Walsenburg 1864: After leaving Bent’s Fort we came to the broad valley of the Picket Wire and a city in embryo called La Trinidad, where along its Main (and only) street there are scores of houses, such as they are, chiefly of adobe and log. 1883: Last year was so bountiful that many farmers are unable to sell their crops due to the surplus on the market. 1890: The Denver and Rio Grande paid $5,280 for the cattle injured in the railroad wreck near Walsenburg recently. 1897: Born Feb. 8, a 16-pound boy to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bunker of Bunker Hill. 1903: The Walsenburg World will sponsor a Baby Show with subscribers bringing us photographs of their babies. The best, prettiest, handsomest, most winsome baby, wins $25.00. 1910: The eighth graders of Bradford, Gardner and Malachite
schools will have an interschool oratorical contest in the near future. 1916: Professor S.M. Andrews was elected temporary chairman and Juan Vigil temporary secretary of the committee to organize a Young Men’s Republican Club. 1920: Quite a good many of our farmers are breaking sod. There will be a lot of prairie turned up side down this spring. 1926: Walsenburg dealers in dry goods and clothing are Krier Stores Company, Huerfano Trading, J.C. Penney, Unfug Trading, Agnes Brothers, M. Kalmes Clothing, Bains Golden Eagle and August Unfug. 1931: O’Dell’s Old Time Orchestra, D.A. Nicklas, Banjo Jo and Frank Tafoya will again appear during the Walsenburg radio hour over KGIW at Trinidad Friday. 1937: Ash Wednesday was observed by Catholics and many Protestants yesterday with services in the various churches. 1943: Mrs. M.E. Cowing has been named temporary chairman of a woman’s committee representing the city organizations to serve in the formation and operation of a city U.S.O. center. 1949: The weatherman took a pat on the back yesterday when the temperature in Walsenburg reached a high of 47 degrees, the highest reading here in more than three months. 1955: The senior class Sweetheart Dance at Huerfano County High School, scheduled for Feb. 12, has been cancelled because a suitable band cannot be found. 1961: Juan Antonio Medina, who just celebrated his 93rd birthday, is Walsenburg’s oldest citizen. Although his son Fred recently died, he leaves seven children. 1967: Students of Walsenburg High School earning all As were Amy Bailey, Diane Bechaver, Debra Blase, Sherry Huff, all ninth graders, Katherine Bailey, grade ten and Laurel Davis, senior. 1973: James and Anne Ludvik observed their 25th Wedding Anniversary at a party hosted by Joe J. and Delphine Corsentino. The couple has three children, James A., Barbara and Edwin. 1979: Zorc Home Improvement Center completed its contract on the first phase of remodeling the old Safeway into city hall and the dispatchers, Chief of Police and municipal judge will move in this week. 1985: The 300 Club dinner dance will be Saturday night in the St. Mary cafeteria with stuffed pork chop dinner and music by Madrid II for dancing. $15.00 per person.
La Veta 1877: Town Board will remove the town constable on the charge of drunkenness and going beyond his duty as an officer. Petitions will be accepted for a new constable. 1884: So far this year, in fact since Dec. 14, there have been no meetings of the town fathers due to a lack of a quorum. 1892: There was a meeting Tuesday to discuss A.A. Foote’s trip to Denver to talk to the C.R.I.P. officials (?). 1898: Teamsters daily pass through town hauling props for the coal mines at Walsenburg and judging from the number of men and teams engaged, it must be becoming quite an industry. 1904: Thirty-six citizens gave Town Board a petition not to allow a third saloon in town after L.B. Pitman applied to open one in the Ryus building. 1909: The electric light company is ready to begin work on the construction of a line to the Hamilton ranches two miles out. 1915: Town Board Tuesday evening granted the use of Railroad Park to William Spain for cultivation. 1921: Citizens attending the Town Board meeting Tuesday evening voted 12-1 to let go of the town property at the head of the Cucharas. 1926: On account of the prevalence of contagious diseases the attendance of the primary room has been exceedingly small. The teacher deplores the fact, saying, “If this continues I don’t know what I’ll do”. The small voice of seven-year-old Leslie said, “Teacher, they are still icing, it may be you can get a job on the lake”. 1932: E.E. Harrison shipped lambs this week and almost topped the “Denver market for the day with $6.50 for 92-pound animals. 1938: An application has been submitted for a Works Progress Administration loan to improve the La Veta Cemetery. 1944: La Veta High School students collected five tons of paper in the scrap drive. 1950: The Chief Theater will have a special stage show Friday evening when Don Ricardo will be featured singing and playing songs directly from Mexico. 1956: Saturday’s storm brought eight inches of snow to La Veta, 12 inches to La Veta Pass, 18 to 20 to Cuchara Camps, lots of wind and temperatures of 12 below zero. 1962: Members of the First Southern Baptist Church met Sunday for the first time in their new church. 1968: Bill John Hickey was installed Master Counselor of the La Veta Chapter of the Order of DeMolay Tuesday night. 1974: The La Veta High School Redskins romped over Branson last Friday 120-53 with Steve Aguirre the leading scorer. 1980: Yvette Williams and DeEtta Lessar have been nominated for Woman of the Year by the Cuchara Valley Chamber of Commerce for their involvement in various service and civic organizations. 1986: Larry and Carla Slie and sons Jeremy and Corey have moved into the former Neldner home on First Street and the Neldners have moved into their new home on the Wahatoya Road. 1990: Cuchara Valley Emergency Volunteers will have a Firemen’s Ball in the 4-H Barn this Saturday night with music by the Range Riders band from New Mexico. Admission $3.00 person or $5.00 per couple.
