ALAMOSA — Let’s take a walk down historical lane — going for a stroll with the Courier back to December 1919.

A new feature in the Courier in December had headlines promoting the San Luis Valley such as:  “The Fertile San Luis Valley is the Richest Section in the West — Leading in the production of wheat and potatoes.” and “Alamosa is the Gateway to the Wonderful San Luis Valley — The Land of Opportunity” and “Alamosa Welcomes Strangers.” The paper also featured photos of  scenes from Alamosa, the Rio Grande, the Baptist and Presbyterian churches, the Alamosa hospital, the Colorado hospital, railroad shop and stock yards. 

A reprint from the Fort Collins Express newspaper said that better farms can be secured for less money on the Costilla Estates. “Better than the high-priced sections of Northern Colorado where 160 Acres cost $50,000. Costilla Estates are asking $100 to $125 per acre.”  John Hynds, “a wide awake farmer and stockman,” sold his ranch, five and a half miles north of Monte Vista, for $60,000.  And a Texas man bought a 16,040 acre ranch near Villa Grove to stock with cattle.   

Three teachers were reported to be successfully running the new junior high in Alamosa, which contained 120 seventh- and eighth-grade students.

Radiators were currently being installed in Center’s new school,and it was expected to be ready at the beginning of the next year. 

At the beginning of December, the coal miner strike continued and U.S. Fuel Administrator, Harry Garfield, said that coal should be used only for essential purposes.

In Alamosa, display signs of all kinds were ordered discontinued.  Ornamental street lights would be limited to one light only, on corners. Rail service from Alamosa to Salida was curtailed. The coal miners strike ended Dec. 13 and on Dec. 20 coal restrictions were called off. 

But, as the Courier predicted, due to less lighting around the new, unfamiliar poles, an auto wrecked on a center street ornamental post. There would be many more to come.  It was also predicted that oil would replace coal as fuel.

Meanwhile in La Jara, the light plant burned down to the ground.  The Courier called it the “City of Darkness.”  It was not known what steps would be taken to restore the electricity.

A special motion picture, prepared for the Division of Venereal Disease of the Colorado State Board of Health, was to be shown at the Isis Theater; “The End of the Road.”  The movie would be accompanied by a lecture. No children allowed.  Two exhibits of stereoptican [sic] views would be offered for men only.  Every person was urgently requested to attend this free motion picture.  (Due to high demand, the film was offered again, the next week.)

Another new feature in the Courier was called Thinkographs.  This section discussed the “best way to tell a man who is trying to spend the peoples’ money, is how much of it he spends on himself.”  It also pointed out that a special session of the legislature was called to ratify the equal suffrage amendment and to ratify appropriations for the reformatory at Buena Vista. 

December weather was reported to be milder than in Custer County, which had received 24 inches of snow the previous week.  Two loads of hay were “upset” because the roads to Waverly had been bad for a week. 

A young couple in Hooper  got stuck in a snow drift and walked over to a neighbor who loaned them a saddle horse to finish 

their trip. The Presbyterian church would not be having services because of furnace trouble.

The town board in Hooper, and the new mayor there, passed an ordinance not to allow any shooting within the town limits. There was “no room for newcomers in Hooper,” and 12 new homes were scheduled to be built in the spring.

A 70-year-old man south of Monte Vista was found running a crude still.

“Morgan district enriched by installation of drainage land value doubles,” read a caption. The construction company that put in Smith Reservoir would begin work on the Waverly drainage system. 

A new town water system for Antonitio was “practically completed.”

A big report appeared about the millions of people who spend time in Colorado’s 16 national forests (currently consolidated to eight) from May to Oct. 31. 70% of the visitation was in the Pike and San Isabel forests.  2,110 people crossed Wolf Creek pass, 200-300 names were recorded using the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway in Leadville National Forest. 3,270 used Cochetopa, 4,000 Monarch and 75,000 people made it to the top of Pikes Peak using the cog, auto, foot or burro. 

Buffalo meat from the Trinchera Ranch was for sale at Creek Market, as well as a nice selection of turkey, lamb, chicken, pigs and fancy beef. 

Some bad news appeared in the December editions of the paper.  A double-header freight train wreck at Sublette, caused by a broken rail, killed the engineer.  Two days after Christmas, a 16- year-old boy took his own life with a .32 caliber revolver belonging to his aunt, with whom he lived. The reason for his despondency was a mystery.   

A report from the Walsenberg Independent newspaper reported that a man hanged himself at the Morris Hotel. He left a note which said, “Have always intended to go up to the mountains for the finish, but the wind stopped me.  Take the $30 from my pocket and give a carpenter $12 to make a rough box, $5 for digging, $5 for ‘burrying’[sic] place, $2.50 for [undecipheralbe], $5 for someone to see I am buried.”

The man had lived at the hotel for several years. The $30 could not be found. Tracks in the snow indicated that someone had entered earlier.

“When a woman complains of backache, dizziness or pain — when everything looks black before her eyes — a dragging feeling or bearing down with nervousness, she should turn to the temperance, herbal tonic, obtained in almost every drug store — ingredients printed in plain English” — Dr Pierce’s Favorite Prescription. 

And finally, some Yuletide information. Christmas traditions were reported.  One of them was:  If the prickly variety of holly be brought in the house, the husband will rule the house for the coming year.  If smooth holly is used, the wife will be “top dog.”  Sherman Carny Drug Co., advertised pencils, pens, candy, cigars, books, dolls, games, stationary and perfume for holiday shoppers. 

Warners Variety Store — The Christmas Store, Toys, Games, Candy, Tinker toys 65 cents, Tiddly winks 40 cents per pound, Tops 5 cents, Checkers, Machine guns $3.65, Dominoes, Puzzle sets  29 cents, Rook Dolls to delight girls: All kinds of dolls for all kinds of girls, Gifts for Older People, Cut glass nappies $1.50 (a nappy is a small, shallow, glass bowl, Creamer and sugar set $1.35, Alluminumware teapots $1.85, and Handkerchiefs  5-25 cents.