File:Main (close view) Dr. Dodge's 1877.jpg

photographic paper photography (process) This appears to be a copy photo by JRB of an earlier picture. This has to be one of the earliest pictures we have of Main because it is just completed. Construction debris is on the ground. A rain barrel is at the left and it is taken early In the morning on a summer day near June when the sun can get around to the north face of the building. The right part of the picture is not clear. The roof appears to be slate on the main roof and on the north tower. The building was reported to be complete on April 18, 1876 and was accepted on April 22, 1876. The University did not open until September 5, 1877, and that winter 1877-78 the slate was replaced with Cedar shingles. The picture could only have been taken in the summer of 1876 or 1877. Note the ornamental iron on the roof ridges and towers and the large iron covers over the two big chimneys. The iron on the roof and chimneys was removed very early, on the towers much later. It is not clear whether this picture or the one on pg. 27 of Glory Colorado is the earliest known picture of the University. The one on pg. 27 is the better known - but all known copy negatives of it are blurred and are not clear. All details of the building in the two seem to be the same (except for open windows) including the rain barrel, the dark areas on the stone foundations, the roof details including patterns of light and dark in the slate. One can see small trees without foliage here, while In G.C. there is foliage. This would suggest that the trees may have just been put out here and they leafed out later. However, on pg. 27 there is a dark object at the NW corner of the building which might be a pile of construction supplies which is not visible here. The words "Dr. Dodge's, (Main Close View)" and "1877" appear to have been written at three different times.