Quite often I hear people ask why are there so many vacant store buildings on Main Street of Saguache? I think the answer is quite simple - many years ago, highway traffic came down Main Street - now it doesn’t. From the beginning, all westbound traffic toward Gunnison left Saguache via Denver Ave., following the old “Creek Road”. All of this changed in 1946 when State Highway #114 was re-routed along Gunnison Ave. leading westward cross mesa land, past the airport where about five miles later it joins up with the old Hwy 114 near Larry Ward’s mailbox. This road project created a Y formation in town, with Hwy 114 headed West and Hwy 285 routed South following Eighth Street. Thereby all highway travel now bypassed Main Street as a result of this project. In following years, business establishments have closed on Main Street and new ones have been built along the present highway.

Even when the “cuts” south of town became a reality in 1938, traffic entering Saguache from the South was routed East on Pitkin Ave. for 4 blocks and then North up our Main Street. So downtown merchants benefited from the traffic going past their stores.

It is interesting to remember the days before we had the “cuts” south of town on Hwy 285. Up until that time, all northbound traffic from the valley was routed East, just South of the present ‘cuts’. Then a jog North and another one East took the traveler to the corner where the old Fair Grounds existed many years ago.

From this point the route once again headed North, crossing Saguache Creek at the old townsite of Milton, continuing North past Hillside Cemetery, the roadway entered Saguache, going past the old Fort, which we old-time residents still call the Fred Curtis place. Going West on Christy Ave. for two blocks, you arrive on Main Street of the County Seat and continued North through the business area.

So, back in the ”good olde days” travelers saw more of our little town. I think it would be great, if this could somehow happen again!