La Veta
1901: F.L. Martin of La Veta was one of the passengers shaken up in the locomotive explosion just east of town that killed the conductor and fireman and spread debris to a radius of 500 yards.
1907: A gasoline lamp outside on the porch of the Columbine Saloon helps greatly in illuminating Ryus Avenue in that vicinity.
1913: C.F. Boyd has almost completed building a 17-foot high silo, with 12 feet above ground and five under, at his ranch on the Cucharas River.
1918: Four new members of the Adventist Church were baptized in Mill Lake Sunday afternoon.
1923: Following five hours of torrential rains, three or four streams of water could be seen coursing down the north face of the West Spanish Peak.
1928: Sulphur Springs will now be known as San Isabel Springs. The development company has surveyed and laid out 84 lots, and will build a hotel, large swimming pool, tennis court and children’s playground. Dances will be held every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
1933: A party of 14 hiked to Trinchera Peak but some fell in the creek, two sprained their ankles and only six reached the top.
1942: The ordinance prohibiting riding bicycles and roller skates on the sidewalks in the business district will be strictly enforced by order of the Town Board.
1948: Charles Graham, new owner of the Sulphur Springs resort eight miles southwest of La Veta, announces the resort is now open for business under the management of Ray Overby.
1954: About 400 people attended the 4-H Fair Livestock Sale Sunday which was the biggest ever with 40 steers and 10 lambs sold at about the same prices as last year.
1964: The “Sweepstakes Award” in the Spanish Peaks Garden Club Flower Show at the 4-H Fair last weekend was won by Florence Cummings who received nine blue ribbons. Mrs. Stella Harrison was second.
1972: The 34th annual 4-H Fair last weekend in the Cow Shed was under the supervision of Fair Manager Gene Heikes assisted by Bob Hasenack and Louis Magnino.
1979: Doris Tracy finally received her honorable discharge from the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots after 35 years.
Walsenburg
1900: M. Bernstein has gone east on his semi-annual purchasing trip and will return with the latest fashions for the ladies.
1908: James A. Garfield, secretary of the interior, passed through the city Tuesday on his way to the San Luis Valley to try to straighten out some water tangles.
1914: The public library has moved into the court house, just to the right of the 5th Street entrance.
1919: The engineer was killed and the south bound passenger train badly wrecked Tuesday on the high grade just above the foot of Main Street.
1925: Grand Opening specials at Bain’s Golden Eagle Aug. 25 will include children’s shoes, 89¢; girls corselets, 29¢, towels, 9¢ and up. Be sure to visit our baggage department on the balcony.
1931: George Stiglich, formerly with Quality Shoe Shop, announces the opening of Stiglich Shoe Repairing Company at 515 Main Street.
1936: Ed Friel, Alamo miner, was found in a cellar decapitated by dynamite. Authorities are trying to determine if it was a suicide or murder.
1941: The Colorado Supply Company filling station at Big Four was robbed of a large quantity of merchandise and auto accessories.
1947: More than one and a half million pounds of wheat have been shipped by rail from Huerfano County, or approximately 30,000 bushels, during the record harvest.
1953: Lewis Drilling Company began drilling for oil today on the Maurice Saliba ranch 10 miles southeast of Walsenburg.
1961: Ray Sandoval, an employee of the county shops since 1952, was approved as a new patrolman for the Walsenburg Police Department.
1968: A $500,000 construction project has been started at Marlboro Estates to include a 40-unit motel, restaurant and lounge to seat 217 people, and a service station.
1973: Lonna Vezzani’s 100-pound champion sheep sold to Sporleder Feeds for $72.50 at the 4-H Livestock Sale Sunday.
1980: Martin and Julia Romero celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. The couple operated Martin’s Grocery on West 8th Street from 1946 to 1974 and also owned the Golden Nugget from 1963-1974.
