Taken from SUN files of
September 18, 1925
Eradication of the most dangerous death trap on the automobile highways of the state was reported by the state highway department Friday, as completion of the widening of the road over Wolf Creek pass and around Fourth of July cliff was announced.
The road over Wolf Creek pass, the highest automobile pass in the state, has been a narrow and tortuous path, especially on its western side. The road leads around Fourth of July cliff with a straight drop of 2,000 feet from the mountain ledge to the bottom of the canon.
Wolf Creek pass is the direct route to Durango and the Mesa Verde National park and is used by thousands of tourists yearly.
The new road, four and one-half miles of which were completed this year, is at no place less than eighteen feet wide, and is twenty-four feet wide in places. — Denver Post.
The newly constructed barn of Jas. Lynch on his residence property west of the depot, was struck by lightening last Saturday afternoon, caught fire and was totally destroyed, together with about eight tons of hay therein.
Taken from SUN files of
September 15, 1950
The first snow of the season was clearly visible Sunday morning on the high peaks east and north of town. Considerable snow fell in the Pagosa Peak area and on the Wolf Creek Pass area. The nights in town have been very cool with heavy frosts a couple of nights. A good little rain over the week-end helped the forest situation somewhat and the number of fires had been decreased materially. With the opening of the big game season in the offing, more snow can be expected soon.
A group of ski enthusiasts put in most of the day Sunday working on the ski tow at Wolf Creek Pass. The tow was removed to the former site and it is expected to be much more satisfactory than the location last year.
Rct. Joe E. Gallegos, age 22 of Pagosa Springs, has arrived at Fort Ord, Calif., and will begin immediately his basic training with the Famous Fighting Fourth Infantry Division. At the completion of 14 weeks basic training, he will be permanently assigned or selected for a specialist school. He attended the Pagosa Springs school and is the son of Mrs. Sarah Gallegos.
Taken from SUN files of
September 18, 1975
Major street improvement is underway on 8th Street (Trujillo Road). The improvement work consists of the installation of curb and gutter for a distance of two blocks. Surfacing will follow and will extend another two blocks.
The work is the result of a petition by property owners along that street requesting that the town install curb, gutters and paving. The homeowners will be assessed for the cost of the project. The street now has curb, gutter and paving for one block south from U.S. 160.
Travel on that street is heavy and the dust problem has been great. In addition the street, without surfacing often becomes full of chuckholes and washboard type problems. The improvement of streets in this fashion must be initiated by property owners.
There are other areas in town that have discussed such improvements but this is the first actual petition in some years. Under the petition requests it was noted that the homeowners will pay the town for work accomplished and there will be no need for a bond issue.
Taken from SUN files of
September 14, 2000
Archuleta County continues to issue new house building permits at a record pace. From Jan. 1 through Aug. 31 this year, 241 permits for new homes have been issued, a 40 percent increase over the same months last year.
The value of new construction in the county during August is estimated at $8,758,000 based on figures submitted to the state by the county building department. That number is only an estimate based on values supplied to the building department by applicants for new building permits.
Since 1995, the following number of single-family residential permits have been issued by the county: 2000 — 241 permits, 1999 — 172 permits, 1998 — 163 permits, 1997 — 146 permits, 1996 — 150 permits, 1995 — 139 permits. The increase since 1995 in the number of single-family residence permits issued through Aug. 31 is 73 percent.
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