100 Years Ago

Oct. 3, 1918

Goshen County Journal

Special train attracts interest

A special train carrying with it veterans from overseas and relics from the Great War in Europe passed through Torrington on Tuesday night, stopping for 45 minutes to allow people of this section to view at first-hand the death-dealing weapons of the war, the oldest of which have only been off the European battlefields about two months.

Here were displayed a German aeroplane, famous German howitzers, trench mortars, aerial bombs, hand grenades, flying pigs, deep sea mines, shells of all sizes and machine guns, along with one of the famous French “’75’s” which helped to drive the Germans back from the Marne.

These extremely interesting things were described in detail by the soldiers in charge in such an interesting manner the audience could easily picture the horrors of the battlefield. 

Women to fill non-essential jobs

Labor shortage, both skilled and unskilled, has become such a problem in this county the most drastic measures are being resorted to in an effort to keep war industries in motion. Our increased Army, with 1.5 million men needed for war work, will take additional manpower, thereby placing a heavier burden on the present labor shortage.

In order to cope successfully with these conditions, the U.S. Employment Service in Washington has issued instructions to all community boards to prepare and publish in every city and town lists of all non-essential positions now held by men that could be filled by women. Men refusing to get out of such positions on their own accord and take up essential work will be branded as slackers. 

75 Years Ago

Oct. 7, 1943

To hold two sales weekly

The Torrington Livestock Company decided this week to hold two sales weekly in order to take care of the great demand for buying and selling livestock.

Only cattle will be sold at the Tuesday sales, with the regular sale of all livestock to be held on Fridays as usual.

Additional pens are under construction at the sale barn at the present time to take care of the rush season now approaching. When completed they will house about 500 to 600 more cattle.

4-H Livestock bring good prices

When county 4-H livestock boys and girls decided to sell their prize-winning stock at the local sale barn last Friday, little did they realize it would bring such high prices at $16.70 cwt.

Nevertheless, last year’s market of about $15 cwt was topped by $1.70. The average price paid was $14.70.

Eighteen calves, four sheep and one pig were sold to local cafes and other meat dealers and butchers, which brought in a total of $2,622.12, according to Warren Woodworth, bookkeeper at the sale barn.

50 Years Ago

Oct. 3, 1968

Five charged in 

Lander with sniffing glue

Five lander men were fined $39 each in Lander Police Court recently for violation of the recently-passed glue sniffing ordinance. Three of the men were 17-years-old and two were 20-years-old. The young men reportedly had a younger girl and boy purchasing the glue for them. They were caught by police officers in the act of sniffing glue from plastic bags at City Park.

Enrollment lowest in decade

Enrollment in the Torrington Public Schools District No. 3 is the least it has been in the past 10 years, according to figures released by school officials this week.

Total enrollment as of Oct. 1, 1968, is 1,751, a 103-student decrease from last year’s total of 1,854.

The enrollment in 1958 was 1,676, which was the last time the school population was less than 1,700. The largest enrollment year was in 1963, with a total of 1,896 students. That year’s senior class was the second largest to be graduated, with 143 students. Last year’s senior class was the largest, with 145 students.

25 Years Ago

Oct. 6, 1993

Council approves Sunday 

liquor sale ordinance

After a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the Torrington Town Council gave its third and final approval to an ordinance that would allow Sunday openings for liquor establishments.

Effective Jan. 1, 1994, liquor dealers in Torrington will be allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays. During the council’s regular meeting, Torrington Liquor Association spokesman Duane Schaneman asked why the date wasn’t sooner.

Councilman Mike Varney said the council had already dealt with this issue three times and had tried to work with both sides in a compromise. 

“I think we’re achieving your objective, even though it’s delayed a couple months.”

Southeast FFA captures 

fifth straight title

The Southeast FFA judging teams captured the chapter’s fifth straight overall championship in state competition at the University of Wyoming in Laramie on Sept. 29.

Throughout the year, 49 FFA judging teams from around Wyoming competed in nine different areas of judging. Southeast Chapter Advisor and Agricultural Education instructor Randy Epler said he was pleased with the effort.

“To say that I’m proud of these kids would be an understatement,” Epler said. “What a super effort – we placed all nine of our teams in the top four in the state.”