Taken from SUN files of
December 26, 1924
The government thermometer at the W.E. Colton residence yesterday, Christmas morning, recorded the coldest temperature in this city since being installed in Pagosa Springs. An even 40 degrees below zero was the registry, and was followed by 36 below this morning. As a result, thawing and repairing frozen water pipes is the favorite indoor sport in Pagosa these days. Mr. Colton predicts that after the present heat wave is over, we can look for a little cold snap on scheduled time in the fore part of January.
Lon Hardman, who is operating a sawmill in the lower Stollsteimer creek section, last week purchased from Mrs. Porfiria Valdez de Velasquez of that vicinity, all the coal and timber rights and a half interest in her 160 acre tract of land. This property embodies what is known as the “Stollsteimer Coal Bank,” which Mr. Hardman will open up and place the product on the market. The sawmill is now being set up preparatory to sawing the timber therefrom besides considerable additional timber in that neighborhood.
Taken from SUN files of
December 23, 1949
Paving of Wolf Creek Pass and six other San Juan Basin projects totaling $1,265,000 was authorized in the Colorado state highway budget for 1950.
Resurfacing of Wolf Creek pass came in for $325,000, the second largest allocation. Another $122,000 will be spent on 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs.
The Arboles district has been allocated an additional $18,000 for State Highway 151 north of Arboles.
Snow has fallen a great deal during the past week and there is nearly a foot on the level here in town. About six feet is reported on Wolf Creek Pass and winter is definitely here. The weather has not been too cold until the middle of this week. On Thursday morning the temperature dropped to an unofficial low of minus 27 and rose to a little above zero by noon. It appears that colder weather is ahead.
County Clerk and Recorder Phillip R. Johnson announced this week that the 1950 license plates have been received at his office and will go on sale January 11th. Mr. Johnson also stated that anyone desiring the same number they held last year must call for his license plates prior to February 15th.
Taken from SUN files of
December 26, 1974
Winter arrived in full force here the first of the week. High winds on Sunday preceded the snow which started falling early Monday morning.
Snow continued falling until Tuesday morning. About six inches was recorded here in town and 14 inches fell in one 24 hour period on Wolf Creek Pass. Roads and town streets were unusually slick and the ordinary fender benders and stuck cars would be spotted here and there.
Temperatures dropped after the snowstorm and a cold snap may be in prospect for the area. All roads are open for travel, however, and there are no serious conditions. The new snow was welcome news to snowmobilers and skiers, the colder weather was welcome to ice skating enthusiasts and ice fishermen.
Taken from SUN files of
December 23, 1999
Ready or not, here comes Y2K.
Archuleta County held its final Y2K meeting of the year Tuesday, just 10 days before the possible appearance of the millennium-launching computer glitch that some say will bring civilization its knees.
Ready or not? Archuleta County says it is ready.
Starting with 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve, county, town, utility employees and other key officials will be managing communication centers, ready to respond to any calls.
Getting help will be just like any other time of the year for the average citizen. Just call the county communication center at 731-4799. Emergency 9-1-1 will be working normally, but Y2K coordinators are hoping people leave that number alone unless they have a real emergency.
In Archuleta County, provisions have been made to provide food, water, warming stations, and medical services for county citizens.
If electricity goes off, School District 50 Jt. will open the doors of the junior high school to the public. The school is heated geothermally, has a kitchen, and has access to a community food bank. The town has provided a backup generator to ensure that the geothermal system at the school operates, even if the commercial electric system fails.