by Nancy Christofferson
Walsenburg
1898: It will soon be Easter and you will want a new hat. I have some of the finest. Miss M.B. Pierce, Milliner.
1904: The ladies of the Presbyterian Church will clear about $40.00 from their entertainment given last night, which was well attended despite the inclement weather. 1909: A substantial new cement bridge has been put across the ditch crossing Main Street at Third.
1915: The telephone company will present a moving picture showing the progress from the first telephone in 1876 to the up-to-date modern instrument of today.
1920: Frank P. Vallely and William Mattivi will open the Huerfano County Garage in the Levy building adjoining the Independent office.
1925: Huerfano County mines produced 457,313 tons of coal in January and February this year, with 2,824 men employed.
1930: Charles Reno, guard on the All City team, was unanimously elected captain of the Huerfano County High School basketball team by a vote of 5-1(?).
1935: Died, Joseph A. Lenzini Sr., 71, born in Italy in 1864 but a resident of the United States since 1892. He was a coal miner until 1899 when he started a grocery store on West Seventh Street from which he retired in 1922. He leaves his wife Rosa, sons Sandy and Joseph Albert Jr. and daughter Jennie Nizzi.
1940: Futuristic in theme and ultra modern in design, magic creations of 1940’s household genius will be assembled at the Trinidad Electric showrooms Friday and Saturday for this city’s third annual Electrical Appliance Show.
1946: A “Courtesy Refresher” course, sponsored by the Huerfano County Chamber of Commerce for the benefit of Walsenburg business and professional personnel, will be next Thursday evening in preparation for tourist season. 1951: Sunday-Monday at the Fox Theater, Gary Cooper and Ruth Roman in “Dallas”, plus “Kefauver Investigation News” with actual court room scenes! 1956: Mr. and Mrs. Sig Sporleder are parents of their second child and first son, born March 27 in Lamme Hospital. He has been named Eric.
1962: Maria Marcelena Jaramillo has died in Albuquerque. She was the widow of the Rev. J.R. Jaramillo who served the Walsenburg First Presbyterian Church for 30 years beginning in 1900.
1967: Mrs. Lida Meyer, a teacher in Huerfano County for more than 42 years, celebrated her 91st birthday. She was the wife of the late John A. Meyer and is the mother of Howard Earl and Clarence Albert Meyer.
1972: Opening April 3, Ma’s Breakfast Nook, 609 Main Street. Corine Garcia, Your Hostess.
1978: Carmen Martinez was the first $100 winner in the new Safeway Store Million Dollar Bingo game.
1982: Three cases of criminal mischief were investigated by Walsenburg police officers this week and two cases of vandalism.
1987: Sixth graders named Honor Students for the third semester at St. Mary School were Josh Brgoch, Molly Hain, Tracy Lenzotti, Tammy Lessar, Craig Martinez, Charla Pino and James Suazo.
1992: About 142 members and guests attended the Huerfano Basin Stockgrowers annual meeting, election of officers and dinner dance in Rio Cucharas Inn Saturday night and were entertained by Mad Jack Hanks, cowboy poet.
La Veta
1877: The Hamilton brothers, W.B. and James, settled on Veta Creek, four miles north of here, in 1870 after having managed the Francisco ranch on the Cucharas for three years. They now have 1,700 acres of which 700 are fenced, raising thereon thoroughbred short horn cattle they drove here from Missouri seven years ago.
1883: Trees are to be planted by the town on the north side in Block 7, all of Block 2, and the west side of Block 1.
1892: Town Board met in a called meeting to discuss steps to take against the spreading of infectious diseases. Oliver Bemen was appointed special marshal to prevent the spread at a salary of $4.00 per day.
1899: Easter Sunday is this week but we are sadly afraid the weather will be too disagreeable for the ladies to don their new spring finery.
1907: One of our gentle zephyrs carried away part of the roofs of the Stranger, Elrod and Kerby buildings, flattened the barn at the town ranch and destroyed C.L. Martin’s barn north of town.
1912: Harry Capps is making preparations to build on his lots at the corner of Francisco and Birch streets.
1918: The town park at the head f the Cucharas was rented to Messrs. Jasper Smith, Sumpter Martin and Fred Falk for $100 per year for use as pasture.
1924: Mr. Vincent purchased the Collier sawmill and moved it to the gap on the Cuchara camps road to use for his new resort, San Isabel Clifton Springs.
1931: The sophomore class is planning to have a picnic and dance for the entire school and friends at Sulphur Springs April 17.
1936: Tex Brown’s team ran away Tuesday; that’s real news in this mechanical age.
1941: San Isabel National Forest Supervisor F.J. Poch says the mountain pass between La Veta and Aguilar is now officially named “Apishapa Pass”.
1947: Frank Utt and Wanda Mahan, the daughter of Harry Dillon of La Veta, have announced their marriage. They are both graduates of La Veta High School.
1952: Featured in the senior class play will be Joe Ward, Maryalameda Moore, Billy riggings and Angela Ferrari.
1958: Phil Harris and his son Charles of Liberal, Kans., are in Cuchara remodeling the eight cabins formerly owned by Mr. Amidei of Walsenburg. Phil was born in La Veta.
1964: Since Incumbent Mayor Proctor Hayes decided not to seek re-election to the office, Marlin Warren is the only mayoral candidate for the April 7 election.
1970: Mr. and Mrs. Carl Elley celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with more than 60 friends and relatives. Mrs. Elley is the former Hazel Pickens.
1976: Nancy Nielsen as elected secretary and Leslee Filer, treasurer, of the Friends of the Arts Guild.
1982: Aspen Leaf Salon will open April 1 in the upstairs of the La Veta Lodge for men’s and women’s hair cuts and styles.
1987: Cuchara Weatherman Jim Ellis reports a total of 126 inches of snow fell in March alone. This brings the season total to 314 inches since September.
