Jacob Boston was an early photographer in Durango from 1884 to the mid-1890s. He produced many photographs, including photo cabinet cards like this one, from his original studio located on the northeast corner of 11th Street and Main Avenue. His workshop burned in the 1889 downtown fire. He resumed his business shortly thereafter, relocating above Reinsburg’s Fruit Store. Here, he has photographed two Durango women, possibly named Martha and Bridget, and presumed to be either members or friends of the Clarke family. Sidesaddles were developed as a way for women in skirts or dresses to ride a horse in a modest manner while also wearing fine clothing. As split skirts and breeches become fashionable for women, this form of riding gave way to riding astride. The photographer, Boston, moved to Paonia in 1899 to ranch, dying at the age of 68 in 1915. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 22.09.1.18 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)
Jacob Boston was an early photographer in Durango from 1884 to the mid-1890s. He produced many photographs, including photo cabinet cards like this one, from his original studio located on the northeast corner of 11th Street and Main Avenue. His workshop burned in the 1889 downtown fire. He resumed his business shortly thereafter, relocating above Reinsburg’s Fruit Store. Here, he has photographed two Durango women, possibly named Martha and Bridget, and presumed to be either members or friends of the Clarke family. Sidesaddles were developed as a way for women in skirts or dresses to ride a horse in a modest manner while also wearing fine clothing. As split skirts and breeches become fashionable for women, this form of riding gave way to riding astride. The photographer, Boston, moved to Paonia in 1899 to ranch, dying at the age of 68 in 1915. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, [email protected] (Catalog Number: 22.09.1.18 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)