Barbara B Kruse

The first issue of ‘El Coloradeño,” a new Spanish newspaper from the Courier pressroom was published by AJ Martinez, editor and proprietor in May 1919.

Advertisements   

I have noted in the first five months of 1919 a lack of commercialism in the Courier. There were no advertisements about Valentine’s Day, Easter or Mother’s Day.  The May Courier did mention the 4th of July but only in the context that Alamosa “better get busy and plan some activities because Salida has already publicized their Independence Day agenda.”

Pioneer Market had an attractive ad depicting a muscular male next to a roast beef.  “Good meats make for strength of mind and sinew and of muscle.  The race will flourish or fall according to its stomach and food put in there.” 

Levi Strauss & Co. advertised Koverall for children - $1.50.

Creeks Market had lard in five or 10-pound pails for 35 cents per pound.

Edison Mazda light bulbs were recommended for every socket.

Cash and Carry Grocery on 613 Main advertised lower prices due to no credit and no delivery.

Warners Variety Store had new goods:  Children’s hats 35₵, ladies waists (blouse) $1.15, peroxide of hydrogen, 15₵, wood coat hanger 5₵, men’s handkerchiefs 3 for 25 ₵, pie pans, curling iron, Shinola, fire shovel, wood spoon, 3 inch hinges, tweezers and wire fly killer all 10₵ apiece. 

Help Wanted St. John-Stow Mer. Co. in Mesita was looking for an honest young man with willingness to work mixed with a little brains and pep, fair hand, figure accurately, handle 100 lb. sack, anxious to earn more than he gets.  Ambition essential. 

“A prudent mother is always on the watch for symptoms of worms in their children.  Paleness, lack of interest in play and peevishness is that signal for WHITES CREAM VERMIFUGE. A few doses of this excellent remedy will put an end to the worm and the child acts naturally.”  Sold at Grove Drug Store.

Stephanson Osteopath on 509 Main Street advertised 14 years of experience with 11 successful ones in Alamosa. 

News Around Town

The county won an action suit in district court for taxes due from the Denver Rio Grande Railroad. 

The WCTU (National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union) May Day Tea was held at the home of Carrie Moss.  Pink blossoms in dainty May baskets greeted attendees.  The event included solos and a talk by a Reverend for a pleasing program enjoyed by 45 people. 

A fire at the shed in back of 8th and San Juan took the whole shed and another fire at Williams Greenhouse on 9th was started in the brood house by an oil stove.  The bucket brigade lost ground but a fire hose was used to knock the fire down; however, the building was practically destroyed. Later in the month the old fire team, two bay horses; Teddy and Woodrow, were sold and replaced with a tractor.

Good things were in store for Alamosa.  Alamosa was to install a new lighting system “at once.”  Sixty ornamental street lights were to be purchased for no more than $6,000.  “11th and LaDue will no doubt be the first to get attention.”  Each block will get four streetlights with underground wiring.  Corner lights, only, will burn all night.  A sample of the globe lighting could be seen at the Isis Theatre. 

Speaking of the Isis Theater:  The Isis had a different show each day of the week.  On Tuesday, May 10, a free showing of “On the Quiet,” a 10-reel movie, with Ethyl Barrymore, was showing.  Another five-reel movie about the complete stages of car manufacture by Pan Motor Co. was showing at 2:30 or 7:30. (Pan Motor Co. was a short lived car manufacturer in St. Cloud, Minn. which produced 750 vehicles from 1917 to 1922 and an extravagant advertising campaign. Stockholders did not receive dividends and the president of the company was sentenced to 10 years in prison for mail fraud.)  No children unless accompanied by an adult. The theatre will have a slight rise in ticket price but promise seven-reel, world famous movies.  However, someone complained in the paper that after paying 17₵ for a ticket and have someone sit next to you and dissect the picture and explain the parts is very frustrating. 

RD Norton proposed land for a City Park four blocks from the Post Office.  The land included a big artesian well suggested for an illuminated fountain.  Norton said this new land would make the park on Denver Avenue look like a “back number.”

Businesses will be closed on May 22 from noon to 5 pm for a town clean up.  Clean up backyards, alleys and vacant lots.  The City would haul the rubbish.

Spriestersbach and Cramer on State Ave. sponsored a bicycle race on May 17.  They sold bicycle tires.

The first band concert of the season at 4th and Main (? that’s what it said) was featuring trombone solo “Somewhere in France a Lily” and the unforgettable “American Patrol” as well as a rural novelty “Howdy.”

The Society page, by Mary-Lenore Brazil reported that the first Hope Chest club meeting was held because the movement was taken up locally after France taught American girls about processing a hope chest.

Graduation

The class of 1919 had more boys than girls (no number given.)  They were to be the first class to graduate in cap and gown.  The diplomas were of unusual attractiveness with a purple leather covering. 

Around the Valley

H.C. Aydelotte sold 260 acres on Pinos Creek to the successful farmer Margaret Knoblauch for $100 per acre.

Estrella farmers planted 1,000 acres of potatoes this year compared to 300 last year and petitioned the railroad for additional track to be added to the switchyard. 

Forty acres west of Alamosa with a hog-tight fence, four-room house, artesian well, barn and four shares of Commonwealth were for sale for $75/acre. 

Marcus and Maestas of Center advertised adobe bricks for cellars or concrete walls.

Chas E Gibson Co. had two shares of Costilla ditch, 450 of San Luis and 4 Commonwealth for quick sale.

Tierra Amarilla Grant Land for sale 12 miles north of Chama between Chama River and Willow Creek for $9.75/acre. 

Two companies were looking favorable for tapping into oil sand but Sinclair is not giving out further information. 

Men’s annual meeting in Hooper was well attended considering the busy season.  They received instructions on treating and testing seed.  The women were treated to a demo from State Agricultural College about using home conveniences at little cost.  The Boys and Girls Pig Club also met. 

Sixteen train cars of stock were shipped from Alamosa- four of hogs and 12 of sheep.  Forty- three cars of spuds and hogs in one train were shipped from Monte Vista the following week.  The potatoes were valued at $80,000.

Blanca Canal Co. stockholders had their annual meeting and election of directors.

National News

The Red Cross will introduce First Aid instruction to all schools.

The U.S. Government gathered statistics from 1,500,000 children to update average weight and height standards in a campaign to save lives from preventable diseases. 

A different casualty of war was reported about a Pennsylvania woman with two husbands who married again after the death of her soldier spouse was wrongly reported. 

To End

“Heard a fellow once say he resigned from church because the preacher was too partisan to say a word for the devil occasionally.”

“The politicians who talk the loudest about delivering the labor vote, the woman vote, the soldier vote, the farmer vote and the like, usually have the least to do with delivery.”