Walsenburg 1880: The people of Pueblo have been suffering a severe coal famine and schools were closed. While the Denver and Rio Grande were considering the matter the Santa Fe generously tendered the city 10 loads a day until conditions improved. 1892: The new School District No. 36 will include parts of District No. 4, Walsenburg, and an area lying west of No. 19, Walsen and east of No. 10, North Veta. Enrollment is 143. 1898: As we stept [sic] into Mike O’Shea’s jewelry store Tuesday morning at ten his clocks all went on a strike. 1904: “Joe Ruggles, or the Girl Miner”, directed by T.P. Steele, will be presented in Mazzone’s Opera House Saturday evening by the La Veta Comedy Company. 1909: Mrs. C.O. Unfug, the former Kate Withington, and her sister Mrs. M.S. Hayden are heirs to a large estate in England that has been in litigation since 1800. 1915: Two suitcases with six suits, an overcoat, three hats and four pairs of pants were stolen from Walsenburg Tailoring Company. 1921: The state rangers have been searching union miners’ homes, saying they may do so because of the martial law imposed on Huerfano County. 1927: All is quiet in the Southern strike zone. 1933: Sixty-nine men were placed yesterday and 29 today on the seven new Civil Works Administration projects in Huerfano County. 1939: Continued mild weather has caused decreased production of area coal mines. 1945: A total of 81,396 tons of coal were produced in the county during October 1944 and this year it was up to 85,709 tons. 1951: The Ysidro or Tenth Street bridge over the Cucharas is open today after repairs on the damage caused by last August’s flood. 1957: A brass and walnut clock was donated to the County Public Library by Chapter BZ, P.E.O., in honor of their chapter members. 1964: The St. Mary Crusaders defeated Sopris 53-38 Tuesday night in the first game of the basketball season. 1970: Construction began this week on the new First National Bank in Walsenburg’s $37,000 drive-up bank at 132 W. Sixth (across from Safeway). 1976: Base salaries for Re-1 teachers has been increased by the school board to $8,500 a year, a $500 raise from last year. 1982: Gary Colnar, manager of the Best Little Warehouse in Walsenburg, says the 38 units of the mini-storage warehouse are complete and ready to rent. 1988: Leonard Jewelers, 513 Main Street, is closing after 17 years in Walsenburg and the Sport Hut, 520 Main, closed last week after 15 years in business. 1994: Youth Center Theatre, the former Fox Theater at 715 Main, has been placed on the State Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1917 by Paul Krier on land once owned by Fred Walsen.
La Veta 1876: The coroner’s jury determined that John Brown and his wife Sarah were inhumanely murdered by a stranger who mistook him for a neighboring rancher who had was believed to have a great deal of cash. Their daughter, Mrs. Rice, was not after all mortally wounded and is recovering and able to testify. 1882: Dr. T.A. Barber of La Veta was elected county coroner with 882 votes. 1889: County Judge and La Veta pioneer Henry Daigre is being questioned as to his being a legal citizen of the United States, reflecting his eligibility for office. 1895: The boys who are allowed the freedom of the streets late at night are the boys who fill the workhouses and bring sorrow upon their relatives. 1901: Mrs. Elmer Langford tripped on a nail and fell on one of La Veta’s elegant [board] sidewalks Thursday evening, receiving some bad bruises. 1907: In the football game played here Friday afternoon, it was La Veta 12, Walsenburg, 5. 1914: Mr. Chavez, uncle of Felix Mestas, was found dead on Silver Mountain where his dugout had collapsed and crushed him. 1920: Walter Nuttall and Dora Bruce won for having the best hayseed costumes at the Thanksgiving masquerade ball held last Friday evening. 1926: The La Veta High School Cowboys won their very first football game 34-0 over Sopris, another inexperienced team, in a sea of mud here, and will play Thanksgiving morning against the Huerfano County High School Panthers. 1932: Forest Ranger Gilbert surveyed a trail between Cuchara Camps and White Creek that will probably be a popular byway in the summertime. 1938: New officers of Tuesday Night Study Club are Rosa Goemmer, president; Bessie Stambaugh, vice president; Jean Goemmer, secretary and Mildred Downs, treasurer. 1944: A large crowd attended the memorial Thanksgiving service sponsored by the La Veta American Legion and Auxiliary to honor those boys from our area who have given their lives for their country in this war. 1950: The new elementary school is going up rapidly. 1956: A 46-page catalog has been released listing the consignments of Hereford bulls for the eighth annual breeders association sale Dec. 11 in La Veta. 1962: School enrollment that has been as high as 222 and as low as 194 this year, now stands at 211. 1968: Jerry Masinton, assistant professor of English, was honored by the senior class of Kansas University with the Honor for the Outstanding Progressive Educator, or HOPE, award. 1974: Many La Veta residents attended the grand opening of the new 23,000 square foot Safeway Store in Walsenburg last Sunday and report it is quite an improvement over the old store on Sixth Street. 1980: Larry Harris presented a show of his photographs for the Friends of the Arts Guild. 1986: Francisco Fort or the old Francisco Plaza has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1992: Town Board set its general fund revisions and income for 1993 at $271,878 but may face cuts before adopting it due to the new Tabor Amendment.
