100 Years Ago

March 25, 1920

• Another big land deal: W. B. Kelly is in Cheyenne this week closing one of the largest land deals that has been made around Torrington for some time. The transaction involves the sale of the half section just north of town, which has been the property of Fairview Ranch Co., for several years to W. C. Kink ear, a Cheyenne attorney and a number of other men, part of whom are Torrington business men. The price paid is $211 per acre for the entire tract, which sets another standard in farm land values in this vicinity.

• Torrington to have band: At a meeting of the Torrington Fire Department last night it was decided to get behind the organization of a band for Torrington. About twenty musicians have already been secured and as many more as wish to come in will be welcome. Prof. L. E. Bennett will be the leader and instructor. No charge will be made for admission nor for instruction. Purchase of the uniforms will be financed by the Fire Department and will not be at the expense of the members.

• Road surveys progressing: The State Highway Department has about completed the different surveys of the roads to be constructed from Torrington to Cheyenne. Two surveys have been made over part of the route and after the engineers have made their report the best route will be determined. One survey is west of Bear mountain over Kessler gap, north to Springer, east three lies and then to Torrington. The other survey takes the road around the east end of Bear mountain, then north to Springer and into Torrington over the same route as the first mentioned.

75 Years Ago

March 29, 1945

• Trailblazers Complete Basketball Season; Turn Attention to Track: The Torrington High School Trailblazers successfully completed their basketball season and are now turning their attention towards the Spring track season. The ‘Blazers, under the capable guidance of Coach John Hoke, returned from the state tournament with an envious free-throw record, having the highest average of any team entered. The team garnered a percentage of 600, making 30 of the 50 free throws awarded them in competition play during the state meet.

• Kluherz Firm Named Agents for Big Horn Agricultural Gypsum: In a large advertisement elsewhere in this issue, announcement is made of the appointment of the Kenneth Kluherz, Inc., fir as agents for the Wyoming-Midland Gypsum company of Cody, Wyo. The Cody company handles the famous Big Horn brand of agricultural gypsum, an effective soil builder and a perfect reconditioner for alkaline soils.

• New Store to Be Opened in April: The Better Homes Stores will open its doors sometime in the near future, it was announced this week. The new store will deal in the sale and repair fo home appliances and will be located in the former site of the Deluxe Cleaners on Main Street.

50 Years Ago

March 26, 1970

• Bethel’s Rev. Wohler Accepts Minn. Call: The Rev. Richard Wohler of The Bethel Baptist Church has accepted a call to become the Pastor of the North Central Baptist Church of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. He will assume duties as pastors the first of April and his closing services at Bethel will be the morning and evening services on Easter Sunday.

• Big Brothers Voice Need Of Volunteers: The newly established “Big Brothers Organization” is voicing a request to all people in the Torrington area to help with this new project. It promises to be a very rewarding experience to those that offer their time to help the youngsters, according to chairman of the board, Bill Brown.

• Beet Growers Nix Contract; Will Hold Special Meeting: Three members of the Goshen County Beet Growers Association Board of Directors attended a 4-day meeting held last week at Billings, Mont. The combined efforts of all the beet growers associations who produce sugar beets for the Holly Sugar Corp., at the Torrington-Worland and Hardin-Sidney, Montana areas were unsuccessful in negotiating a contract that would be profitable for the farmers who produce sugar beets in these areas according to Wayne Ludwig, president of the Goshen County organization.

25 Years Ago

March 31, 1995

• Electrical fire damages home: An extension cord shorted out and started a basement fire in central Torrington this morning. Firemen were paged to the fire, at 419 East 19th Ave., to put out the fire, which started where an extension cord was draped over a floor in the wooden house. The family was in the house at the time the blaze started in the basement hallway. Flames did not spread past the basement but the smoke traveled up the stairs, causing smoke damage throughout the rest of the house.

• Foreign exchange student preps for first track meet: Joana Adissi doesn’t know what a Trailblazer is. BUt she is one and will be participating in her first ever competitive track meet Saturday. The 17-year-old foreign exchange student from Brazil has joined Coach George Haun’s Blazer girls trac squad. And she’s having fun, even if she thinks she’s too slow to be a champion.

• UPS package leaks hazardous materials: It may have been only a pint of potassium hydroxide, but that was enough to cause concern. The chemical, a highly corrosive substance, was being transported in a gallon container on a United Parcel Service vehicle when the container began leaking. Goshen County Undersheriff Jim Lowry reponded to the scene and called for the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department to respond with one truck for precautionary measures.