Walsenburg 1892: Mr. and Mrs. John Templeton of Walsen lost their youngest child and their neighbors Mr. and Mrs. William Snedden lost their two month old baby the next day, both of capillary bronchitis. 1898: It is reported that the Pictou mines, in sinking a third slope, cut the water course that feeds the Sulphur Springs. 1903: The county has secured the entire block, including the Walsenburg Livery Stable which will be torn down, for the new court house. The lots will be enclosed with an ornamental iron fence and the building will be 80 by 112 feet, two stories with a basement, and measure 80 feet at its highest
point. 1908: Frederick A., three year old son of John Marshall, died of diphtheria. 1912: Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Buckland motored from Walsen Camp to spend Christmas Day in Walsenburg. 1919: Parson Brown has purchased the Sessum barbershop on East Sixth and will welcome his regular customers at the new location. 1926: Nearly one million dollars in improvements were done in the present year in Walsenburg, including Norton’s Cottage Camp, the long awaited union depot, the power plant addition, high school gymnasium and athletic field, St. Mary auditorium, a department store, rooming house, auto repair garage and the new Elks home. 1932: Thomas Manzanares, 29, the third victim of a crash between an automobile and a freight train Saturday evening Oct. 29, died in a Pueblo hospital Dec. 28. 1936: Thirty-six coal miners were placed in jobs in county mines by the National Reemployment Service in Walsenburg during December and 16 others in private businesses. 1942: Collection of current taxes in Huerfano County during 1942 reached a total of $237,752.51, or 90.1 percent of the total levy due. 1948: As of noon today, a total of $485,038.11, or 96 percent, of current taxes have been collected by the county treasurer’s office. 1954: Fire Chief Mickey Mimovich says his department answered 45 calls during the past year. 1960: Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Walsenburg distributed 95 Christmas baskets to needy families. 1966: Walsenburg’s Ben Franklin store, 525 Main Street, is entering its 90th year though the local outlet has operated 56 years. Peter Krier opened the first store at the same location in 1909, and his grandson Ken Krier is the present manager. 1971: Since Jan. 1, 1971, the Huerfano County Sheriff’s Department has logged 31,500 miles of travel, made 100 arrests and investigated 92 cases of break-ins, burglaries and thefts. 1976: Mayor Robert Hemphill fell on Christmas Day and his injuries will make him miss six weeks of City Council meetings. Mayor Pro-tem William “Babe” Saleh will preside in his absence. 1982: For Rent: 2 bedroom house, fenced backyard, large garage, $260 per month plus deposit. 217 Cedar. 1988: Phyllis Cordova won first place in the business category for Christmas decorations at the Alpine Rose as well as in the home decorating category for her residence on East Seventh Street. 1993: Eight people were treated in the Huerfano Medical Center emergency room as a result of a 27-vehicle chain reaction accident on Interstate 25 at Exit 51 caused by poor visibility, an icy road and high speeds.
La Veta 1896: New Year’s Day weddings in La Veta will be those of Antonio Ward and Josefa Martinez by Justice of the Peace S.L. Strange, and of John Owens and Hattie Williams by Rev. C.M. Green. 1901: It is rumored that one of the town officials paid tribute to Bacchus on Christmas Eve. 1906: Alex Levy of Walsenburg secured the contract for grading the new railroad spur to the Fruth and Autrey mine being opened on Middle Creek. 1911: Blanche Alexander, teacher of the Lower Cuchara School in District #9, says she had 16 students enrolled since the beginning of the term, and those not absent since then are Virginia and Domenic Galassini, Clark, Lena, Elsie, Edward and Karl Falk. 1916: The ice on mill lake is a foot thick and will soon be ready for harvest if the present weather continues. 1921: A dance was held in the schoolhouse on the lower Cucharas last Friday evening. 1927: Ellis Smith, whose calf won first place in the state fair in Pueblo, Elton Holmes, John Goemmer and Chester Springer will take their calves to the annual stock show in Denver next month. 1933: Mr. and Mrs. Jack Manning had a picnic at their ranch north of town the day after Christmas – why go all the way to California or Florida? 1938: Died, Mike Duzenack, 77, who was born in Austria and relocated to Pennsylvania about 50 years ago and to Huerfano County five years later. He was a miner at Pictou until 1914. He leaves his son Mike, Walsenburg, George, La Veta, Pete, Boulder, and daughters Mrs. Anna McCoy, Walsenburg, Mrs. Tony Belsam, California, and Miss Mary, La Veta. 1944: Young Brothers Service Station will give a free Army five gallon “jerrycan” with the purchase of five gallons of Autolene, an $8.45 value, for only $5.25. 1949: Happy New Year from the Silver Dollar, W.H. Harrison Real Estate and Insurance, C.C, Webster, Notary Public, Coleman Drug Company, Jim’s Pool Hall, Webster Insurance, La Veta Light, Heat and Power and La Veta Cash and Carry. 1955: We did not have a white Christmas but the weather bureau warns we might have a white New Year’s Day. 1961: Ethel Brown has purchased the Pleasant View Café on Highway 160 north of town from Mike Heikes. 1967: Lester Green and Gerald Arnold have been named honorable mention to the Walsenburg Junior Chamber of Commerce’s all-county high school football team. 1972: Nearly 90 people attended the Christmas Eve candlelight services in the Cuchara Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Russell Throckmorton. 1977: The first annual winter ski carnival at Yellow Pine Ranch Dec. 27 included cross country, one half mile race, downhill slalom, ski jumping, free style skiing and snowshoeing. 1983: Thunder Bay will provide the music for a New Year’s Dance in The Smokehouse tonight. The $5.00 cover charge will include champagne and hors d’oeuvres at midnight.
