Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date …
1961: Inmates at the Clovis jail were trying to settle back into their routines after a night the Clovis News-Journal described as “stormy.”
Police Chief Ollie Damron said the trouble started about 2 a.m. when a fight broke out between two inmates. Damron said one inmate made “immoral suggestions” to the other and received “some lumps for his trouble.”
Then a drunk fell from “the top of a jail cell where he had been perched for a snooze,” Damron said. The man was taken to Memorial Hospital where he received eight stitches and was treated for a sprained wrist.
A third incident occurred when police locked up a man charged with being drunk. Since the jail, built to accommodate four people, already had seven inmates, police placed the alleged drunk in the unoccupied women's cell. “For some reason he became offended, tried to tear out the plumbing and broke a light bulb,” the CN-J reported.
1971: Amarillo residents were planning to take the “last train west” to Clovis.
About 25 or 30 Texans were expected to board the Santa Fe Chief at 5:50 a.m. CDT on May 1 and arrive in Clovis at 6:45 a.m. MDT.
Clovis new car dealers had agreed to take the travelers to Cannon Air Force Base for a tour, then return them to Clovis where they would visit the Hillcrest Park zoo and walk through the Eastern New Mexico Arts and Crafts Show downtown.
Buses had been chartered for the return trip to Amarillo.
Santa Fe railroad officials had announced they were discontinuing passenger train service through Clovis, which prompted the nostalgic rail visit.
With this ring …
1956: The Columbia “Tru-Fit” diamond ring came with a “guardian angel” as its protector. The ring was “guaranteed forever,” according to newspaper ads.
Prices ranged from $59.50 to $249.50.
May Brothers, Clovis' “oldest and finest jewelers,” sold the rings that would “self-adjust” to the shape of your finger.
Hats all, folks …
1961: Clovis declared April 18 “Straw Hat Day.” The Clovis News-Journal got in the spirit by publishing a front-page photo of three young women posing with straw hats.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact:
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