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

100 Years Ago – 1910

The team of H.C. Tackett, Querida, with wagon attached, gave a speed exhibition here last Saturday, encircling a couple of blocks, and was finally brought to a halt on Custer Avenue. No damage.

The school library benefit entertainment in Silver Cliff Tuesday evening was well attended and proved a success in every way. The drill exercises by the little folks were fine and Mr. Fisher is entitled to credit for the good work he assisted them in accomplishing in so short a time.

The home of Mrs. Wolff earlier this week was the scene of a delightful surprise party upon her daughter, Miss Carrie, the occasion being in honor of her 13th birthday.

Henry Dieckman returned Tuesday from another trip to Pueblo. He was delayed for several days by a snow storm.

Rockwell Canda has purchased a ranch near Littleton and on Monday, he had fifteen head of his horses shipped from this Valley to him at that place.

Hammond Bros. have had Beechler, the painter and decorator, at work on the interior of their resort this week and as a result it presents a much more attractive appearance than formerly.

Fritz Rosentrauch, suffering of a cancer on his face, went to Pueblo Monday to enter the hospital there. The old gentleman is in bad shape and fears for his recovery are entertained.

50 Years Ago – 1960

The Westcliffe snow course was checked Feb. 26 by Don Moss and Walter Hanssen of the Soil Conservation Service, accompanied by Dooley Toyne, assistant county agent. The group found the average depth of snow was 27.1 inches with a moisture content of 4.85 inches. This compares to the previous March 1 five year average of 26.3 inches of snow depth and 6.77 inches of moisture.

Sangre de Cristo Sportsman Association’s regular meeting will be held Tuesday evening in the VFW Home. Delbert Chockley, president of the group, said that Gordon Bess of Canon City will show pictures of his recent African hunting trip. Dan Riggs, local game conservationist, will show moving pictures of a recent lion hunt conducted in this area.

Fr. J. William Zulch, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Westcliffe, conducted the preaching mission at St. Michael’s and All Angels church in Denver last week. The Rev. Zulch was accorded much recognition and entertainment by parishioners of St. Michael’s.

25 Years Ago – 1985

During the first quarter of 1984, Custer County ranked fourth among Colorado’s 63 counties in overall sales growth compared to the same period of 1983, according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue. Custer County reported a 40 percent increase in sales—more than $1.8 million during the three-month period. Only Hinsdale, Ouray and Jackson counties had increases greater than ours, percentage wise.

The Conquistador Ski Resort reports heavy bookings in coming weeks, as colleges and high schools plan their spring breaks. Conquistador’s Castile Lodge and the Vivienda Parque accommodations in Westcliffe are fully booked over the next few weeks, with church and school groups coming from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Celesta Adams has told the Westcliffe town board that there are plans to build a medical clinic in her Adams Subdivision. She said a doctor from Buffalo, Oklahoma is planning to build a medical clinic, senior citizens’ apartment complex and, later, a small hospital in the subdivision.

10 Years Ago – 2000

Who, exactly, pays for population growth in places like the Wet Mountain Valley? Here in Custer County, its ranchers and the business community, according to CU professor Mark Haggerty who presented a community forum here Saturday before a crowd of around 100. Haggerty, who authored a study funded by the San Isabel Foundation, the Sonoran Institute, the American Farmland Trust and other groups, said that here in Custer County it costs $1.16 to provide various public services to residential properties for every $1 in property taxes paid. For agricultural and open space properties, 54 cents in services are provided for every $1 in taxes paid. Haggerty said eliminating residential growth is not a solution, although “protecting   agricultural lands for their net fiscal value” is one solution to keep the overall tax burden low. Haggerty said 100 similar studies throughout the West proved that in every case, new residential growth never pays its way for public services offered.

The newly formed Hillside Foundation will hold its first community meeting this Saturday. The non-profit group was formed to preserve, restore and maintain the historic character of the town of Hillside and the surrounding area.

5 Years Ago – 2005

Students at Custer County School raised more than $1,600 in a coin drive for the tsunami relief efforts of the International Red Cross.

While the Custer County Library is temporarily closed for the expansion project now underway, library staffers are helping catalog historical artifacts at the Silver Cliff museum. Information about the museum’s estimated 1,500 items are being entered into a computer database; that information will then be available to the public when the library re-opens in late April. Helping measure, photograph and catalog the historic items are library staffers Claudia Cole and Ted Ballard.

Recently, county commissioner Kit Shy has been using a laptop computer during meetings. This week, commissioner Dale Hoag brought in his version—an old Etch-a-Sketch.

1 Year Ago – 2009

Given the state of the nation’s economy, officials with Westcliffe, Silver Cliff and Custer County were pleasantly surprised to learn of the current status of sales taxes here. Both Silver Cliff and the county noted an increase in sales tax revenues of around 12 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, while Westcliffe noted a modest decline of around four percent. The 2008 sales tax revenues for the county were about $434,000. In Westcliffe that figure was $308,000 and in Silver Cliff it was $49,000.

County officials say the courthouse annex, the Hanssen Haus resource center, should open later this month. Once renovations of the former residence are completed, the space will house the veterans’ service office, the Women-Infant-Children WIC program, the regional Work Force Center, and other public service agencies.