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This Week inHistory for December 24, 2015

Walsenburg 1880: When John W. Brown came to this county in 1873, he had nothing. Now he owns two good ranches, more than 400 head of cattle, 20 head of horses and a comfortable bank account. His three-year-old colt is thought to be the finest trotter in Colorado. 1889: It is time to swear off. 1896: An epidemic of whooping cough is prevalent among the children of Walsenburg. 1901: Officials of Colorado Fuel and Iron spent several days in this vicinity examining the mines, traveling on their three special Pullman cars. 1907: The Interstate Development and Construction Company has been incorporated to purchase water rights and construct water reservoirs and ditches. 1913: More than 75 couples attended the Christmas Eve dance in the high school. 1918: All public schools in the county will reopen Jan. 6 except those at La Veta and Clover where the Spanish flu is still raging. 1925: C.J. Williams will open his new Motor Parts Company Jan. 1 in the former post office building. 1931: Rotary Club and the Fox Theater will jointly host the free movie

for boys and girls under 12 years, including a popcorn ball and a bag of candy for each. Seating is limited to 1,200. 1937: La Abeja Club will have a Christmas dance Dec. 25 in Eagles Hall with both modern and old time music. 1943: A total of 139,000 pounds of turkey have been shipped from this area by the local processing plant this season. 1949: About 1,500 boys and girls attended the two free showings of the Christmas special movie Dec. 23 in the Fox Theater and received treats from Santa Claus. 1955: Some 55 public school students, directed by Ralph Levy Jr., gave a Christmas tableau with a narrative and carols the evening of Dec. 20. 1961: Harold Thomas Dabney, first manager of the city utilities department, died at the age of 68. He was manager of the Trinidad Power Company first and later the Trinidad Electric Transmission, Railway and Gas Company in Walsenburg. 1967: Members of the Huerfano Memorial Hospital Auxiliary earned $121.41 on their Christmas Bazaar items. 1973: Santa Claus will be present in the First National Bank in Walsenburg today, Dec. 24, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.with treats for the youngsters. 1979: Mrs. Anthony Padilla won the $100 prize in the first Huerfano County Chamber of Commerce merchants’ Christmas drawing last Saturday. 1985: Special Christmas Day buffet dinners will be served at the Marlboro Restaurant, Cuckleburr’s at Rio Cucharas Inn and The Timbers in Cuchara. Baker Creek Restaurant at Cuchara Valley Resort will have a traditional Christmas turkey dinner with pecan pie. 1991: About 70 were present for the Colorado Country Christmas fashion show and brunch in the Iron Horse Restaurant where five local clothing dealers showed styles. The gathering was entertained by Jewel Geiger on the piano and Sister Carol and her class from St. Mary School.

La Veta 1876: The town board met Dec. 20 with trustees Brink and Baker absent. The clerk was instructed to write to the county clerk asking the county to pay for the care of paupers and the bill of Mr. Baker for $2.33 and 1/3 cent was approved for payment. 1882: Fresh oysters, turkey, chicken salad and fresh fruits and other delicacies will be served at Petrie’s Hotel on Christmas Day. 1892: The Dick Brothers of Walsenburg have made arrangements with J.B. Petrie of the Wahatoya for 400 tons of ice. He intends to begin cutting next week on R.B. Willis’s lake. 1897: On Christmas, the Methodist Church congregation will host a union Christmas tree, which will be open for the use of the public, along with music and an entertainment. 1903: Christmas trees were held at both the Methodist and Baptist churches, with Santa Claus there with lots of candy and nuts. 1909: Ninety children of Oakview were made happy at the Christmas tree held there. 1916: The seniors at the high school started their holiday break a little early when they walked out “on strike” over the rough treatment given Herman Van Etten by the principal. 1923: The children of Oakview will enjoy a Christmas tree tonight in the school house. 1929: A cold wave sending sub-zero temperatures and about an inch of snow Tuesday was followed by several days of unusually balmy weather. 1934: Mrs. Harry Gamblin is now managing and operating the filling station at Mule Shoe. 1940: Charles Alexander won the $5.00 prize, O.W. Beamer $2.00 and E.T. Crawley and L.P. Springer $1.00 each in the Jaycees’ “Trade at Home” Christmas campaign. 1946: It’s June in December in La Veta – Mrs. Frank Powell brought us a fine big strawberry from her garden and Edith Hector picked a bouquet of violets in her yard. 1952: Santa Claus visited the children of La Veta at 1 p.m. Monday in front of the Spur Theater on Main Street, followed by a free movie sponsored by the merchants. 1958: The new Francisco Museum will be open on Christmas afternoon, as well as Saturday and Sunday. 1964: Died, Mrs. Hattie Warren, 76. One of the 11 children of William and Elizabeth Parks Hector, she was born at the family farm at the foot of the Spanish Peaks. She married James Warren in 1918; he died in 1943. She leaves four brothers, including Frank and Fred in La Veta, and four sisters. 1970: The grade school children gave a play entitled “At the Court of Santa Claus” last Thursday evening in the school gymnasium with Ronnie Jameson as Santa Claus and Dianne Hasenack as Mrs. Claus. 1976: The La Veta Library had a Christmas story, party and ornament making session last Saturday. 1981: Friends of the Arts Guild brought in more than $1,000 on their holiday bake sale and drawing. The painting offered, rendered and donated by Helen Dunne, was won by Sue Houchin. 1987: Some 40 to 50 people showed up for the Friends of the Arts Guild’s caroling party aboard Otto Goemmer’s Belgian Trolley and the refreshments served afterwards at the 1899 Inn.

Cement plant concerns

Building inspector suggests a negotiated move out of Northlands to site near prison WALSENBURG — The Walsenburg City Council convened a special meeting Friday, March

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