The home originally had 17 coal burning fireplaces, many of which have since been covered over. The chimneys of the fireplaces were too narrow for the soft, locally mined coal.  Harder coal had to be shipped from back east until the fireplaces were converted over to gas inserts. The mansion was the first home in Durango to have indoor plumbing and electricity. According to reporters the mansion was heated and lighted in “the most modern manner,” and was “furnished in elegant taste, heated and lighted as a New York City mansion.” Bars were added to the first floor windows around 1893 to protect from the smelter workers who were laid off due to a local depression or to protect from wild Indian and drunk cowboys, depending on which historian tells the story. The bars have since been removed, but a person can still see where they were located. The Amy’s lived in the home until the late 1890’s when the smelter was purchased by a large corporation. The home was then bought by a local family of the name Pingery who owned the home until they lost it during the depression to a gentleman named Hatcher from Pagosa Springs.

The Mansion remained a private home until 1935 when “Speed” Doran, the owner of Hood Mortuary purchased the home for $6,000 and moved the business from its location on 9th Street and 2nd Avenue. The overall appearance of the home remains the same although some interior and exterior modifications have been made.

Hood Mortuary was started in 1902 by Andrew Fuller Hood who also owned Funeral Homes in Aztec, Silverton, Dolores, and Mancos. In 1902 Hood Mortuary was located behind the old Masonic Lodge. It now houses offices and the Red Snapper restaurant. The old Masonic Lodge was also built by Mr. Hood and also served originally as a boarding house. In 1924 Mr. Hood died and in 1926 Mrs. Hood sold the Mortuary to Mr. Doran. In 1945 Hood Mortuary was sold to Ray Calloway who in 1959 sold to Charles Canatsy. In 1971, Harold Young purchased the mortuary from Chuck Canatsy and 1991, William Dunn bought the funeral home from Harold Young. In 2005, Ryan and Kristal Phelps purchased the mortuary from Bill Dunn.

Throughout the years there have been several other funeral homes that have come and gone in Durango, but Hood Mortuary has continued to have the foresight to stay in touch with the changing face of funeral service by consistently providing the service local families want and need.

The current owners of the mortuary are Ryan & Kristal Phelps who have recently opened a second Hood Mortuary location in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.