Walsenburg
1898: M.A. Sanchez will open a grocery store in one of the rooms recently occupied by Mr. Bernstein on Main Street and he is building a warehouse near the railroad.
1904: The brick front of Bernstein’s store was declared unsafe and Gen. Walsen, the owner of the building, is having it removed.
1910: Otto Klein’s moving picture show will have souvenir night every Thursday.
1915: Officers of the Colorado National Guard are in this section for the purpose, it is alleged, to remove all equipment and militia from this district. Guards have been here since the strike was declared in 1913.
1920: We have 23 different nationalities represented in this county.
1926: Three thousand school children have entered the letter writing contest open to all students of Huerfano County.
1931: The Neilson filling station at the head of Walsen Avenue was broken into and robbed of cash and two slot machines.
1937: Lawrence Shaw has been officially recognized for heroism for sacrificing his life to save 200 or 300 miners in the Robinson Mine on May 8, 1935 by shepherding them to safety from a fire while averting a stampede.
1943: The Walsenburg United Service Organization (USO) center for servicemen will open Saturday evening on Main Street, according to Mrs. M.E. Cowing, general chairman.
1949: Huerfano County’s biggest taxpayer, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, owes $69,933.83 this year. Other large taxpayers owing are the Colorado and Southern Railroad, $44,542.91; Frontier Power Company, $33,408.24 and Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, $15,425.73.
1956: Georgina Rose Grgich and Clara Elizabeth Mall were among a select few of Colorado A&M beauties named to the sponsor corps of the college’s Army ROTC.
1963: Louis Nardini, Huerfano County’s Veterans’ Service Officer the past three years, was elected president of the Colorado Veterans’ Service Officers Association.
1969: Playing the leads in “Out of This World”, a three act musical show to be presented by the Walsenburg High School senior class tonight in the Fox Theater, are Gary Demuth, Nancy Ridge and Michael Meyer.
1976: The Walsenburg Chief of Police and Municipal Judge Robert Meyer are exploring ways to cut police overtime payments.
1982: Running for the position of county clerk/recorder are Incumbent Albert Vigil, Audrie Gonzales, Mary Lou Abila and Judy Fabiney Archuleta, all Democrats.
1988: Huerfano County Commission approved an exemption from subdivision regulations for Tri-Cord’s 12-acre parcel at the old power plant west of Walsenburg to build its livestock feed factory.
1994: RE-1 School Board decided to send school buses to Denver for the Lady Panthers games in the state basketball tournament. Cost is $7.75 per person.
La Veta
1877: La Vetaites are lucky in having two agents here who are the frankest and most courteous of men – Agents Simpson of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and Ford of Barlow, Sanderson and Co.’s Express and Stage Company.
1893: Why do Alex Lindsay and R.W. Scott get up so early? Ducks!
1899: The Clipper Saloon, D.E. Farr, proprietor, Ryus Avenue. You will find here the finest brands of whiskies, first class lager beer and the best of cigars.
1907: St. Sen. W.H. Meyer sold his interest in the Trinchera Estate, 170,000 acres, to the San Luis Valley Land Company of Kansas City, and his partner, Gen. W.J. Palmer, will use the rest of the estate, 230,000 acres, for a game preserve.
1913: Having herds of purebred Herefords in this area are the Firm brothers, H.B. Sager, A.A. Campbell, E.C. Harrison, Sumpter Martin, Goemmer brothers and the Kreutzer brothers.
1919: J.E. Marker has sold his lower ranch to an Italian from one of the mining camps near Walsenburg.
1925: The first robin has already been sighted, so don’t get excited.
1933: Just above Windy Point on La Veta Pass, 28 men are employed at 50 cents an hour for a four hour day until 30 hours are completed, when the shift is changed. Work is ongoing seven days a week.
1941: Seniors on the honor roll are Gilbert Arnold, Maurice Bailey, Hannah Goss, Ellen Gregory, Edna Jean Vories and Yvette Williams.
1948: The Redskin Arrow: The seniors took I.Q. tests Monday and most of us are sure now that we are morons.
1953: James Bailey won second and Dick Jameson, third, in an essay contest sponsored by the Huerfano County Medical Society Auxiliary.
1959: More than 30 local merchants will participate in the Value Days sales promotion this weekend.
1966: Receiving straight As for the fourth six-week period were Kenny Arnold, senior, Melvin Shulz, sophomore and Eugene Quintana, seventh grade.
1972: Bickel Construction Company of Denver was awarded the $196,613.20 contract to build the new water treatment plant for the Town of La Veta.
1978: Harry Daigle, owner of the Indian Creek Ranch, died with two other men in a small plane crash.
1983: Town Board passed an ordinance staggering trustees’ terms and starting in April 1984, three trustees will be elected for two years and three for four years.
1988: The La Veta High School Knowledge Bowl team won second in the district meet and will go to the state tournament May 3-4. Members are Kristi Culbreath, Kevin Pochardt, Andy Murphy, Shannon Lemons, Mark Morey and JoEllen Murphy.
1995: The Sugar Shack, formerly the Drive Inn, 104 East Grand, is now open with new owners Steve and Debra Donner serving sandwiches, salads, soups and ice cream.
