the soap from the raw material to the finished article. It is made in batches of 25 tons and is allowed to settle in a huge tank for several days after it is done. From the tank it is run into huge blocks which are after-

ward cut into the proper size for packing. It is then put in the dry room where it is subjected to a drying process, the heat being steam and hot air. From the dry room it is taken to a stamping machine where the corners are rounded and the name of the soap and of the makers is stamped. It then goes into the hands of the packers who deftly roll it in the paper wrappers and put it in a box which is then nailed and the soap is ready for delivery about fifteen days after it went from the cellar to the top floor. The process for making toilet soap is slightly different as the raw material is subjected to a more delicate reefing process. The very cleanest and whitest tallow is used for the toilet article.

It is necessary to keep up a well equipped laboratory in connection with the factory. All the soap is perfumed and the extracts used are very expensive. Coconut oil is used in very large quantities and more delicate odors are used in the different classes of soap. Mr. Johnson is a practical chemist and makes most of the high grade perfumes. The cruppers used to put the perfumes in the soap are expensive pieces of machinery and require careful attention.

As stated above the plant is complete in every respect from the busi-ness office to the bins for material and the Pueblo Soap company is in the field to stay. The large eastern firms have made every endeavor to drive Mr. Mills from the market, and have shipped soap in here at a price much less than the cost of manufacture. This does not interfere with the Pueblo company running full time and finding a market for all the soap they can make. With any reasonable patronage from the local merchants the company will continue to increase the size of the factory until it ranks with the eastern concerns.

Found online, this short article in the September 19,1876 issue of the (Butte) Montana Standard mentioned the Pueblo Soap Company:

The Pueblo Soap Company of Colorado, are now manufac-turing a good article of soap from the Rocky Mountain soap weed. The company are fitting up the large frame building, recently oc-cupied as a dance house in South Pueblo for a manufactory.

The 1899 Pueblo City Directory listed the company’s address as 201 S. Grand Avenue, now the lawn area next to the Vail Hotel.

Information for this story came from files in the Western History collection’s Korber Notebooks at the Rawlings Library. Photo from the Pueblo County Historical Society shows a crowd gathered in front of the Vail and, next door, a brick single story building which was constructed on the lot formerly occupied by the Pueblo Soap Company.

November 2015 8

PRESORTED STANDARDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPUEBLO, COLORADO

PERMIT #314

The Pueblo Downtown Association is a catalyst for enhancing Downtown Pueblo through the promotion of business, beautification, and development of activities.

503 N. Main St., Ste 652 • Pueblo, CO 81003

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Pueblo Downtown Association

Pueblo Downtown Association Membershipas of November 1, 2015

7th Street Station80/Twenty Wines

All Seasons CateringAll Ways Unique

American Bank of CommerceAmeriprise Financial Services

Angelo’s Pizza Parlor and-a-Moré Riverwalk

Armstrong JewelersBanner & Bower, P.C.Benefits Broker Inc.

Better Business BureauBlack Hills Energy

Blazer ElectricBoard of Water WorksSandra L. Bradley, CPACañon National Bank

Carleo Creations Jewelers, Inc.Centennial Insurance

Center for American ValuesClassic Corner

Color-ado Pyrotechnics/Mike CarlisleColorado Bluesky Enterprises

Colorado LotteryColorado Optical Eyewear Expressions

Colorado State University-PuebloCommonwealth Financial Network

Damon Runyon TheaterDD MarketingDo Drop Inn

EDGIEEl Pueblo Museum

Embroidery Plus/Quick PrintEnt Federal Credit Union

Executive ServicesFieldman Financial Services

Firestone Complete Auto CareFox’s Garden Supply

Franco’s BistroGobin’s Inc.

Grand Banquet / Party RentalGray’s Coors Tavern

Great Divide Ski, Bike & HikeGreater Pueblo

Chamber of CommerceThe Greatest Gift & Scripture Supply

Greenwood SquareHewitt & Couch, P.C.

Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo

Historic Federal BuildingHousing Authority of Pueblo

Jones-Healy, Inc. RealtorsJones-Urenda, LLCKaiser Permanente

Koncilja & KonciljaLatino Chamber of Commerce

Legacy BankLittle Caesars Pizza

Loaf ’N JugMahlon Thatcher White Foundation

McPherson, Breyfogle, Daveline & Goodrich, PC

The Media CenterMetro Plaza

Minnequa Works Credit UnionMobile Record ShreddersMontgomery & Steward

Funeral DirectorsMy Friend the Printer

Nacho’s RestaurantNorick’s Auto Service

NorthStar EngineeringOld Town Carriage HouseParkview Medical Center

PEDCo’s Business & Technology Center

Premier HomesPride City Awning

Primrose Retirement CommunitiesPueblo Arts Alliance

Pueblo Bank and TrustPueblo Bearing ServiceThe Pueblo Chieftain

Pueblo City GovernmentPueblo Convention Center

Pueblo County GovernmentPueblo County Historical Society

Pueblo County SheriffPueblo Courtyard by Marriott

Pueblo Crime StoppersPueblo Elks Lodge #90

Pueblo Government Agencies Federal Credit Union

Pueblo Heritage MuseumPueblo Urban Renewal Authority

Quality Custom WoodworkRAS Construction

RazmatazREPS Union Avenue Sports Gym

Rexel Electrical & Datacom Products

Rice Root Accounting ServicesRMA Towing

Tony Roberts, D.D.S.Rosemount Museum

RSL Accounting ServicesRush’s Pueblo Lumber

St. Mary-Corwin Medical CenterSangre de Cristo Arts Center

Senior Resource Development Agency

Shamrock Brewing CompanySharmar Village Care Center

Signs by Scott

SoCo RadioSound Venture Realty

Southern Colorado Community Foundation

Southside Lawn & LandscapingSpangler’s Carpets

Springside Cheese ShopStatis Events

Stoehr CleanersWilliam Storms Allergy Clinic

Sunflower BankTen Spot IIUS Bank

Verle’s Barber ShopVictoria’s Deli

Vidmar MotorsWaterfront, LLCWells Fargo Bank

Wilcoxson Buick-Cadillac-GMCWillie G’s BBQ

Work Zone Traffic Control, Inc.Xcel Energy

YWCA

Associate MembersKatie BonhamJay Dammann

Val & Dan HendersonKit JacobsonSkip LaurayPam Parks

Please e-mail corrections or changes to

margaret@pueblodowntown.com