Zaidee Rockwood Perkins' Wedding Dress
The Rockwood Family
Zaidee’s father Thomas Rockwood came from Ohio probably in the early 1870s with his brothers Jim and William. It appears they bounced around working in smelters until Tom took a job at the Centennial Hotel in Silverton. There he worked for Isaac and Caroline Grout and fell in love with their daughter Zaidee. Tom and Zaidee were married on September 23, 1878. In 1879, Zaidee gave birth to a daughter also named Zaidee. Baby Zaidee's mother died 9 days later, probably of complications from the birth. The bereaved Tom took his young daughter to Durango where he ran the Grand Central Hotel for his in-laws. (The Grand Central was located on the east side of Main Avenue between today’s 11th and 12th Streets.)
In 1886, Tom married Luella Bennaway, oddly enough also on September 23. At the time of the wedding, the family lived in the Amy Mansion, now known as Hood Mortuary. The house most identified with the Rockwood family is at 848 East 3rd Avenue.
Tom and Luella Rockwood with their daughter Alice in front of their home, the Amy Mansion, circa 1900. Catalog number: 88.10.11
Zaidee Rockwood grew up in Durango and was one of the darlings of the town. She graduated from Durango High School in 1896, winning the Trew Award for the best essay in her class of seven and the Demorest Prohibition Prize for the best temperance speech. Both of her medals are in the collections of the Animas Museum. Her husband-to-be, Clayton Perkins was born in Galesburg, IL and lived in Durango for two years before they were married. Clayton went into business with his new father-in-law. Their company, Rockwood & Perkins Insurance, Real Estate, and Loan office was located on the east side of Main Avenue between 9th and 10th.
Clayton Perkins (center) and Zaidee Rockwood (right) with their cousin Grace Miller posing on top of Perrins Peak. Catalog number: 01.36.49