La Veta
1882: On Monday Mr. Bird opened in this place the first brick kiln ever burned in this county and the product is pronounced by everyone to be of as fine quality as can be found anywhere in the Western country.
1895: Last Wednesday the engine from the west arrived without a coach, having left it with a broken wheel. The passengers rode in the engine.
1904: I.R. Voorhees went up and installed a bell and belfry at the Middle Creek school.
1912: The new town hall on Francisco Street is completed and will be found useful in many ways to the community.
1920: The Baker Steamer, a motor car manufactured in Pueblo, has attracted interest and on Wednesday local people had a chance to examine one when it was demonstrated in La Veta.
1928: The Huerfano County Dairymen’s Association was organized with A.D. Firm, president and Harold Craig, secretary/treasurer. The board of directors is made up of Carl Elley, John Kreutzer and J.H. Ellis.
1934: A Philippino eight piece orchestra attracted a big crowd to the dance at Sulphur Springs last Sunday night.
1941: The La Veta chapter of Eastern Star will have an Old Time Dance in Cuchara Camps Aug. 7 and the combined chapters of Rotary Club from La Veta and Walsenburg will have a basket picnic there Sunday.
1949: Jess Sawaya and his orchestra will play for the dance Saturday night at Sulphur Springs and Jimmee Howard and His Collegians will play at the Saturday night dance at Muleshoe.
1955: Spring Creek above Cuchara Camps will be the site of a hayride and picnic for members of the Walsenburg Lions Club.
1962: Gov. Steve McNichols pledged this week to improve the highway from the Cuchara summer resort to Cordova Pass.
1969: Spanish Peaks Motor Hotel on west Ryus Avenue is finally open, with nine apartments and 11 hotel rooms. Later a lounge and café will be added.
1976: Nola Geiser Trent says her La Veta Mall north of town will be open Aug. 1 with spaces for five stores and 12 offices.
1983: Two additional condominium projects at Pañadero Ski Resort has jumped Huerfano County building permits to a record $15,000,000 through July 11.
Walsenburg
1893: The county commissioners have kindly extended the time for the payment of taxes two months in view of the hard times.
1900: County Surveyor A.A. Foote informed the county commissioners he had completed surveying 39 of the county roads, leaving nine yet to be done. Also he told them of three areas badly needing roads.
1909: Walter Hammond and Fred Klein spent several days on the Huerfano River above Malachite and report a catch of 200 trout.
1917: The local carpenters’ union entertained 100 friends last night in Maccabee Temple to encourage closer cooperation among workers.
1924: Two Walsenburg boys, George A. Trout and Joseph A. Barron, learned they have passed their state bar exams.
1931: July 19 was fiesta day at the ranch of Felix Cruz at North Veta when a bountiful table was set on the Cruzes’ patio beneath the tall cottonwoods planted by his mother in 1869. Fifty-two were in attendance.
1938: It is pointed out that there are 1,400 men on the Works Progress Administration rolls and employed with Huerfano County projects.
1943: A full grown badger picked up by Lawrence Brunelli on the road to La Veta will be on display for a few days at the Walsenburg city maintenance shops.
1950: Juan Pineda, who was born where La Veta High School now stands in 1854, was a guest of the Colorado Republican Convention as the oldest party member in Huerfano County.
1957: Don Stimack hurled his first no run, no hit game of the 1957 softball season last night in Pueblo to shut out the Rio Grande team of that city to give the Shosky-Santi team a 10-1 victory.
1964: Clearance, weighty tufted chenille bedspreads, twin or full, 2 for $5.00. J.C. Penney.
1970: Hill School, built in 1908, with an average enrollment of 250-275, has three dangerous stairways and substandard lighting and heating. It should be torn down as it would be cheaper than remodeling.
1979: Demolition of the old city hall at 122 E. 6th is underway despite complaints by adjoining property owners Steve Persich and Norm Wolak that the work it will damage their buildings.
