The Hugus building has housed many important businesses in Meeker. There have been two buildings, after one burned down in 1911. The Hugus building has been home to the Bank of Meeker where the infamous robbery happened, as well as many other iconic businesses. This is a very important building in Meeker, and a staple to the town. Below we will explore both buildings and the history behind them as well as what the Hugus building is like today.
The First Building
J.W. Hugus and Co. was founded in 1877, and had many stored in Wyoming and Colorado. Originally, Meeker got the store so they could provide supplies for the troops that were living in Meeker at the time. The store was started in military barracks, like many other stores in town. In 1889 the store had outgrown the barracks and in the same year they constructed a two-story brick building in the middle of town. As well as the Hugus Store, the building also housed the Meeker bank. This building's attraction made Meeker a major destination area, providing many people with the goods and serviced that they needed. This however came to an end when the building suffered a fire in 1911. This left nothing but bricks, forcing them to construct a new building for the Hugus business as Meeker was reliant on it for its economy.
Above is a slideshow of what the Hugus Building looked like when it had the Oldland Store inside.
After the Fire
The Hugus building had brought in many people to Meeker, as well as helped grow the economy. This pretty much left them no choice but to rebuild and continue the business. The building was rebuilt right after the fire in 1911. The business continued to be in operation until 1919 when J.W. Hugus decided to liquidate his assets. Then the building was purchased by A. Oldland and Company. After Oldland left the building was split into different stores. The building has continued to gain new owners and different businesses in the building.
Above is the aftermath of the fire that happened in the Hugus Building in 1911.
Today
The Hugus Building as of 2019, including multiple businesses.
The Hugus Building today continues to be a very important part of Meeker, housing multiple businesses and stores. It stands on the corner of Main and 6th Street, and is right next to the Meeker Hotel and Cafe. See what the building used to look like here!
