November 29, 2013

Trinidad Colorado Vintage Clothing Haul












After a blogging hiatus, I thought the best blog post to write would be one reason that prompted the break - a trip to the Wild West.  We traveled to Trinidad, Colorado, to buy vintage clothing from the Sal-Mar Dress Shop and next-door Fox Theatre, two buildings stuffed full by hoarders for the last several decades.

 
We arrived in Colorado ogling at the snow and mountains.  Here in Florida we don't have either, so this was a welcome departure. In a place this far removed from seemingly everything, we got a break from the daily grind, and a hint of the kinds of temperatures most of the country experiences in the fall.  Ice in October was not on our radar!

 

There's a lot of history in Trinidad, a once-thriving mining town near the border of Colorado and New Mexico.  According to our hostess, Doreen Amato, nowadays the town has forty bars and forty churches.  Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have much else in the way of industry.  The sightseeing was varied and slow-paced, especially quiet as our trip was scheduled just after their busy season ended.

  


Don't fence me in.





This historic jail was full of "outlaws".
Doreen made sure to show us the kind of hospitality the West is known for. Thanks to her self-described "genius", we had plenty of time for people-watching and exploring nearby towns.  This terrific 1930s era hand-painted shoe shop sign was seen in rural New Mexico.






One town away from the Fox Theatre is the El Raton Theatre, a beautiful building in another sleepy town just over the border into New Mexico.  There we met some friendly folks with lots of advice about "local characters" and ideas for places we "out-of-towners" should check out.

This exit looks like fun!
Fried marbles?  What else could we expect on "Flea Market Road"!
Apparently you fry them in a skillet, and voila!  A new piece of jewelry.

After our jaunt to El Raton, it was back to Trinidad to walk Main Street and get down to old clothes business.  We had lots of square footage to dig through... not only the Fox Theatre building, but also the Keller Glass building down the road.  Tourist time is over!

 

Well... maybe one last peek.  This was a cool find - a Sweet-Orr workwear advertisement painted on a brick wall in downtown Trinidad.  It looks like a vintage 1930s ad, complete with denim-clad workmen in a tug of war. 



Downtown Trinidad had many more interesting shops other than our destination at Sal-Mar.  Unfortunately many were closed due to the season's end.  One beautiful Southwest jewelry shop was a stellar find, but its owner didn't allow photography to protect the collection.


This historic photograph depicts part of the once-busy shopping district in downtown Trinidad.  Jamieson's Department Store was a mainstay for Trinidad residents until it closed in 1985.  The Sal-Mar Dress Shop closed a few years later, but it was never cleaned out.  Dust is just part of the job...





Once we started work in the beautiful Fox Theatre, we knew we weren't in a "gold mine" of any sort, despite the fact that the walls were literally leafed in 14-karat.  While the clothes proved to be interesting, they weren't as old as promised (1940s & later), and moth holes abounded.  In case you're wondering (and we know you are!) the good stuff we got is mostly late 1960s office wear.  Think Mad Men, and you've got it.


This theatre-slash-storage unit was built around 1906, and it was an absolutely beautiful place to spend the day.

A "time capsule" of 1960s outfits still in the tissue paper - always a blast!
There was stuff in every corner!  These were hoarders of the highest degree, and it turned out so are their heirs.  Many of the best pieces were pulled out by relatives for themselves or to sell on Ebay. C'est la vie!

This dress was described
as a 1930s glamour gown,
but it actually dates to the
mid-1970s.




But the ambiance was certainly lovely, and there was a good chunk of vintage clothing our Vixens will enjoy. 
Fruits of a 48-hour shopping marathon!

And so we packed enough boxes to fill a corner of our warehouse, freighted the lot and settled in for a restful trip home.  I can say for certain that I enjoy selling coats (and sweaters and mittens and winter hats) more than I enjoy wearing them!  But for a few days, it was quite a diversion.


Despite a few bumps along the road, we enjoyed spectacularly beautiful countryside and an adventure we couldn't replicate if we tried.  If you head that way, expect the Wild West to live up to its name.


 Happy trails!

28 comments:

  1. Seems like a good place to be at mhmm. I am the kind of person who legit plans his trip while looking at online recommendations and experiences of other people. My family and friends call me a freak, but I think it is great, right? It's good to know how it went for others. Well, I prefer online reviews for everything tho. then whether it is to Buy Dissertation Online in UK or my next trip! Hahaha, loved the pics tho x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah, I just scrolled through your post, and I have to say, I absolutely love these pictures. I will read the content as well once I am done with an urgent task. I have to look for a website that provides Assignment Services and hand my assignment to them. As soon as I am done with that, I will return here to read your post in detail. I am leaving the tab open, so I don’t forget!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Essay Writing Services is the most called name in terms of essay writing based on quality research

    ReplyDelete
  4. I want the most Quick Assignment writing Help because, I'm facing tough routine of examination days

    ReplyDelete
  5. I recently met a kid to provide him Essay Writing Service and his grandfather have a whole garage full of vintage stuffs and some of the stuff are from roman era. I used to collect old coins when I was a kid.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amazing. It seems like a good and interesting place to visit. I must say that your picture collection is fantastic. I will read the entire content of your blog later on. I need to buy assignment online for one of my friends.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow!! It seems an interesting place to visit. Once I get some time from biology dissertation writing services. I would love to visit this place with my friends.

    ReplyDelete
  8. After getting a break from PhD dissertation writing services, I would love to plan a trip with my friends. Thanks to you that you shared an amazing and exciting place with all of us through this blog. I will love to visit this amazing place for sure on my next trip.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This means that the dissertation which is written is on the subect of finance. Finance deals with each and every activity that includes money in any form, that is in monetary terms. The finance dissertation helps in stating and explaining the usage of the concept of finance and its implications in day to day lives of everyone. As money has become the integral part of everyone’s live and cannot be omitted thus, to understand this cycle of money, the theory of finance was incorporated. Finance being the only subject that states the importance of money in a broader perspective. Finance dissertations is quite beneficial for those who generally deals in money and transactions.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very informative site! Keep up for the good work from all of us at https://www.portlandexcavationpros

    ReplyDelete
  11. Humanities classes encourage a lot of exploration and innovation. Humanities projects are an excellent method to introduce students to a variety of cultures, civilizations, and literary works. Unfortunately, due to the pressure of studying and submission deadlines, students rarely have time to perform in-depth research, go beyond what their teachers or lecturers ask, or learn about other cultures and civilizations. But employing British Dissertation Help could help you find a solution to this problem. By using our Humanities Assignment Help, you can raise your grade in the class and demonstrate a thorough comprehension of the material.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I will be taking this further as of today, uk deed poll office I will be taking action with the retail ombudsman and contacting my bank.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The vintage form of business approaches the Buy Essay Service in Washington DC to develop the best techniques of today

    ReplyDelete
  14. Autumn is probably the best time of the year to visit Arizona. The weather is mild and the crowds are not as bad. This makes it an amazing opportunity for a romantic trip, especially for those who plan to propose.
    Engagement ring Cost

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello, I appreciate you providing me with this knowledge. In the future, kindly continue to share informative content. For tabletop role-playing games like D&D and Pathfinder, I share the d4 dice roll with you. Enjoy your game while looking over the d4 random dice roller blog.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The Quran's mighty Surah Rahman is a source of countless benefits and pleasures. Regular recitation of it can result in profound spiritual healing and peace. For those who want to read and comprehend the Quran, the Surah Rahman PDF is a fantastic resource. The whole text of the Surah is included in the PDF, along with translations into a number of languages and scholarly annotations.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Popular active components in store purchased peel-off masks include polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate (glue) (glue). These assist the masque form a deposit on epidermis. Some DIY mask formulas call for incorporating Elmer’s adhesive into the composition. No thank you!
    Elizavecca clean up mask
    enable you to safeguard your skinv

    ReplyDelete
  19. There are mosques in the area where you can pray the namaz in accordance with the Dagenham Prayer Times. The Islamic centers and mosques in Dagenham Prayer Times contribute to the community's continued cohesion while also helping to shape the future of its Muslims.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Arabic To Urdu translation text - Because of how important it is to have effective communication skills, it is essential for a person to be able to communicate in more than one language these days. The acquisition of a new language such as Arabic requires a significant amount of labor or effort. On the other hand, people frequently consult dictionaries in order to learn about all of the important words in any language. On the other hand, communication gets simpler for a person who wants to increase the size of his vocabulary. People who are interested in learning the meaning of challenging Arabic words will find that the Arabic To Urdu is an excellent resource.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm impressed with the iOS mobile app development company expertise and professionalism. They deliver exceptional apps that are user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimized for performance. Highly recommended for top-notch app development

    ReplyDelete
  22. I had a great experience working with the Android tablet app development company. Their team is skilled and delivers high-quality apps that are intuitive, feature-rich, and compatible with a wide range of Android devices.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is an interesting blog, I want to know more about the history of Trinidad. Here for more information

    ReplyDelete
  24. embroidery digitizing said...
    wow, this is the nie clothing haul this is very nice and their clothes designs are very beautiful thanks for poisating this and keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you for your blog, which consistently provides a fresh perspective. Your unique approach injects new life into every subject you tackle.Civil Protective Order In New Jersey

    ReplyDelete
  26. Trinidad, Colorado's Vintage Clothing Haul showcased timeless fashion finds, including eclectic accessories and rare apparel. The curated selection reflected Trinidad's rich history and unique style preferences, offering affordable prices and a delightful vintage shopping experience. Cheap Divorce New York

    ReplyDelete