Lovelorn stonemason carves
face in the facade

by Bryan Zug

   The two story sandstone structure at 112 East Main Street might look like an extension of the First National Bank Building, but up until 1990 it was actually a creation unto its own.

Named after the family that had owned it since 1892, the Plested Building has a sandstone facade that bears a striking resemblance to its towering neighbor.

The face of the building features ornate hand carved sandstone scrolls and columns. But the most intriguing facet of the facade is the face carved just below the corner of the right most window on the second story.

As the story goes, the stonemason who created the face of the building had fallen madly in love. The trouble was that the object of his affection had been the madam of a local home of, shall we say, ladies of the evening.

Well over 100 years later, his tribute still stands, though from her expression, there is considerable doubt that she returned the stonemason's feelings.

The second story of the Plested Building still houses the Aultman Photo Studio--a turn of the century photo house begun by Trinidad's Ollie Aultman in 1889. The studio has been located there since moving from its location in the West Block in 1901.

During remodeling plans at the First National Bank in 1990, builders broke through the common wall that separated the two buildings. Thus, comes the perception that the two buildings are one in the same. First National Bank also refurbished the Aultman Studio space at this time. The studio itself is still working and intact, complete with turn of the century photographic equipment and backdrops.

You can still stop by and have your picture taken and developed much as it was 100 years ago.

Sources:

"A Walk Through the History of Trinidad" written by Jerry Stokes on behalf of the Trinidad Historical Society. 1986. Trinidad, Colorado.