(Information was gleaned from copies of the Wet Mountain Tribune, all from the fourth week in June.)

100 Years Ago – 1909

A force of a dozen men was put to work on the Silver Bar property Monday, some operating the mine and others on excavation work for the stamp mill that is to be erected there for the reduction of the large bodies of low grade ore that abound there.

The use of the water wagon and sprinkler on our main thoroughfares the past week has been of great benefit in laying the dust and solidifying the roads.

Thad Rants had his left arm broken on Monday as the result of a falling bucket striking him while he was working in the bottom shaft over on the Antelope. Dr. Baldwin is attending him.

Jos. Schneider has sold his Silver Cliff store building to John Figge. He had the barn pulled down here to Westcliffe last Thursday.

Lew Key is building an addition to his laundry establishment in Silver Cliff.

Matt. Thiel, John Saxe and Wm. Schellerberg, outfitted for prospecting, went down to the Blackburn country on Monday.

Mrs. Hosen Townsend and daughter Miss Belle came in from Ardmore, Okla., Monday and are occupying their palatial home in Silver Cliff. Custer County has lost none of its charms for those good people.

50 Years Ago – 1959

The Crestone Company will resume mining operations in the South Colony area this month, according to Jack Hamilton, resident manager. At an altitude of about 11,600 feet, above timberline, the company has driven 304 feet of main tunnel and accomplished 75 feet of drift along a uranium ore bed. This marks the third consecutive year of mine development by the Michigan corporation here. They have surveyed and mapped some 50 mining claims in the South Colony area which are either under lease or owned outright by the company. All local miners with underground experience are invited to contact Hamilton for possible retention by the company. Among the accomplishments of the company is construction of 4.9 miles of road rising from the 9,000 foot elevation to approximately 12,000 feet. Markets are available for all the ore this company can produce in its South Colony operation.

Jim Christoff, president of the Sangre de Cristo Sportsman Assn., said preparations are ready for Saturday’s annual banquet and dance at the Westcliffe Hotel. The $3 membership price entitles a man and his lady to a steak dinner, sports movies and a street dance. Tables will be set up outside the hotel for diners. Dwight Shaw’s orchestra of Pueblo will furnish music for the dance. The street has been lighted and the pavement will be washed down and liberally sprinkled with cornmeal for the benefit of those who care to dance.

25 Years Ago – 1984

Five young ladies have been selected to reign over the upcoming Westcliffe Stampede. Crowned queen was Sara Kettle. Members of her court are Anna Hobby, Christe Coleman, Lisa Wrast and Jennifer Trusty.

Silver Cliff town clerk Lois Ferron is retiring, after serving more than 32 years for five mayors. Taking over the position will be Deloris Jobe.

The Colorado Department of Highways has announced that it will be paving an additional 3.5 miles of Highway 69 between Westcliffe and Gardner. Once that project is completed, there will be only about three and a half miles of gravel roadway remaining on the state highway.

This Saturday, Westcliffe town man G-No Hensley will roam the town’s streets in his yellow town dump truck collecting trash free of charge. Mayor Tod Aldrich has declared this weekend “Clean is Beautiful Days.”

Westcliffe Police Chief Terry Killen is now patrolling town in a new, fully-loaded 1984 Dodge Aries K police car. The town purchased the vehicle for about $10,000.

10 Years Ago – 1999

During the group’s annual meeting Saturday, the Custer County Stockgrowers Association elected new officers for the coming year. They are president Sara Kettle, secretary-treasurer Sheron Berry, and directors Randy Rusk, Keith Hood and Tate Rusk.

During a special meeting Wednesday, the C-1 board of education hired Harvey Goodman as new high school principal. Goodman currently serves as assistant principal at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs. He replaces Jim Lucas who will become new assistant principal at Florence High School.

Members of the class of 1939 were special guests during Saturday’s alumni celebration at Custer County High School. Those attending from the class of ’39 were Edith (Voss) Grover, Pauline (Welsh) Elarton, Mary Margaret (Cowan) Roche, Dorothy (Voss) Cody, Evelyn (Caughman) Padoven, Inis (Byrne) Falkenberg, Rollo B. Hall, George Reis, Frank Welsh, Lois (Geroux) Crow, Anita (Walker) Barnes, Joyce Brodmarkle, and George Vickerman.

5 Years Ago – 2004

In a brief meeting Tuesday, the county commissioners agreed to abandon two county roads that receive little use. They are County Road 234 and a portion of Proctor Street located at the old county landfill site north of Westcliffe, and portions of Quartz and Vista streets as platted in the former town of Rosita.

Proving that he has other prime assets, Bob Lynch, president of Colorado Mountain Bank, is the winner in the “beefiest buns” contest sponsored by the Custer County CattleWomen. Cynthia Huber said “bringing up the rear” in a close second was Paul Wenke.

Before a group of school staffers, community leaders, architects and others, C-1 school superintendent Steve Marantino last week unveiled plans for the new school gymnasium. The public is invited to see the plans at an open house next Tuesday.

1 Year Ago – 2008

Scattered storms in recent days have done little to alleviate the extreme dry conditions in Custer County. Due to the dry, windy conditions, the county is under a fire ban, and the U.S. Forest Service has issued an extreme fire warning.

Retired state highway patrol officer Mike Halpin of Wetmore has been hired to serve as bailiff in charge of security at the Custer County Courthouse.

School counselor Leah Lahtinen has been elected president of the board of the West Central Mental Health Association which provides services in Custer, Fremont, Chaffee and Lake counties. Lahtinen has been a member of the West Central board the past eight years.

Fifteen-year-old J.T. Gillmore of rural Westcliffe and his hog won grand champion honors at the recent World Pork Expo junior nationals in Des Moines, Iowa.