OLD FIREHOUSE HISTORY

During winter of 1891-2, Clarence C. Hord, a merchant from Missouri who worked in Tres Piedras, NM, heard of Creede’s big silver-gold strike and decided to move to Creede to open a store. By early summer the frame building was completed. Mr. Hord was moving in his inventory when the June 25, 1892 fire burned the North end of town. Undaunted, Hord rebuilt, this time with bricks. In 1893 he painted the landmark sign “Hord, Lightner & Co. Dry Goods and Groceries” still visible high on the South brick wall.

The business was sold in 1914 to the Creede Mercantile Company. Over time, the building came to be used as the Creede Firehouse. Several years after the Creede Volunteer Fire Department moved to its new Underground Firehouse, the building was sold at auction. Renovations were made to the building in 1992.

Today the Old Firehouse serves as a Bed and Breakfast, Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlour. The building is located in the heart of “downtown” Creede on Main Street.

Here's a land where all are equal
Of high or lowly birth -
A land where men make millions
Dug from the dreary earth.
Here meek and mild eyed burros
On mineral mountains feed,
It's day all day in the day-time
And there is no night in Creede.

The cliffs are solid silver
With wondrous wealth untold,
And the beds of running rivers
Are lined with purest gold.
While the world is filled with sorrow,
And hearts must break and bleed,
It's day all day in the day-time
And there is no night in Creede.

Cy Warman