Walsenburg 1877: Information has just been received that the Independent newspaper, printing and job office was sold to M.J.B. Jackson for $500.00. Mr. Jackson is undecided whether he will continue the business here or move it to La Veta. 1882: Another miner was crushed to death in the coal mine near this place but we have been unable to obtain further particulars. 1889: Nine car loads of stone were received at the depot Tuesday night to be used in additions and repairs to the Denver and Rio Grande railroad depot in Walsenburg. If they want to do the right thing for the town they will use the present building for frieght and build a handsome passenger depot on Main Street. 1895: A number of our bicycle enthusiasts took a spin to Rouse last Friday night. 1901: The young ladies of the High School and the higher grades of the public schools have banded together for the purpose of organizing a basket ball club. 1907: Since no new cases of the scarlet fever have been reported, the public schools will reopen March 4, and all first and second graders living north of the D&RG tracks plus all fourth through eighth graders will now go to the
new building on the hill. 1913: J.F. Karst sold his transfer business to Thomas Workman and expects to go back to farming. 1918: Some 3,500 Colorado coal miners formed a new union and seceded from the United Mine Workers of America. The new Coal Miners Protective Union has local committee members Mike Valdez, Rich Hendren, and Adam Flockhart. 1925: The children of Dand School have formed a Progress Club to improve and beautify their school and grounds. 1931: Mrs. G. C. Finlay, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, won the grand prize of a new Pontiac coupe at the Elks circus Monday. 1937: Huerfano County’s largest taxpayers, Trinidad Electric, Colorado and Southern, Denver and Rio Grande, and Colorado Fuel and Iron companies, paid $69,837 in taxes earlier this week. 1943: For sale: Five room house at 310 E. Elm, bath, basement, $240.00 down, balance including taxes and insurance $25.93 per month. Tressler Real Estate. 1950: Distribution of potatoes to striking miners, unemployables and the currently unemployed began yesterday at the Fiesta grounds. 1955: Tommi Miller for Huerfano County High School won the Betty Crocker award. 1960: Walsenburg got a break from winter weather today with sunny skies and a temperature of 43. 1966: Winning awards from the Huerfano County Chamber of Commerce for being in business in Walsenburg for 50 or more years were Frank Mauro Sr., Walsenburg Creamery; Joe Bush and Glen Mathews, City Pharmacy; William Schafer Sr., Schafer Packing Company; Robert Kelley, Star Drug; Dan “Corkey” Summers, Unfug Hardware; Dr. James M. Lamme; Joseph Murray, First National Bank in Walsenburg. 1971: An early morning fire Sunday destroyed two homes and a store building which also housed the post office at Redwing. 1977: Lavelle’s Ladies Wear will open soon at 715 Walsen Avenue.
La Veta 1884: Town Recorder J.E. Elrod was instructed to pay the bill of O. Bemen for $60.00 as his salary as marshal for six months. 1892: The town fathers set a 10 mill levy to appropriate $1,000 for expenses. 1897: Rev. J.F. Berry came up from the county seat Wednesday and on Thursday tied up the publisher of this highly moral sheet to Miss Laura Spielmann. They are at home in the Schafer residence. 1902: William Woodruff just completed a bakery building completely removed from his house. 1908: Residents of the upper Cucharas are trying to get a Rural Route established. Twenty-five years ago they had their own post office. 1914: Jack Probst has been planting some young shade trees around his house though some people think he is rushing the season. 1921: Miss Lucille Gray is selling her 240 acre ranch three miles from La Veta on the road to Walsenburg. 1927: W.O. Van Etten of La Veta shot and killed himself at the D.W. Hurst home a few miles north of Walsenburg. He was 77. He was for a time the superintendent at Oakview mine and later bought and operated the lumberyard in La Veta though ill health caused his absence. 1932: The new rule prohibiting children from P.T.A. meetings unless accompanied by their parents proved very successful during the last meeting on Tuesday afternoon. 1938: Esta Stripling, nurse at the La Veta Hospital, was called home to Texas by the serious illness of her father. 1944: Elected officers of the Cheskchamay Awokiya Camp Fire Girls were Joeann Roush, president, Harriet Smith, vice president, Mildred Howlett, secretary and Virginia Lee Sager, treasurer. 1951: Rotary Club elected Tom H. Brown, president, Walter Padilla, vice president, E. A. Stansbury, secretary and Joe Pisarczyk, treasurer. 1957: An expert in the ski business has approved La Veta Pass for a ski run. 1962: Mike and Clarence Heikes and families are operating the former Scenic View café on Highway 160 north of town while Mr. and Mrs. Frank Strovas are away. 1967: Seventeen members of Tuesday Night Study Club met at the home of Mrs. Virginia Wagner to hear a talk by the assistant director of the Lathrop Park Youth Camp. 1975: We had an all day snowstorm Saturday. Plenty of snow shovels were busy all day. 1980: Led by Sharon Chapman with 29 points, the Redskin girl cagers exploded to defeat Branson 68-54 in their last game of the season. 1985: Re-2 School Board will purchase a pay phone for placement in the entry way of the elementary school so students may call their parents after late night activities. 1990: Six attorneys met with County Judge Robert Haeger for two days in pre-trial hearings for Grandote Golf and Country Club and the parties in litigation against its general partners. 1995: La Veta Rotary Club presented its first ever local talent show featuring singers and musicians Sunday afternoon in the Circle the Wagons dance room behind the Pretty Chile Restaurant.
