Walsenburg 1883: A Basket Picnic will be given in the grove near town on the Fourth of July by the Walsenburg Brass Band. Dancing and other amusements on the ground. Ball at night in Mazzone’s Hall for the benefit of the band, tickets $1.00. 1893: Following the musical program by the Presbyterian church women at the court house on the Fourth of July, strawberries and ice cream will be served to revive the audience. 1899: H.G. Wycoff was made happy last week by the intelligence his pension had been increased from $10.00 to $12.00 per month. 1905: There will be a family reunion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Morris of the Santa Clara on the Fourth in honor of their 25th year in this country and seven of their children and families are expected. 1911: There will be a big picnic at Cuchara Camps July 4th and dancing day and night. Everyone is welcome. 1918: The Fourth of July celebration was an unqualified success. The parade in the afternoon was one of the best ever seen in Walsenburg and there were several dances in the evening. 1925: Special activities on the Fourth of July in Walsenburg will include races, a parade, Daredevil Liniger with stunt flying, a sheep shearing contest, horse races, baseball, a street dance, fireworks, concerts and speeches. 1932: Walsenburg has deferred having a Fourth of July celebration this year and given way to La Veta where the American Legion post has planned a mammoth display of fireworks and a big dance. 1938: The City of Walsenburg will celebrate its last noisy Fourth of July. Terming fireworks dangerous and disturbing, City Councilmen are proposing to ban the sale and shooting of explosives within city limits in future. 1944: Ranger Paul Gilbert of Gardner warns the fire dancer is extreme in the San Isabel National Forest and fires and fireworks will not be permitted. 1950: Cool nights and threats of rain characterized the weather over the holiday week-end, dampening the Fourth of July celebrations. 1957: Chief of Police Mike Rampa reminds residents the sale and use of fireworks are banned in Walsenburg by city ordinance. 1963: One thousand pounds of rainbow trout from the Shavano Hatchery at Salida were placed in Martin Lake in preparation for crowds over the holiday. 1969: The new visitors’ center at Lathrop State Park will be dedicated tomorrow, July 4, at 10 am. 1976: Lathrop State Park will be open free to the public Sunday, July 4 and that evening a $1,500 fireworks display will be shown over Martin Lake. 1982: Extraterritorial Water Superintendent Ray Harriman says residents are using approximately two million gallons of water every day in Walsenburg. 1988: Dennis Perrino and Silver Eagle will provide the dance music for the annual Firemen’s Ball and Barbecue in Gardner Sunday. 1994: Fifteen fires were extinguished in Huerfano County between Saturday, July 2 and Wednesday July 7 and only one was caused by fireworks.
La Veta 1882: A Fourth of July basket picnic in the grove near the steam saw mill at Nunda will begin at 10 am hosted by John Burch, Leander Kerby, James and Miss Lillie Dodgion and Daniel Sulman. 1889: Squire Andrew Francisco is planning a big celebration at the Sulphur Springs for the Fourth and the La Veta Orchestra will play for the dance. 1895: There will be no Fourth of July program in La Veta this year and most residents plan to attend the festivities in Walsenburg. 1901: Arrangements have been made to serve ice cream, lemonade and candy in Ryus Grove during the Fourth of July celebration and program. 1907: There will be a Fourth of July celebration and dance at Russell this year, including a parade, fishing, a shooting match, races and speeches. 1913: Rene Bruce won first and Orace Beamer second in the fourth of July bicycle race. 1919: Oakview defeated Ojo 13-12 in the ball game played here on the Fourth. 1925: Highlights of the Fourth of July activities will be boxing and bucking contests, horse racing and a ballgame between Alamo and La Veta with the winner securing a $75.00 purse. 1931: The Fourth of July celebration in La Veta will start with a patriotic program at 9:30 am. Saturday, foot races and contests until noon, two ballgames in the afternoon, fireworks in the evening and a dance in Kincaid Hall with music by the Yellow Jackets. Another ballgame will be played on Sunday afternoon, July 5. 1937: Absolutely no fireworks will be allowed in the San Isabel National Forest this year. 1943: There will be a quiet Fourth this year in La Veta though there will be a dance in the evening in Cuchara Camps. 1949: The American Legion is all set for the big Fourth of July celebration with street sports of races and contests, a penny hunt, greased pole, pie and watermelon eating contests, two baseball games, fireworks in the evening and two big dances that night. 1956: A street dance will take place tomorrow night following the fireworks display. 1962: The annual fireworks display sponsored by the American Legion will be Wednesday, July 4 in La Veta Town Park with penny hunts and candy treats for the youngsters. 1968: The biggest fireworks display in 25 years, with over 150 beautiful aerial displays, will be offered free to the public in La Veta on the Fourth of July. 1974: Freddie’s Steak House in the former Grand Café will have its grand opening July 4, offering steaks, burgers and liquor. 1980: Besides the Arts and Crafts Fair, La Veta will have the grand opening of the new mining displays at Francisco Fort Museum on the Fourth of July as well as a concert by Charlie Blackwood and his summer band at 1 pm in town park. 1986: Dakota Gap will provide the music Friday, July 4 for the street dance in Cuchara and The Timbers will begin serving its barbecue at noon.
