Walsenburg
1898: The public are [sic] informed that the post office at Walsenburg will not be open on Sundays until the mail has arrived in the morning, and in the evening will be open at 4:50 for one hour to receive the mail. J.S. McHarg, postmaster.
1905: The Consolidated post office established some time ago at Rocky Mountain and Consolidated coal mines, with John Kirkpatrick, postmaster, now will be called McGuire. This was the second post office to be established this year between the Maitland and St. Mary communities, the first being Strong.
1911: Trains began running across the new double track between here and Pueblo Wednesday; it is believed the Denver and Rio Grande will not abandon its old tracks for the new one shared with the Colorado and Southern.
1917: Call at C.M. Buckles’ confectionery for home made bread, pies and cookies, tobacco, cigars and candy.
1923: City Health Officer Dr. P.G. Mathews advised City Council to vacate the stables and rubbish lot on West 6th Street.
1930: Jack Kirby’s Orchestra played for the Huerfano County High School barn dance.
1936: National Recovery Service Director Fred Sabon says he has employment for 75 coal miners immediately in Huerfano County.
1943: Lt. John B. White, husband of the former Lucille Saliba of this city, was awarded the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in bombing Ploesti oil refineries in Rumania. He has been missing in action ever since.
1950: Emmett C. King Jr. has reported for duty with the Naval Air Station in San Diego, California.
1957: An atomic war wouldn’t determine who is right – – – only who is left.
1964: Sophomores on the honor roll at St. Mary High School are Arleen Feiccabrino, Deidre Lenzini, Mary Ann Ladurini, Barbara Ludvik and Marie King.
1971: Nortek Properties of Florida has purchased the Bob Weston, Dean Shade, Nick Alley and Bob Mapes ranches and the Orlando Lake Reservoir on the J.M. McMath Estate’s ranch, for a total of 31,000 acres which it proposes to sell in tracts of one and a quarter acres and larger. On both sides of I-25 north of Walsenburg, it will be called Emerald Valley.
1977: Atlantic Richfield has set 1981 as its target completion date for the $100 million, 350-mile buried CO2 pipeline from Big Sheep Mountain near Gardner to west Texas.
1984: Elected officers of the sophomore class at Walsenburg High School were Ron Corsentino, president; Charlene Sandoval, vice president; Sara Smircich, secretary and Jeff Salazar, treasurer.
1991: John Mall High School seniors named to the all-Southeastern Conference squad were Danny Bratton, Gary Vezzani and Kelly Bak. Juniors were Robert Berger and Hubert Aguirre.
La Veta
1900: The high school now has an enrollment of 17 boys and 20 girls; the intermediate department has 40 students with Mrs. E. Rasmussen and the primary has 68 enrolled, including 35 boys and 33 girls, with Miss Emma Moss.
1906: Elected justice of the peace in Precinct No. 5 was Arthur A. Foote with 188 votes, defeating Charles Hector and W.J. Hill.
1913: Four Dead and One Wounded. A shoot-out at the top of the hill west of La Veta at the Lougheed reservoir embankment left four mine guards dead and one miner wounded. State troopers came immediately from Walsenburg and arrested Dan, Edward and Charles Richards, brothers, Frank or Edward Krupa, Peter Rich and a Mr. DeJohn.
1919: The Baldy Strang Entertainment Party will be with us Nov. 17th as the first Lyceum entertainment of the season.
1924: Dr. S. Julian Lamme of La Veta, now of Walsenburg, built the first private cottage in Cuchara Camps, where now there are 40 private homes and 54 buildings altogether, and six more are to be built before next summer.
1930: The parts of Main Street and Ryus Avenue that are on the state highway were recently graveled, which helps to keep the dust down.
1937: There are now 82 cabins in Cuchara Camps and five are to be built this winter. There are also picnic grounds, a dance hall and supply house.
1942: There will be a clinic for smallpox and diphtheria shots for pre-school children Monday afternoon in the school house.
1948: The high school apron and overall party Friday night was attended by about 85 students, teachers and guests. Refreshments of sandwiches, cookies and pop were served and Pat Valdez furnished the accordion music.
1955: Died, Jose D. Padilla, 69, a former miner at Oakview and farmer at North Veta. He leaves three surviving children but only his daughter Viola Escalante lives in La Veta.
1961: For the third straight year, the La Veta Redskins will play in the Class C high school football playoffs after defeating Saguache 27-0. They won the state title in 1959 but lost in the playoffs in 1960.
1967: Mrs. Anna Ferrari has been honored in recognition of her service as state director of the Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs.
1973: The 26-member Spanish Peaks Garden Club has voted to sponsor the establishment of a nature park and development of a garden on school grounds.
1980: Huerfano County Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman, Dick Colvin of Cuchara, has resigned citing health problems. He has been on the commission the past 10 years.
1986: Lars Kampmann and Adrienne Berkun, owners and chefs of the Northern Lights restaurant, encourage early reservations for Christmas parties.
1992: The brick home on Grand Street formerly owned by Pearl Kitchen has been sold to Warren and Sonya Evans who are adding a new kitchen, utility room and dining room.
