Walsenburg 1876: J.A.J. Valdes of Walsenburg gave a speech in Spanish at the political gathering in La Veta that was very well received by an appreciative audience despite the falling rain. 1882: J.A.J. Valdes is chairman of the Republican Central Committee and Antonio de la Riva, secretary. 1889: Reverend Squires returned from a mountain trip to the Scissors community on the Santa Clara where he gave services. He said people came for eight or ten miles and many hadn’t heard a preaching for ten years. 1896: The steel for the new jail cells arrived on the Denver and Rio Grande railway and will be put into place soon. 1902: Two men in one day went missing from the McMillan mining camp on the Sierra Blanca. The first made his way back to camp and the second ended up in the San Luis Valley where he rented a horse and returned via Mosca Pass. 1908: J.S. Windsor received $50.08 for the onions he raised on one acre on the Workman place on Capitol Hill. 1914: Colorado Fuel and Iron says they’re out of politics. Sure they are! Haven’t you seen the
primary returns? Well, look at this – Walsen Mines: Republicans 139, Democrats 2; Rouse: Republicans 139, Democrats 2; Cameron: Republicans 29, Democrats 0; Ideal: Republicans 38, Democrats 3. 1921: In memory of Robert S. Mitchell, foully murdered five years ago Monday, Sept. 27, at the hand of a cowardly assassin. 1927: Two hundred and forty-four students have enrolled in Walsen School where there are eight teachers. 1933: Miss Mary Zanon is assisting in the office of Judge W.W. Hammond during the time of taking applications for the new Old Age Pension program. 1939: Edward Gonzales was elected president of the Huerfano County High School freshman class, Warren Gault, vice president, Elaine Levy, secretary and Betty Dick, treasurer. 1945: The St. Mary Crusader gridiron crew showed excellent fighting ability in Alamosa Friday when they upset the home eleven 7-2. 1951: Drizzling rain yesterday turned into snow blanketing lawns and roof tops in Walsenburg. 1957: An ex-convict and his crony were arrested by police last night after a shooting spree on West Seventh Street. 1963: A one year old boy drowned in the irrigation ditch in the 400 block of West Tenth Street near the Colorado and Southern tracks. 1969: Walsenburg High School Panthers rolled over Centauri last Friday 19-0 with touchdowns by Art Cruz, Nick Faris and Ed Ludvik. 1975: W.H.S. has so far enrolled 81 seniors, 92 juniors, 104 sophomores and 116 freshmen. 1981: Veronica DeVan and Rodney Smircich were crowned queen and king at Walsenburg’s John Mall High School homecoming. 1987: County Assessor Virginia Aragon presented a valuation statement showing a jump from $75,466,518 to $99,480,426. Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) pays just less than half of that amount.
La Veta 1881: During the rebuilding of the monument on the summit of the West Spanish Peak a few interesting facts were discovered. J.H. Maupin and J.G. Smith raised the first flag there July 4, 1878 and fired 32 shots. The first women to attain the summit were Miss Leona Adams and Mrs. T.A. Barber on Sept. 15, 1877. 1887: The certificate of incorporation of the Town of La Veta dated Sept. 12, 1887 includes the signatures of David D. Ryus, William Krier, Col. Francisco, J.M. Elrod, M.T. Hills, F.L. Martin and Henry Daigre and seven more. 1893: The big fall hunt brought in two deer and a lot of rabbits, grouse, wild pigeons, prairie dogs, hawks, squirrels and seven rattlesnakes. 1899: Jake Marker is back from a hunting trip in the mountains and reports slaughtering two wood ticks, three ants and a grasshopper. 1905: County Coroner S.J. Lamme went to the new camp at Hezron Thursday to hold an inquest over the body of Leonard Banoletti who was killed in the coal mine by a fall of rock. 1911: Messrs. Ghiardi and Company, owners of the Spanish Peaks Hotel, are contemplating the erection of a large stone addition in the rear of the present building, with an eye to eventually tearing down the old frame part in front [they didn’t do either]. 1917: Mr. Sears, who owns the Ford garage in Walsenburg, has purchased the former Edmisten livery stable lots on Ryus Avenue and will erect an auto repair garage. 1923: The new camp at the Alamo mine is built on the old Worthington Brothers horse ranch, later the McLain sheep and cattle ranch, and includes an old sulphur spring. The camp itself is built on a small mesa out of sight of the mine entrance, surrounded by pinons and with a wonderful vista. 1930: The classmates of Dorothy Lupton, now Mrs. James Bowdino, surprised her for her 17th birthday with a party at the Tony Bowdino home. 1935: The new county valuation of $9,647,595 is down from $9,929,24l for last year. 1941: Former Redskin George Zember is a member of the first string football team for the State Agricultural College in Fort Collins. 1947: Snow covered the Spanish Peaks and the first frost visited La Veta the night of the 18th. 1953: Ruth Henry, daughter of the late Elmer Henry, longtime summer resident of Cuchara Camps, is the new elementary art teacher for Washington, Hill and Walsen schools. 1959: Gilbert Arnold is building a summer home for Mr. and Mrs. Carl Howard across the highway from Spring Creek picnic grounds just above Cuchara. 1965: Mr. and Mrs. Floyd A. Carney have purchased the Park Lane Hotel on Ryus Avenue from Mr. and Mrs. Joe Robino and Albert Robino. Mrs. Lilly Harrison and Mrs. Ann McKinney remain on staff. 1971: The Redskins won their second straight game of the season by defeating the Sangre de Cristo Thunderbirds 26-22 in the near blizzard Friday afternoon. 1977: La Vetans attending a four day Colorado Trappers Association Rendezvous in Saguache were Jim and Mary Keeling and Ernie and Willard Prator. 1983: La Veta School District Re-2 Board has approved a tentative budget of $923,112 for 1984.
