Walsenburg 1882: Candido Castillo of Turkey Creek escaped jail in New Mexico. He is the man suspected of robbing $600 from Fouch’s store in Huerfano Canon and from Montez and Pino. 1889: The Twin Lakes Hotel has put in a fine bath room, provided with hot and cold water. The bath room is open to the public at the usual prices. 1895: W.A. Arnold has 10 hay stacks 82 feet in length and as high as they could pitch it on his ranch on the Santa Clara. 1901: Died, Mrs. John T. Breene, 52, of pneumonia. She and her husband came to Huerfano County for him to superintend the Old Rouse mine, then the Walsen, and now the Santa Clara. She left no children but has a nephew, Martin T. Brennan. 1907: Cement crossings were laid this week across Main at Fifth and Seventh streets, which will be appreciated on those muddy days. 1913: There are now 44 students enrolled in the Huerfano County High School. 1919: Announcing the organization of the Huerfano Oil and Gas Company, offering the public 15,000 shares to drill for oil in Huerfano County. Office in
Walsenburg Electric, 508 Main. 1925: The Walsenburg Automobile Dealers Association is recommending the repair of the road to Big Four for the convenience of the driving public. 1931: The chuck wagons of the Querno Verde Livestock Association left Gardner Tuesday for the annual roundup. 1937: A Walsenburg man says that at most of the cocktail parties in his neighborhood, once the ice is broken the dishware and furniture go next. 1943: The Huerfano County High School lunch room opened Oct. 6 under the government lunch program and a total of 97 students were served on the first day. 1949: Thirty acres, or the entire Sproull Addition adjacent to the city at Loma Park, is being offered to the city as a Memorial Park by owner Sam T. Taylor. 1955: Sam T. Taylor will be president of a new investment firm, First Western Corporation, incorporated in Colorado, and Fernando Serafini will be secretary. 1961: The state game and fish department has purchased approximately 280 more acres around Martin Lake for recreational purposes. 1967: Mike Crump was selected as Washington School drum major, Janelle Maldonado, head majorette, and Dorothy Reed, Tom Lowry, Linda Vezzani and Leann Vezzani, majorettes. 1973: Officers of the Civic League are Norma Lou Murr, president, Linda Schafer, secretary and Marlene Menghini, treasurer. 1979: Ward Barter, who owns the property next to the city dump, told City Council he will bring suit if the area is not fenced to reduce flying debris. 1985: Carolyn Newman, Walsenburg High School yearbook sponsor, received a “Distinguished Adviser” award from the Colorado High School Press Association. 1991: Police Captain John Salazar says the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is still working on solving the murder of Chuck Grandbush but charges are anticipated this week.
La Veta 1875: Green Russell was in Pueblo recently and reported the gold in Grayback Gulch is “poor man’s diggings”, yielding but three or four dollars per day. 1881: The Huerfano Herald office is in receipt of a new job press and large variety of stationery for business and calling cards, wedding invitations, programmes, etc. See us for all your printing needs. 1887: W.A. Springer, who was hired as town marshal Aug. 20, has resigned. 1894: Fred Cheschlik the baker’s house and oven on east Francisco Street burned down, taking with them the homes of J.M. Elrod and Judge Daigre’s on each side. 1900: Take your Butter, Eggs and Poultry to John Stranger’s store. He will give you a fair market price. 1906: Fruth and Autrey expect to employ up to 500 men at their new coal mine on Middle Creek once the railroad switch is laid. 1912: T.P. Steele will open a second hand and novelty store and tin shop in the Lester building south of Smith’s corner store and he and his wife will live in the rooms in the rear. 1918: Joe Ward has purchased one half interest in the Ward ranch on the Cucharas from Frank DeVietti and now has entire control of the place. He also bought the John Kincaid property on South Main Street so his children will have the advantage of the school. 1924: George Summers will assist his parents in their store here and his new bride, the former Kathryn Firm, will teach the Ritter School this winter. 1930: Deer season opens next Sunday, so you’d better stay out of the mountains. 1936: Cooking for the Works Progress Administration’s hot lunch program at the school are Adeline Padilla, Elvira Hurtado, Betty Aragon and Mrs. Jack McMillan. 1942: Mrs. Jenny Baker has purchased the house at the corner of Oak and Field formerly occupied by Mrs. Stella Harrison who has moved into the Plaza. 1948: Josephine Germano, daughter of Mrs. A.B. Dickinson, married Freeman Bailey, son of John, Oct. 3 in the Baptist Church, attended by Jean Brown and Maurice Bailey. 1954: The Redskins were trounced by the St. Mary Crusaders 40-13 in a non-league game Friday night in Walsenburg. 1960: Died, Karl Gilbert, 74, leaving his widow Idalia, sons Jeff and Robert, all of La Veta, and brother Paul. He joined the Forest Service in 1918 after serving in the Coast Guard seven years, and was Town Clerk for 20 years. 1966: La Veta Redskins downed Saguache 54-0 led by Quarterback Jim Willie and Halfback Bill Houchin. 1972: Total assessment of the Town of La Veta is $568,460 and of School District Re-2, $3,003,190. 1978: Town Board Tuesday night heard that Deputy Windel D. Bell had resigned. 1984: HBB, Inc., which has six natural gas wells in the La Veta area, was granted three more special use permits to drill by the county commissioners. The company’s pipeline from its La Veta wells has been completed to Walsenburg where it connects with the line to Trinidad.
