Dolores 80 years ago

Taken from the Friday, Dec. 14, 1934, Dolores Star

The farmers in our great non-irrigated land need everyone. Come to the rabbit drive Sunday, Dec. 16 near Yellow Jacket at the Prospect school house, lunch and coffee will be supplied at noon. There are special prices on shells at Cortez Lumber & Hardware, Taylors in Dolores, Schaafs at Yellow Jacket and Stevens at Ackmen. Remember these drives to date have gotten rid of about 4,500 rabbits, and that the rabbits cost the farmers in 1931 about $50,000, this money lost to all channels of trade.

Receiver John H. King, who is liquidating the affairs of Cortez and Mancos banks, was a Dolores visitor Wednesday. Mr. King is a former state senator and served Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington and Yuma counties.

Ed J. Calhoon and Elwin Calhoon, father and son, well known and highly respected citizens of this place, passed away within a few hours Monday, casting a shadow of gloom over this community such as has not been experience here in many years. The elder Calhoon became ill last week supposedly from an attack of influenza and went to bed and soon develop pneumonia. Thursday night his son, Elwin Calhoon went home feeling badly and at three o'clock Monday morning he died. Just twelve hours later, Ed Calhon passed away. Death of both men was due to the effects of influenza and pneumonia, and everything possible was done to save them.

In the various rabbit drives held out toward Dove Creek on the past two Sundays, at least 4,500 rabbits have been killed, according to various informants. The drive, or the three drives held last Sunday were perhaps the most successful when probably 2,500 rabbits were killed. A number of Indian boys came up from Shiprock and helped in the work of herding the bunnies within range.

C.I. Brown left this week for Colorado Springs taking a sample of his excellent seed potatoes, grown on the McEwen old ranch just above the mouth of Fish Creek, to enter in the Colorado pure seed show. Mr. Brown has made a splendid success of growing certified seed potatoes and this year had a fine crop of about 28 acres.

Recent instructions have been received by the local E.R.A. office in regard to the use of money which is going in to the homes of relief families from the payment of corn and hog allotments and from the sale of cattle to the government.

The Dolores Civic Club will sponsor a Christmas lighting contest in Dolores this season for both the business and home districts. Cash prizes will be given for the best lighting display in the business section and best lighting and decoration displayed at a residence.

Liquor tax collections in Colorado passed the $1,000,000 mark during November, State Treasureer Homer F. Bedford announced. Prohibition ended in 1933.

R. N. Usher made a business trip to Durango Tuesday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Boxer returned Tuesday evening from Denver. Mr. Boxer returned Tuesday evening from Denver. Mr. Boxer is a cattle buyer for the government and was sent back to this section for another few weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Gaines left Sunday for Albuquerque, where they will spend a week's vacation. A. W. Hoppe is in charge of the lumber yard in their absence.