Our Story
Farmington Lumber and Hardware Company was one of the early businesses that built Farmington, NM.
In 1908 Charles C. Mumma came from Ohio to Durango, CO to work for his uncle, Charles Herr, in his lumber business. Upon the completion of the narrow gauge railroad from Durango to Farmington, Mumma moved to Farmington to start his own lumber business.
After a fire in 1916 (rumored to have been started following a bar room dare) destroyed the original building, Mumma bought the Gibson Lumber Company building, located two blocks north on Main Street, and moved his business to the present location.
The Gibson building was built in 1908, and has been in the family ever since. H. Merrill Taylor, Mumma’s son-in-law, bought into the business in 1944. Later Merrill’s son, Tom Taylor (former Mayor and State Representative), did the same in 1972. After 79 years in the same location, the lumber business closed in 1995 and immediately reopened to an exciting future in the world of art, with private studio spaces available to local artists.
(top photo left to right) C.C. Mumma, Marie Everett, Barbara Randolph, H.M. Taylor
After the success of The Studios, Artifacts Gallery opened to the public in 1999. The Gallery is operated by Tom’s wife, Bev, and daughter, Tara Taylor. Fast-forward another 16 years, and the dream expands with yet another remodel and the inclusion of the warehouse portion of the old building as part of the gallery.
Our recent expansion now includes an event exhibit space available for after hour rentals, as well as the Studio Bake Shoppe with an Espresso bar. The old building has now come full-circle with remnants of its lumber yard history integrated into a new comfortable space that is quickly becoming a lively gathering place in Historic Downtown Farmington.
Enjoy a historic experience in downtown Farmington. Come and visit us!
WHAT WE BELIEVE:
- We believe that excellence in customer service is our primary objective.
- We believe in producing and selling quality products in our store.
- We believe in nurturing the spirit of community by those who visit our business because we love where we live.
- We believe that family is the best – our personal family, our artist family, our business family.
- We believe that there is no substitute for hard work.
WHAT WE SUPPORT
Farmington is a small community with a big heart. We at Artifacts 302 believe in the spirit of giving back to worthy causes that support our close-knit community family.
- San Juan Regional Medical Foundation/Connelly House/Cathy Lincoln Breast Cancer Foundation
- Sexual Assault Services
- Leadership San Juan
- Leadership New Mexico
- Farmington Chamber of Commerce
- Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Downtown Farmington – A Mainstreet Project
- Art In The Alley Project
- Arts and Culture Committee
- San Juan College – Fine Arts Committee
- School of Energy
- Four Corners Economic Development
- San Juan Symphony
- Farmington Regional Animal Shelter
- Farmington Public Library
- Area High School Art Programs
- Four Corners Photographic Society
- Four Corners Quilt Guild
- San Juan County Historical Society
- Festival of Trees