This week in History for September 01, 2011

La Veta
1902: Mrs. Spielmann and son Carl took a camping trip up the Cucharas but, being accustomed to ranch life, she took along a cow, a coop of chickens, two ducks and a dry goods box in which the propagation of garden truck could be carried on.
1908: A shooting gallery is doing considerable business at the corner of Main and Ryus but many question whether Town Board should have allowed this noise in the center of town.
1914: Died, H.T. Sefton, builder of the Baldy Scott Toll Road over La Veta Pass and former owner of the “Milk Ranch” at the foot of the pass near Ojo.
1920: Mrs. Charles Spielmann is improving her home with the addition of a bathroom, closets and other modern touches.
1927: At the Crystal Theater Friday and Saturday, Buster Keaton in “Battling Buster”, the greatest prize fight comedy ever screened, plus a one-reel educational film.
1932: One of the new Ford buses that carry passengers over railway rights of way took an experimental trip over La Veta Pass last week.
1939: Died, Minnie Spielmann, the widow of Charles who died in 1913. The couple came to La Veta in 1877 from Kansas to operate the old flour mill. Their young son Albert drowned in mill lake in 1886.
1945: Charles Ottinger, first leader and organizer of the Snowy Range 4-H Club, gave a program on the group’s history to Rotary Club Tuesday evening.
1953: Mrs. Gilbert Arnold and baby daughter were released from the Lamme Hospital on Aug. 27.
1960: A former Huerfano County man, Eugene C. Vories, had his second novel, The Man from Colorado, published.
1967: Died, Murray Daniels of Antonito. She was born to Andrew L. Francisco in La Veta in 1881 and about 10 years ago donated part of her uncle’s plaza to the Huerfano County Historical Society for use as a museum.
1974: Of the 580 voters registered for the upcoming primary election in the La Veta precincts, 281 are Democratic, 159 Republican and 140 unaffiliated.
1980: The cast of the melodrama that was performed on Francisco Fort Day enjoyed working together so much they decided to form a little theater group under the direction of Peggy Arnold.
Walsenburg
1904: William, Charles and Kate Unfug have incorporated the Juanita Copper Mining Company to explore for that mineral in the upper Huerfano Valley near Malachite.
1911: The Messrs. Frederick Unfug, Adolph Unfug and Louis Sporleder drove a prairie schooner to Cuchara Camps where they will camp for a few days of rustication.
1918: Due to shortages caused by the war in Europe, the U.S. Food Administration is closing all stores selling groceries, meats, bakery goods, delicatessen, dairy or farm products every Sunday and at 9 o’clock every Saturday.
1923: Police Chief Rose and his deputies raided three pool halls Tuesday suspected to violating the liquor laws.
1930: Dr. S. Julian Lamme explains the reason he cannot give emergency treatment at his hospital is because his patients are entitled to quiet in the hospital.
1936: A $35,000 Works Progress Administration emergency project was approved so crews can repair the damage along the Cucharas River after nine inches of rain fell in Walsenburg during August.
1941: Died, Minnie P. Farr, the widow of David Farr. They were married in Texas and came to Walsenburg in 1885 where she lived at 322 Pennsylvania for nearly 50 years before moving two years ago to be closer to her family.
1946: The famous JM Ranch eight miles northwest of Gardner, containing some 11,000 acres, has been sold to Grady and Wes Evans of San Antonio, Texas.
1952: Sister Suitberta reported 402 students have registered at St. Mary School, down from previous years. The high school enrollment of 132, however, is about the average number.
1959: Enrollment in District Re-1 reached 1,251 with 358 in Walsenburg High School, 470 at Washington, 230 at Hill, 73 at Walsen and 99 in the Gardner School.
1964: The Utilities Board approved the use of water meters for all consumers served by the local system, about 1,480 in all.
1971: City Pharmacy, Walsenburg’s oldest drug store, at the corner of Sixth and Main streets, is going out of business after 70 years.
1978: More than 500 fans attended the Battle of the Sexes softball game Tuesday when the men’s team defeated the women 7-4. The event netted $330 for the Walsenburg Sheltered Workshop.