100 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
September 3, 1926
The children of this town and county are wearing those pleased expressions that won’t wipe off — all caused because Tuesday is the opening of the 1926-27 session of the Pagosa Springs grade and high schools.
Mr. A.A. Miller, who has charge of the Wolf Creek Pass maintenance work and other road work in this section, has completed the steam shovel work at the Laughlin hill, five miles north of Pagosa Springs, and is now located with his crew at the San Juan ranger station, where a number of curves will be straightened out. Later, work will commence at what is known as “Catchpole’s Mistake.”
Dan Russom, who resides northwest of Dyke, was placed under arrest last evening on complaint of John Dyke, and charged with the larceny and butchering of Dyke cattle. Sheriff Dutton, who made the arrest, found one of the hides, containing the Dyke brand buried in a manure pile at the ranch. He was brought to town and appeared before Justice Herbert Loucks last night, admitted his guilt and was bound over to the district court in the sum of $500.
75 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
August 31, 1951
Work was started this week on straightening out the parking problems on the town’s main street, with the first step being a change to parallel parking and in the near future a two hour parking limit. All double parkers will also be warned and then issued a ticket for traffic law violation. The two hour parking limit will go into effect as soon as the necessary signs can be obtained.
The curbs on main street are being marked for proper parking positions and violators of the marked spaces will 1st be warned and then issued tickets. The problem of wholesale delivery trucks is also being investigated and it is hoped that in the future most deliveries will be made at the rear entrances.
Saturday morning, the KOA — Western Farm Life Range livestock judges spent the day looking at the H. Ray Macht ranch, livestock and range. These men are the judges in the Top Hands contest and Mr. Macht was chosen by the local cattle growers association as the Archuleta County entry in the contest.
50 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
September 2, 1976
Local school enrollment has jumped another 15 students from last week’s enrollment to a total of 858 for the system. A.D. Hahn, superintendent, said that another 10 to 12 students are expected to enroll by the end of next week.
The superintendent said that the most serious problem was being created in the high school grades. The building isn’t large enough to handle the enrollment in an efficient manner.
Enrollment figures show, as of Wednesday of this week, 376 students in grades kindergarten through fifth, 482 students in grades sixth through ninth, and 171 students in the top three grades of high school.
Last year at this date the total enrollment stood at 787 and according to the estimates may level out at somewhere around 865 students this year. This will, force the high school into a Class AA status next year for athletic events.
Hahn reported that other than the problems being created by the lack of space that school is off to a smooth start and that everything else is functioning well.
25 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
August 30, 2001
Longtime Archuleta County resident and noted environmental activist Elizabeth “Betty” Feazel passed away at her home Aug. 26.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1916, Betty studied at Wellesley College and summered at the At Last Ranch in Archuleta County, acquired by her parents in 1922. She graduated in 1938 with a degree in philosophy. In 1944, she married attorney and TWA pilot Ernest Feazel at a spot near her mother’s ranch house.
Together Betty and Ernest raised four children on a farm near Kansas City. Betty returned to the At Last Ranch and full-time ranching upon her husband’s death in 1976. Over the years, she collected people — artists, scientists, political activists and family. Her family reunions were the stuff of legends, renting whole train cars for the ride to Silverton, reserving several floors in the Strater Hotel in Durango.
She was recognized for her preservationist positions in “Audubon” magazine, “Sports Illustrated,” and on the front page of the “New York Times,” accomplishing all of this at the At Last Ranch.
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