Business Spotlight: Trinidad
Trinidad Abstract & Title Company - All in the Family
  

Standing: Gwen Brock, Kathy Sanchez, Robert Vigil Jr.,
Henry Furu, Elizabeth Castillo
Seated: Gaylene Furu-Vigil and Irma Furu

  By 1927, Mr. Furu purchased the business and in 1936 bought the Colonial Hotel Building (the Henry G. Longnecker Building on Commercial Street) where he continued to run the business. His son, Alf Henry Andresen Furu, Jr., took over with his wife Patricia Furu in 1948. Since the 1980’s Alf Henry Andresen Furu, III, President, and his wife Irma Jean Furu, Vice President, run the business. Now their daughter Gaylene Anne Furu-Vigil, Bookkeeping Treasurer, and her husband, Robert D. Vigil, Jr., Computer Indexer, are learning the business to keep it in the family. Trinidad Abstract's other valuable employees are Gwendolyn D. Brock, closing department, Elizabeth Castillo, final policy department, and Kathy M. Sanchez, part-time indexer.

  Trinidad Abstract & Title Company underwrites for First American Title Insurance Company. Title insurance is for the benefit of owners and the loan company insuring that title to real property is correct. Research of the property is traced back over the ownership of every lot, block, and acre, to provide the owners with perfect, clean title, giving unquestioned ownership to the buyer and loan company. They also have tract index books which they hand write every instrument recorded in Las Animas County by legal description to keep track of title for each parcel of land in the county. These index books date back to the early 1800's.

  The Trinidad Abstract building is elegantly furnished with many antiques including the original time clock for Colorado and Southern (C & S ) Railroad, dating back to 1874, along with the last scroll of paper the railroad workers used for their time clock. Then there's "Big Ben," a grandfather clock from 1887 featuring a 40 lb. pendulum suspended from a tiny but mighty wire that still keeps perfect time. They also have several old-fashioned painted safes of every kind, from wall-mounted, free-standing, to a walk-in safe, along with a huge nickel silver National Cash Register with drawers for different accounts, antique office desks, and microfilm readers. One can't help but notice the beautiful garden display in the front window of the office with crown of thorns, Norfolk pine peace plants, ferns, century plants and many more, which have been there since Mr. Furu, Jr. ran the business in the early 50's. 

  The Furus and employees of Trinidad Abstract & Title Company would like to thank all the realtors, banks, and land owners of Las Animas County who trust these professionals to do business for them. It's a tremendous feeling to be involved in the growth and prosperity of Las Animas County.