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This week in history for April 17, 2014

Walsenburg 1882: The coal mines west of town have contracted for 10,000 props of ten feet long and five inches broad at the top for construction purposes. 1893: A railroad switch was added for the Solar Coal Company Tuesday, a branch of the United Coal Company. 1899: The engine room, boiler house and slack-way at the Sunshine Mine were destroyed by fire Sunday, according to Superintendent Louis Kalbaugh. 1905: Fully 2,500 people turned out April 14 to get a good square look at a good square president when his train stopped at the Colorado and Southern depot. Many of the school children carried American flags to wave at Teddy. 1911: The Pictou mine has been worked very steady lately, hope it continues so. 1917: The Union Labor Gazette says a special train will take miners to Ludlow for the commemoration program and speeches by leaders of the United Mine Workers of America. 1923: The Castle Coal and Supply Company has opened their new mine roller factory at the corner of Fifth and Hendren streets. 1930: Dr. A.F. Stanley, for 21 years camp physician at Rouse and Lester, has transferred his headquarters to 123 West Seventh Street in Walsenburg to take charge of the Pryor, Pictou and Rapson camps. 1936: The Cameron and Walsen softball team beat the Tioga nine 13-3 Saturday morning. 1942: A total of 146 bonds, representing a sizeable sum of money invested in war savings, were delivered to employees of Colorado Fuel and Iron Company at the Cameron mine in March, the largest delivery in any one month since the beginning of the program. 1948: About one half of Huerfano County’s coal miners have joined the present strike. 1954: Miners at Big Four and Pictou mines are to be transferred by the CF&I to the Allen mine in Las Animas County when these mines close. 1960: A specialty act for the St. Mary Band-O-Rama will be the “Beatnik” band composed of George Dussart, Ralph Lopez, Bill Yribia and Robert Vallejo tomorrow night in the school auditorium. 1966: The old bell from the Walsen Camp school is now in use atop the Catholic Church in Dumas, Texas. The 500 pound bell may date back as far as the 1880s. 1972: The 1970 census figures show Huerfano County has 6,644 residents, of whom 3.4 percent were foreign born and 14.3 percent were native born with one or both parents of foreign birth. 1978: With the beginning of the contract with San Isabel Electric to provide power for the city, the Walsenburg power plant was shut down with a flick of the wrist April 11. An estimated 100 tons of excess coal is now on sale at the plant at $30 a ton. 1984: Walter Way has nearly completed a large wooden, carved coal miner statue and it was suggested it be placed in Triangle Park to replace Indian Joe, also carved by School Superintendent Way. 1990: Lathrop Youth Camp, with accommodations for 27 boys, employs 25 people and has an annual payroll of more than $690,000.

La Veta

1884: The town marshal was instructed to clean and fill the town’s ditches using the labor of those men owing poll taxes. 1890: It has been determined a drainage box is needed across Francisco Street between Goemmer’s blacksmith shop and E.E. Shafer’s lumber yard. 1896: Coal. The brightest and cleanest in the market, is the Springer Coal. It recommends itself. 1902: Stud Service available in John Goemmer’s rock barn in La Veta on Mondays and Tuesdays, other days on the ranch. 1908: Joe Hamilton, well known here, died of the injuries he received last week in a gas explosion in the Oakview mine, leaving a wife and children. 1914: George A. Edmonston, who leases the store belonging to E.A. Strange, has given the building a new tar and gravel roof. 1920: Saturday was a gala day in La Veta for the first airplane which has ever attempted flights from this place carried a number of our citizens on a pleasure jaunt over the town at $12.50 a head for a 15 minute ride. 1926: “For the fourth time since spring opened, I have put my galoshes away for the summer, but hereafter they stay where I can place my hand on them any moment”, one lady remarked. A wise decision. 1932: An all day quilting party and luncheon at the home of Mrs. McMillan Friday was enjoyed by twenty ladies of the community. 1938: So many people in La Veta have interesting collections or just interest in arrowheads, Indian pottery, guns, etc., that a room should be located for a local museum. 1944: Ed Simon was appointed fire chief and will reorganize the department immediately with old and new volunteers. 1950: There will be an Easter Cantata Sunday evening at 8 p.m. in the Baptist Church presented by the Order of Eastern Star and Masonic members. 1956: Most marriages are happy. It’s the living together afterward that causes all the trouble. 1962: The Roping Club elected Billy Riggins, president, Ellis Weir, vice president and Lee Spalding, secretary and treasurer. 1968: The Colorado State Forest Service has trained 40 young men and faculty members of Lathrop Youth Camp in fire suppression and they will be available for the coming season. 1974: About 100 children turned out for the third annual Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt Saturday despite the chilly winds and snow flurries that cancelled Walsenburg’s egg hunt. 1980: Although there was a good deal of discussion by the town board on the expiration of the lease of the dump on July 1, no action was taken. 1986: Al Dunbar, born 63 years ago in a house just east of the lumberyard on east Ryus Avenue, has returned to La Veta after an absence of 54 years. 1990: The state has ordered that the town landfill must be closed on or before Oct. 9, 1993.

Cement plant concerns

Building inspector suggests a negotiated move out of Northlands to site near prison WALSENBURG — The Walsenburg City Council convened a special meeting Friday, March

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