Walsenburg 1877: Weather intensely hot, and causing vegetation to sprout rapidly. I regret to say that a swarm of hungry young grasshoppers have put in an appearance lately in our neighborhood, but it is to be hoped that they will leave before doing any damage, or they will certainly be reported to the commission. [?] 1883: The cold spell and snowstorm which visited this county last Friday afternoon is regretted by sheepmen in the midst of shearing. 1892: J.P. Kearns traded some old coal land near Pictou for the old Tourist City town site the past week. 1899: Forest fires are raging on the East Spanish Peak and the Greenhorn. Great balls of lurid smoke may be seen around both peaks. 1906: The new 60 by 60 foot ice plant being erected by the Electric Light Company is nearly completed and will has a capacity to produce seven tons of artificial ice. 1912: The Episcopals gave an entertainment of home talent at Mazzone Hall Tuesday with the Sporleder Orchestra, a farce, a dramatic skit and Irish songs. 1918: The local war gardens have been infested with insects and the vegetables are now suffering with rot from too much moisture. 1925: Huerfano County High School is to have an auditorium and gymnasium addition on the north side of the building. 1931: Because of the snow and cold weather, sheep shearing was late this year but it is finally been done and the wool is being shipped. 1937: Mayor S. Julian Lamme has set water restrictions so that those living north of the Denver and Rio Grande tracks may irrigate on odd days of the month and those on the south on even numbered days. 1943: Potato growers in Huerfano County, about 30 in number, are eligible to participate in the subsidiary program for those having three or more acres planted to that crop. 1949: Betty Jane and Rose Marie Jellison of Mount St. Gertrude Academy of Boulder arrived last week to spend the summer with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Chambers. 1956: If you give weeds an inch they’ll take the yard. 1963: The long drought was ended this week when an inch and a half of rainfall was received in the city, bringing the annual total to 4.98 inches of precipitation since Jan. 1. 1969: Walsenburg has received more than three inches of rain in the past week, and one inch in Tuesday’s storm that flooded downtown, especially by Safeway Store where the storm sewer backed up. 1975: An older worker program has been initiated in Huerfano County to utilize the services of those 60 years or older who comprise 40 percent of the Las Animas and Huerfano county populations. 1982: Saturday is Walsenburg’s fourth annual Western Whoopee Day celebration held in conjunction with the Invitational Golf Tournament. Activities begin at 5:45 a.m. with the Rotary Club breakfast ($2.50) at Fifth and Main streets and concludes with the Battle of the Bands featuring continuous entertainment at Sixth and Main beginning at 6 p.m.
La Veta 1877: Business licenses were issued this month to P. Ladner, restaurant, John W. Hamm, auctioneer, Walsen and Levy, saloon, and E.H. Belcher, saloon. Licenses range from $1.50 to $15.00 per quarter. 1885: Town Board adopted an ordinance to levy three mills on all taxable property, which is expected to realize $465.87. More than $180 of this will be used to pay off the debt the old Town Board incurred during the past year. 1891: Francisco Park is being cleaned and stands and seats erected for the State Normal Teachers Institute convention. 1897: Billy Woodruff is happy to have his wife home from Sulphur Springs health resort much improved. Now William will not have to trundle his wheel [bicycle] there through rain and mud to see his family on Sundays. 1903: Peter Verliff was nearly killed when the ridge pole of his cabin on the Wahatoya fell down, the weight of the dirt roof having increased with all the rain. 1909: Mrs. James Hill of Walsenburg, accompanied by Grandpa Fain, came up to visit her mother Mrs. Roberts and siblings Mrs. William Woodruff and Asa Arnold and families. 1916: A new hotel, covered with slabs, will be built at the Sulphur Springs next to the hill south of the present building and the old one will be moved closer to the creek to provide rental rooms. 1922: Eighteen young people enjoyed a picnic at Sulphur Springs Monday evening. 1928: Work on enlarging the railroad tunnels on La Veta Pass is nearing completion and soon larger locomotives will be pulling heavier loads over the hill. 1934: Some relief work is being done on the school yard and it is hoped a lawn and some creepers will be planted to cover those bare stone walls. 1941: Snow fell on the higher mountains each night the first of the week and temperatures have been below normal all week. 1948: La Veta’s “Main Stem” was changed this week when the Quality Shoe Shop put on display an exclusive new line of boots for mountain use. 1955: Henrietta Duzenack, Marda Lehman and Margaret Downs of La Veta are among the 12 candidates for Spanish Peaks Fiesta Queen. 1961: Fred and Elsie Wagner have the Cuchara Chuck Wagon in full operation with an enlarged kitchen and attractive new additions to the dining room. 1968: Christine Aguirre, Huerfano County’s 4-H Council president, was selected to attend the National 4-H Citizenship short course in Washington, D.C., July 11-23. 1974: Mary Watson Percifull announces a reunion of the 1964 La Veta High School graduating class July 6 and 7 in the La Veta Lodge. 1980: High water took out the bridge over the Cucharas River at the north entrance from Highway 12 into the Spanish Peaks Development last week as well as several footbridges. 1987: New Armadillo Steak House, Main and Grand streets, open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
