Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press from Sept. 10-16.
40 years ago
Sept. 10-16, 1977
As reported in the Pinon News: Recently Don Merritt was working on his water pump at the Barkley well northwest of Pinon when a rattle snake struck at him, hitting his sleeve between the wrist and elbow. It scared him so badly he let the snake get in a hole in the wall of the pump building. For several hours his arm hurt until he thought he had been bitten. He and Mrs. Merritt kept looking for signs of a bite.
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Eleven Artesia High School students had the opportunity to see New Orleans this summer and work harder than they ever had before in a marching band. The Artesia Lions clubs helped to send the students to the New Orleans International Lions Club Convention, where 61 other bands marched in the parade and performed concerts. The Artesia students who participated in the band were Susan Haldeman, Silvia Collins, Ramona Stuart, Connie Kuykendall, Rosemary Martinez, Emily Simons, Starla Ewan, Donald Brower, Donald Torres, Mike Dade and Kirk Irby.
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It might have been a reunion of Cottonwood residents, but for the fact the food and drink were missing and instead tape recorders monitored the recollections of old-timers seated around a table at Artesia City Hall Monday night. The occasion was a meeting of the Artesia Historical Society, and close to 30 people gathered to revive stories of people who settled in the Cottonwood area north of Artesia some 80 years ago. The Historical Society taped recorded the session to keep on file at the museum. Past and present Cottonwood residents attending included “Red” Evans, Goerge Denton, Lizzie Howard, Juanita Denton, Mrs. John Buck, Bertha Nelson, Ruby O’Bannon, Mickey Nelson, Mary Frances O’Bannon, C.Y. Evans and Marie Buck.
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Construction crews working for the Bradbury and Stamn Construction Co. of Albuquerque are in the process of setting foundation forms and plumbing lines for the Eagle Creek Apartments. The elderly housing project, located at Mahone and Roselawn, is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 1.
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The Artesia Planning and Zoning Commission recommended Thursday night that zoning of property at 1102 S. 13th be changed from residential to light commercial for a doctor’s office. Commission Chairman Wallace Beck said the property owners, Floyd and Helen Osborn, requested the zone changed because a local chiropractor, Dr. M.E. Wilson, is interested in setting up practice there.
30 years ago
Sept. 10-16, 1987
Since childhood, Steve Evarts — like many little boys — dreamed of being a railroad engineer. The only difference between his and most other childhood dreams is that his actually came true. Upon graduation from high school in 1973, Evarts went to work for Santa Fe Railway and he has been with them ever since. “my first memory in life is riding a train to Chicago in 1958 at age 3. That’s what started (my interest in trains). Now I’m an engineer and get to ride them about every day,” he said with that same childhood enthusiasm.
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In the best tradition of the Red Sox and Yankees, Washington and Dallas, McEnroe and the tennis world, Roswell High School football Coach Jim Bradley doesn’t try to camouflage his dislike for that school 45 miles south on U.S. 285. At Roswell, Bradley has established one of the state’s most solid football programs this decade, and it’s obvious that he savors a win over neighboring Artesia more than over any other opponent. “I personally like to whip Artesia anytime we play them,” said Bradley following Roswell’s 35-19 win over the Bulldogs Friday night. “We’re going to be ready for Artesia because I’m going to make sure we’re ready.” “It doesn’t make any difference whether they are in Class AAA, or Class AAAA, it’s still Artesia,” he said. “They used to whup up on us pretty good when I was at Mayfield and I can still remember those days.”
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As reported in the Pinon News: Mrs. Oza Holcomb received a letter from Chester Kramer of Alamogordo a few days ago, thanking her for writing the Pinon News, as that was the only way he had of hearing from the mountain people. Chester was reared on Lower Agua Chiquita Creek, east of Weed, and attended school some of the time on McDonald Flat and some of the time at Weed School. After he was grown, he moved with his mother to Alamogordo where he has made his home since. He was asking about the Bill Porter family, as he attended school with the children on McDonald Flat. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are dead and a number of the children, which ones are unknown.
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Former Artesia resident Buster Leaf has had success over the years coaching high school football in Texas, and now has added another notch to the list. Leaf, along with three other coaches in Texas, recently was inducted in the Top of Texas Hall of Fame. Leaf’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Bill Leaf of Artesia.
20 years ago
Sept. 10-16, 1997
The end of another afternoon football practice and most Artesia High School football players are going to the locker room. Running back Chris Olivas leaves the field long enough to say a teammate asked him to punt to him, just to get some extra work on fielding the ball. “Even when I was smaller I just always wanted to play for the Bulldogs,” Olivas said. “The support we have from everybody in the community is unreal. It’s a lot of fun to play here.” He and his teammates realize little boys go to football games and dream of being Bulldogs as well, the running back said, so they try hard to be positive role models for them.
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As reported in the Pinon News: After two weeks of not receiving Pinon news, the Artesia Daily Press began a search for the much-missed Mrs. Oza Holcomb. She currently is staying with her daughter after suffering a back injury. Mrs. Holcomb is doing well and plans to return to her home soon and begin reporting the Pinon News.
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The Russell Floore Art Show at the Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center’s annex has just completed another successful year. Receiving first place was JoAnn LoBianco for her work in watercolor, “Nopales de Mesilla Vieja.” The second-place ribbon went to Kay Peterson’s oil painting, “Hurry Home.” The third-place ribbon went to Marsha Brown’s oil painting, “Winter Calm.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back is compiled each week by Daily Press Community Living Editor Teresa Lemon.)
