Pages Past

On this date...link

1974: Charles Crowell of Clovis had reported the theft of a calculator and some client files from his Abacus and Associates office at 116 1/2 Grand Ave. The estimated loss was $239.

1969: A proposed new Clovis-Carver Public Library building would cost $423,137 plus land, officials said as they promoted an April bond election that would fund most of it. A location had not been determined, but it would be “roughly somewhere from First to Seventh between Pile and Connelly,” the Clovis News-Journal reported. More than 21,000 square feet were proposed for the building that could hold over 50,000 volumes of books. Election Day vote totals showed 1,044 in favor of the project — and 1,044 opposed. An April 26 recount showed 1,042 in favor, 1038 opposed, with eight ballots declared ineligible. Lawsuits followed and by June, the score was tied again — at 1,012 each, with 64 ballots contested. The issue was not resolved until library board members secured federal funds and a new library was opened in August 1975 at Fourth and Mitchell. The building had been constructed in 1931 as Clovis’ post office.

1964: Clovis was “vitally interested in an exploratory movement looking into the Ute Dam as a water source, despite the fact the city’s water supply is adequate and will be for some years to come,” the Clovis News-Journal reported. Seventeen communities in eastern New Mexico had expressed interest in obtaining water from the newly constructed dam near Logan.

Their business ...

1959: A fire at the A.J. Linderson Implement company in Muleshoe destroyed three used combines. Officials estimated damages at $1,000.

Happy birthday ...

1959: Clovis’ American Legion was celebrating its 40th birthday. Commander John Sharum served as master of ceremonies for a dinner highlighted by a birthday cake presentation.

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. Contact him at:

[email protected]