Walsenburg 1882: Huerfano Lodge, A.F. & A.M., elected Benton Canon, W.M., C.D. Hendren, S.W., J.K. Kincaid, J.W. and Charles O. Unfug, secretary. Installation will be on St. John’s Day, Dec. 27. 1890: H.L. Corder has bought out the Jellison store on Sixth Street and intends to run it assisted by his brother. 1895: The handsome onyx banquet lamps at Baxter and Kearn’s is just the thing for a X-mas present [sic]. 1900: The old Rouse Presbyterian church has been sold to George Crosland who will erect from it a machine shop in Walsenburg or else convert the building into two dwelling houses. 1906: Died, Henry Gordon Sr., 58. He was born in Ireland in 1839 and went to Pennsylvania in 1870 to mine coal, but about 32 years ago arrived here to open the Walsen Mine for Ex.-Gov. Hunt who was leasing the land. Gordon was also the first to take coal from the Pictou mine. 1912: Electrice, the lady who defies electricity, will be appearing this week in the Otto Theatre. 1918: The county board of health has lifted the Spanish Influenza ban and
schools, church services, theaters and other gatherings will again be permitted in most parts of the county except around Clover, where Ronaldo Trujillo and two of his sons died of the disease this week. 1924: The Colorado Oil Company leased about 10,000 acres around Farisita and will sink a test well. 1930: The men and women of the Methodist Church served 225 people at their pre-holiday turkey dinner, earning $175.00. 1936: Baxter Hardware and Trading Company was selected as having the most attractive Christmas display in the store windows to take first prize in the merchants’ contest. Krier’s Federated Stores took second and Star Drug was third. 1942: Sunday through Tuesday at the Fox Theater, Walt Disney’s “Bambi”, “The Spoilers” starring John Wayne and Marlene Dietrich, a color cartoon and the latest news. 1948: Slovenian Federated Lodges will give a dance Saturday night in the Walsenburg Pavilion with music by the Meltones. Band members are Louis Nardin, Bob Lloyd, Malcolm, MacDonald, Pete Lopez, Floyd Murr and Alfred Lenzotti. 1954: Pfc. Oress DeHerrera, son of Felix DeHerrera of Walsenburg, was recently selected first string halfback on the IX Corps all-star football team in Japan. 1960: Somewhat over 19 acres of land in the 700 and 800 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue have been purchased by Spanish Peaks Corporation from the Sisters of Charity. 1966: Walsenburg High School won its first victory of the basketball season with a 65-60 battle with La Veta. Louis Mall was high scorer with 22 points. 1972: Panther of the Week is Derito Bonicelli who broke the previous school record of 39 points scored in one game, held by Art Cruz, by scoring 40 against Buena Vista at the Salida Tournament last weekend. 1978: Dear Santa, I will leave a glass of milk and money. My I have the star wars collection? I have been a good boy. Please send me a letter back. 1984: Elected to the Huerfano County Chamber of Commerce board of directors were Lavelle Mapes, Gordon Kelley, Dorothy McCart, Tom Powell and Walter Way.
La Veta (30 year anniversary of La Veta column)
1876: There are a large number of freighters camped here, but freight is very scarce and that hardly at living wages. 1881: We are pleased Robert Todd Lincoln will be retained in President Arthur’s cabinet since he is personally and financially interested in the prosperity of La Veta. 1892: Charley Mack has his new stone barn up one story, but the snow has caused the building to cease to grow. 1898: Nearly every wagon on the upper Cucharas is hauling a wagon box mounted on bob sleighs. 1904: Christmas Cakes, Wedding Cakes, Fruit Cakes, Divorce Cakes and any old kind of cakes at The Bakery in the Post Office building. 1910: Anyone desiring hand painted china for Christmas call on Mrs. L.P. Springer. 1917: Because the government is urging the storage of more natural ice to save coal in the manufacture of the artificial kind, there is a good prospect for the renewal of the ice business at this place. 1922: The Methodists are about $128.00 richer from the proceeds of their banquet and the Baptist ladies netted $111.00 on their two dinners and food sale. 1928: Dr. Lee had a narrow escape from serious injury or worse Wednesday when his car took a nose dive off Lougheed Hill and landed in the ditch. 1933: The road to Walsenburg dried up this week, except for the north and south lane beyond Pinon Hill which seems to be a catch all for the snow drifting east. 1939: More acres of farm land were abandoned after planting in this area during the past season than for many years previous, according to R.R. Holderman, secretary of the AAA program in this region. It was estimated that 40 percent of county crops planted abandoned before harvest. 1945: Paul Surace, president of the Colorado Cheese Company here, says the cheese is now sold in 32 states as well as Canada and shipments amount to 25,000 pounds a week, which earned the company $167,000 this year through October 31. 1951: A capacity crowd jammed the sales barn for the third annual Huerfano County Hereford Breeders Sale which brought in $52,810 for 57 bulls and five heifers, for an average of $838.50 per animal (?). 1957: The fauna room of the new Francisco Museum is expected to be completed by Dec. 29, the birthday of John Elley, donor of the many stuffed animals to be displayed. 1963: Mildred’s Fine Foods and Geiser Freight Lines wish all of their friends the best of the holiday season and thank them for their patronage. 1969: George Duzenack, 74, is reported to be in satisfactory condition after being struck by a vehicle in Walsenburg. 1975: The Colorado Stump Jumpers, a blue grass band from Denver, entertained a large crowd in the La Veta Lodge last Saturday night. 1985: This issue carries a new column, ”This Week in La Veta History” which will become a regular feature in the future. Editor’s note: Thank you Nancy Christofferson for doing such a fabulous job all these years!
