Newest main street business owner seeks info on building's history

The building at 242 South Colorado Avenue in downtown Haxtun is the future site of Town Square Realty. Realtor Johnna Harris closed on the property in November and with help from family and local contractors, plans are to open the office in just a few months. While work begins on the inside, Harris is asking for the community's help to learn the building's history.

Town Square Realty first opened in Sterling in 2014 by Harris' mom, Wendy Jerman, who has been selling real estate since 2001. In 2015, Harris obtained her realtors license and joined her mother in business. Over the past few years, Harris and her husband built a new home and moved to Fleming. Business has since expanded into Haxtun and Phillips County and Harris said when she found out friend and local contractor Cash Cochran had a building in downtown Haxtun, she started the process of expanding Town Square Realty further east from Sterling.

Harris purchased the building and half of the lot to the north of it from Cochran, who will also serve as one of the local contractors who are scheduled to work on the building. Hopes are to feature an industrial look on the inside with a large, brick mural on the outside highlighting Haxtun's history. Harris also hopes to include a local artist in the mural planning and painting phases. The inside of the building is mostly gutted, Harris said, so construction primarily includes putting it all back together. One long wall inside of exposed brick will stay and an open exposed ceiling will give a sleek industrial feel to the place.

Harris said plans are to open the Haxtun Town Square Realty office several days a week with the possibility of bringing on additional realtors to expand services and hours. Having a second site for the mother-daughter realtor duo, Harris said, allows the business to expand more than it is now into the Haxtun area as well as further into Phillips County. It also allows Harris to work closer to home several days a week. Moving to Fleming was a great choice for her family, Harris said, and the community and school have been overwhelming supportive. The Harris kids, 13-year-old Kinsleigh, 9-year-old Evelynn and 7-year-old Jaxon all attend Fleming Schools. Harris's husband, Derek, is a certified addiction councilor with New Pathways in Sterling.

In her free time, Harris said she keeps busy with her family and especially enjoys running. She can be found on Instagram as coloradorunningrealtor.

While construction gets underway at the new Town Square Realty location, Harris is asking the community to share history, artifacts and any knowledge about the building with hopes of incorporating it into the esthetics of the inside of the building in its décor as well as outside in the mural. Recently work crews have begun stripping down the front of the building, which revealed the name Madsen Cleaners. Some research indicates the cleaners name on the building has been there since the late 1960s. The building was also once home to Lyle's Service and owned by Kelly Elwood.

Even though her building is still under construction and the office won't officially be open for a few more months, Harris is still taking listings and serving real estate needs in the Haxtun and surrounding area. She can be found on Facebook at Johnna Harris, Realtor – Town Square Realty and reached at (970) 580-1970.