Special to the HT
MEEKER | The mystery photo shows metal stagecoach cutouts mounted on three parking lot light poles at Smoking River Brewery. Despite years of exposure, the cutouts remain intact — notably without bullet holes.
A closer look reveals a marking, “S/S,” etched into the metal. The slash resembles a squiggle. The same mark appears in the concrete walkway near the front entrance, more noticeable when entering than when leaving after sampling a few brews.
At first glance, the marking appeared to be a cattle brand, but no such brand could be found associated with Rio Blanco County. The mystery was solved after Renae Neilson shared a 2004 photograph of the building from its days as Stage Stop Auto Sales. The “S/S” stands for Stage Stop.
Before that, the property was a residence in the 1970s. One of the homeowners was Glen David Sutton and his wife, Doris Lillian Fenner Sutton. Sutton worked as a government trapper and maintained an outbuilding on the property to store traps. Census records from 1930 place the Sutton family near Axial, living next door to Mollie Rink, a locally known character who also spent time living in Meeker. Sutton died in 1975; Doris Sutton died in 1972.
The house was demolished in 1986, and the property remained vacant until 2001, when the Steiner family built the Stage Stop Auto Sales building. The dealership operated briefly before becoming a carwash, then later the Stage Stop Butcher Shop and deli, operated by Jason Steiner. A 2013 photo shows the building as Brothers Custom Processing Inc., offering deli, meat market, wild game processing and dry ice services.
The space was later leased to White River Bakery before being remodeled into its current use as Smoking River Brewery, now thriving under the ownership of the Borchard family and their employees.
The mystery photo was suggested by Jan Zuber. Sources include Hannah and Kevin Borchard; Renae Neilson and staff at the Rio Blanco County Assessor’s Office; Rio Blanco County Assessor records; Rio Blanco Herald Times archives; and the 1930 federal census.
