Walking Tour

Goshen County was carved out of Laramie County in 1911 and Torrington was incorporated in February 1908.

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad came from the east in 1900, and the Union Pacific came from the south in 1926, a necessity for the Holly Sugar factory which opened that year.

The Lincoln Land Company, a subsidiary of the CB & Q, which did all it could to promote agriculture in this area, owned the land Torrington sits on.

The Walking Tour is a project of: The Goshen County Cultural Resource & Historic Preservation Committee. For an larger view of photos click on them.

1. 1841 Main Street. The Torrington Hotel/Downing Reed office building was constructed in 1906 on land purchased from the Lincoln Land Company, as was most property in the original town. Old‑timers say the early hotel was a place "where anything could happen."

2. 1930‑1934‑1940 Main Street. The Kellam, Sawyer and Snow buildings form a cluster of businesses on the northwest corner of the block. Stonewalls can still be seen on the outside of some of the buildings. The Kellam property was purchased in 1906 for $200. The original Sawyer building was put up in 1908, and John T. Snow located his bank on the corner property he purchased in 1902. Snow Hall upstairs was used for dances and meetings.

3. 2001 Main Street. The Trail Hotel property was purchased by Joseph Emery in 1903, B.F. Yoder purchased the land in 1916 and built the hotel in 1919. A bank was located here, as well as a restaurant and lounge for hotel patrons.

4. 2101 Main Street. This property, now called the Nolan/Eaton building. was deeded to James P. Nolan in 1918. Sheriff Oliver Colyer purchased it in 1925 and Albert L. and Laura J. Eaton became owners in 1935. Not too many years ago it was a large automobile dealership.

5. 2241 Main Street. The W.O. Eaton’s and the First American Baptist Church bought this property in 1921. The congregation met in the basement for 16 years until they could afford the main structure which was dedicated in 1938.

6. 100 East 23rd Avenue. James P. Nolan purchased this property in 1918‑ Sheriff Oliver Colyer owned it before selling it to Christopher Colombus and Madge Yoder Smith in the 1940's. The current owners are engaged in a long‑term restoration of the home.

7. 136 West 23rd Avenue. This impressive two‑story home was built it, 1916 on land purchased by John L. McDonald. The Oliver Colyers lived here at one time where Mrs. Colyer and the cleaning lady were severely burned when a fire started in the basement.

8. 2141 West A Street. Originally a Presbyterian Church, this building is now the Church of Christ. The enthusiastic Presbyterian congregation needed all of its faith and energy when the first chapel, built in 1906, was totally destroyed by fire a year later. It was replaced in 1909. The Lincoln Land Company donated land for the church.

9. 2142 West A Street. This Colonial style home is on property sold to John T. Snow in 1903. The cowboy turned banker helped establish the First National Bank in Torrington in 1904. The American Legion Travis Snow Post #5 is named in honor of his nephew who died in France during WWI.

10. 236 West 22nd Avenue. B.F. Yoder who also built the Trail Hotel home built this brick in 1914. The Yoder family produced many leading citizens.

11. 2202 West B. Street, Wilda Copeland purchased this land in 1909 for $350.00. The home was built in 1911. Horse stalls are still visible at the back of the barn, which stands at the rear of the lot.

12. 2142 West B Street. Probably the only home of this style ever built in Torrington, this Cape Home was built in 1917 on property that was sold to Ode Flowers (Mrs. H.W.) Yoder in 1908.

13. 220 West 21st Avenue. Dr. J.A. Conaway and his wife, Dudley, built this two‑story home in 1913. Sister of prominent Goshen County rancher, Gordon Doty. She was clerk of the district court 1925‑1955.

The City of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College, Doctor L.B. Morgan, Hal Brethour, Pinnacle Bank, Platte Valley National Bank, Trailblazers _ Torrington High School Alums, Community First Bank, First National Bank, and First State Bank have provided funding for this project.