100 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
February 26, 1926
The home of Feliciano Valdez at Trujillo was stricken Sunday when two children, aged five and ten years died of diphtheria. A physician was called Monday and found two other children in the same family afflicted with the disease. They were placed under quarantine, and the school children inspected for further evidence of diphtheria, but none were found. It is hoped that there will be no epidemic in the county.
J.B. Patterson expects to engage in mining in the Silverton district as soon as spring opens up in that section. He has obtained a bond and lease on a very promising property and his many friends are hoping that he makes another cleaning.
The Pagosa Springs Motor Co. is raffling off a Ford coupe, 1926 model, at 50 cents a chance — when all chances are sold. Those wishing to try their luck may see either H.D. Ford or Harry Sharp at the garage.
75 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
March 2, 1951
A group of local and rural residents met with the County Superintendent, officials of the local school and the school board of District 50 last Thursday to discuss the need and possibility of a new school building in town, a new building at Pagosa Junction and remodeling of the present school building at Chromo.
In town the present space is entirely too small and overcrowding is a very pressing problem. The following figures by grades will give an idea of the condition as it presently exists: 1st grade, 64 students; 2nd grade 52 students; 3rd grade 52 students; 4th grade 51 students; 5th grade 44 students; 6th grade 44 students. This is a total of 307 students in the lower grades and it is highly probable that this number will be even larger next year. It is not possible to at present to have but two rooms for the first grade, 2 for the second and 3 rooms combined for the 3rd and 4th grades.
Local school officials state that with normal increases which can be expected this fall, one of two things will be necessary. Either the school will have to be run in two sections with half the students attending in the morning and half in the afternoon or else an additional four rooms must be rented around town. This will still be a get-by measure and not at all satisfactory.
50 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
February 26, 1976
The Pagosa Springs High School Ski Team made a very credible showing at the Colorado state high school championship ski meet at Purgatory last weekend. For the first time Pagosa Pirate skiers participated in the jumping event, giving them entrants in all four events.
In jumping Mike Martinez and Kurt Laverty placed 26th and 27th in the event. This was the first time for competition for the skiers and shows the constant improvement the team is making in its second year of competition.
In boys events Pagosa placed ninth in jumping, sixth in giant slalom and fourth in slalom. Placing were Kurt Laverty who was 15th in the giant slalom, Steve Laverty 18th, Mike Martinez 25th and Del Gibbs 37th.
Skiing and finishing in the slalom race Kurt Laverty was 8th, Steve Laverty 13th, Mike Martinez 26th, Mark Peters 27th, and Eric Hauser 47th. Girls placing in the giant slalom were Barbara Seielstad 19th, Melinda Formwalt 35th and Carol Boydston 39th.
Barbara Seielstad placed 6th in the slalom, Melinda Formwalt was 30th, and Carol Boydston placed 37th.
25 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
March 1, 2001
Snow continues to pile up in Pagosa Country, approaching depths acknowledged by old-timers as “the way it used to be.”
Wolf Creek Ski Area reported 10 and one-half feet of powder and packed powder standing at the 11,000-foot summit of their resort. Of that amount, 42 inches fell this past week, 24 inches during the last 48 hours and 7 inches during the last 24 hours.
For the season, Wolf Creek is reporting 28.91 feet of snowfall with more to come.
February snowfall in town, aided by the six inches that fell this week, totals 15.25 inches through Feb. 27. February’s average snowfall since 1938 is 18.8 inches, according to records maintained by the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. The heaviest February snowfall of record was 61 inches during 1969.
The coldest February reading captured in Pagosa Springs since 1938 was minus 46 degrees Feb. 1, 1951. Since 1938, the February thermometer has dropped below minus 40 degrees once, below minus 30 degrees twice, and below minus 20 degrees 18 times.
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