I'm working on a historic building survey in the town of Cortez. Located in the arid southwestern corner of Colorado, Cortez relied on water piped into the Montezuma Valley from the nearby Dolores River drainage. The town has a wonderful collection of bungalows reflecting prosperity in the late teens and the twenties. Many of these snug homes have been remodelled over time, requiring a little imagination and help from the historical photographs in the Montezuma County Assessor's Office files. A little research reveals some important unknown surprises---such as this house, which was constructed of ornamental concrete block but is now covered with wood siding. The Assessor's card in the photo above is a glimpse into the home's past.
